I haven't seen a "compelling" app for the masses since VisaCalc, which lead to MS Office. Speech recognition still hasn't reach the HAL 9000 level because AI and neural nets have met significant barriers. Replicating the movement of a cockroach isn't the same as replicating the thinking processes of a human brain.

Linux certainly doesn't have a "compelling" app. "Compelling stability", on the other hand, may be a momentary advantage. Over all, if the economy turns down, 'cheap' or 'free' will be hard to beat. It's the same way IE defeated Netscape. Regardless, WinXX and Linux will both be with us for a long time, each with their own advantages.



>I am reminded of the attitude that a lot of DOS programmers had in 1991-92 when Windows got popular. Or that Novell network guys had to NT in 93. Ain't too much new DOS or Netware work going on these days.
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>Not to say that you might have a point. It's just that new paradigms in our industry seem to hit the "compelling app" point and are suddenly adapted seemingly immediately.
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>One of my old favorite IT theories, BTW, the "compelling app" theory. I forgot who originated it but it's pretty much held up for years.
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>>And I still firmly am resisting the NET approach to "rental" of software, and REQUIRING an interned connection in order tot even use a PC at all.
>>There are gazillions of users that will still want apps that run stand alone and on a stand-alone PC, or LAN. I think I can target these users and die a somewhat old but proud man. <g>