is microsoft being left behind?

ok, so i'm a linux user, but this isnt my personal trolling attempt to promote linux over windows, its an honest question - what do you think?

Apple has been cutting into a lot of the higher end computing marketshare, while linux has been cutting into alot of the low end, and into phones recently as well.

do you guys thing we will see a major turn in the future concerning the industry standard for operating systems?

Eh, Microsoft will remain dominate for at least 5 more years. There are way to many different flavors of linux for them to become totally mainstream.

(typing this from a linux powered netbook)

Macs are just a fashion accessory fad to most people imo.

Of course.

Somewhat related note-

If they ever come out with a Linux Ventrilo client like they keep saying, I probably wouldn't even use Windows. WoW runs amazing in Wine. I know there is a Teamspeak client for Linux, but everyone uses Vent.

Also, I wish they would standardize sound for Linux. ALSA, OSS? Blah.

My guess is that ALSA will end up being the standard, it seems much more widespread then OSS in my experience.

what i think would be the biggest advantage is a package management standardization - sure, you can install alot of non-native packages with the alien command - but it should be seemless. then all the different distro's dont have to replicate as much of each others work.

Agreed with the .deb idea. I'd guess most people are using Debian-based distros now anyway.

I'm sorry, but Microsoft is going no where, Apple is not about to outsell Windows, and Linux is not about to take over the desktop market.

The vast majority of users use Windows. I think a statistic from a year or two ago was something like 8 million systems use a variant of Apple's OS and 300 million use Windows XP alone. Windows will remain the desktop standard just because its affordable and its what most people are used to. Apple lately has been working on gathering new customers, but their sales style is more focused on a dedicated core group of consumers who will stick to their upgrade plan rather then users coming from time to time, buying a PC when they need one and whatever flavor of Windows is cheap.  Unless Apple changes their style they will not take over the market, and they have no reason to.  Apple does fine with its marketing style already, attracting huge groups of consumers with breif fads, then sitting back for a bit and doing it all again.

Linux is becoming more oriented towards desktop use but its still very much a server OS. I doubt a lot we'll start seeing Linux overtaking Windows. There isn't enough development for the OS by, for want of a better word, professonal developers for most companies to want to deploy Linux for the bulk of their computer using staff. Not to mention the vast costs of retraining their employees.  Windows is cheap enough and works well enough.  Small companies may make the switch, but larger firms would most likely keep using what they use.

Windows fumbled with Vista, but its to firm in the market to let that damage its standings significantly.  Its here to stay.

My computer runs off of Windows XP. I like XP. Though for my next computer I'm leaning towards getting an Apple, just because my experience with other Apple products (iPod) have been great.

Yeah...  Microsoft absolutely dominates the general business platform in this and most other countries.  A few industries use Apple products, but it's gonna be Microsoft for the foreseeable future.

Apple has done a reasonable job attacking the personal user, but they haven't even made a dimple of a dent in the business market.

And Linux?  Yeah, I don't think so.  Ain't gonna happen.