Evan,

>>Well, once Linux's graphics capabilities match that of Windows I'd think MS is going to get some real competition.
>
>I was monkeying around with Red Hat 6.1 a few weeks back. It really is a GUI over top of a character OS... a throwback to Win 3.1/Dos 6.2 days. Yuck.

<g>

Evan so Evan (couldn't resist <g>) here's the deal... No matter what they will always be a need for simple, non-graphical stuff. Process controlers, file management, and a whole host of other processes that a non-GUI interface will be doing. MSFT has ceded this territory to others, at least to the level of their current support for DOS 6.22 anyways.

I do think that the Linux folks will create an equally nice GUI given the time.

>
>>Millions and millions and millions of ants can kill an elephant.
>
>I am impressed by the Linux movement. But the business model is flawed. You give away your product, hoping that you can charge for support. With the advent of the modern internet over the last 6 years... it is getting more difficult to charge for tech support. The users simply band together and help each other out. The Universal Thread is an example of that.

Right, and those "altruistic" programmers will some day come to the conclusion that there is a LOT of money to be made in a commercial version of Linux.. Oh, wait, that's already happened. <g> Seriously, I do agree here in that to take Linux to the next level a single vendor will have to arise and become the driving force. That will require someone with the drive, talent ambition and luck of a Bill Gates and they're a rare beast in our world. Still, if Linux accomplishes the one thing (IMO) holding back *nix from market dominance it's the lack of a single vendor selling a unified *nix product. Unix, in almost all cases is more stable than NT for example. It is already, and has been for some time, 64 bit. It has all those wonderful communications and management tools built in. I don't think it's more difficult to manage, given all the ins & outs of W2K for example. Just different.

I think it pretty much comes down to marketing and we all know whos the best there in our world. <g>

Thanks for the interesting discussion Evan!

Best,

DD