- Windows 7, MeeGo, Google OS popup on Intel's road map
- Netbooks start shipping with lightweight operating systems
- Google moves away from Windows internally
- Steam is coming to Linux
It appears that companies everywhere are considering Microsoft alternatives in designing their products. Hardware manufacturers, like Intel and Acer, are putting their weight behind Linux distributions. So are software developers, like Google and Valve. One theory might start with the fact that Windows is getting slower and hungrier for resources, making it sluggish on netbooks (a device that has spiked in popularity & purchases) and slow on boot times. Combined with the restrictions Redmond has placed on netbook (and possibly other device-makers) in order for product manufacturers to license their software, no wonder people are moving away.
The leaders at Microsoft are not stupid, they have seen this coming. That is why Microsoft has diversified into phones (KIN), games (XBOX), mp3 players (ZUNE), and many other products. However, I believe they made one mistake. They made all of their devices work seamlessly only with other Microsoft devices and Windows, essentially locking-in people who use its services. They are also locking-out people who use other products and services now, but may buy Microsoft products if they were integrated with what they use now. When others are moving away, it is not a good time to close yourself off. Such a closed strategy sort of reminds me of Apple...
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