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LinuxWorld noted that, in the 10-K just filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft acknowledges Linux as a competitor on the client side (which is a first) saying:
Client faces strong competition from well-established companies with differing approaches to the PC market. Competing commercial software products, including variants of Unix, are supplied by competitors such as Apple, Canonical, and Red Hat. Apple takes an integrated approach to the PC experience and has made inroads in share, particularly in the U.S. and in the consumer segment. The Linux operating system, which is also derived from Unix and is available without payment under a General Public License, has gained some acceptance, especially in emerging markets, as competitive pressures lead OEMs to reduce costs and new, lower-price PC form-factors gain adoption. Partners such as Hewlett-Packard and Intel have been actively working with alternative Linux-based operating systems.
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And they confess that alternative platforms (specifically netbooks) are gaining in popularity and they name Google’s Android as a concern.
The Windows operating system also faces competition from alternative platforms and new devices that may reduce consumer demand for traditional PCs. Competitors such as Apple, Google, Mozilla, and Opera Software Company offer software that competes with the Internet Explorer Web browsing capabilities of Windows products. User and usage volumes on mobile devices are increasing around the world relative to the PC. OEMs have been working to make the Google Android mobile operating system more compatible with small form-factor PCs or netbooks.
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I am really surprised. It was just the other day that I said:
I am a big Linux advocate, however, I don’t think Google will be successful in capturing any significant market share. Primarily, because people purchase netbooks with the intent on using them primarily as second computers. They expect them to work and run the same applications as their primary computers do.
May be I was wrong.
Nah! Couldn’t be…
