[Mathiasdm]

How do you think it'll go?
I'm guessing:

1. Open source browsers (with Firefox being the first) -- Microsoft browser share collapsing in the next 2 years
2. Open source text editing -- Within 5-10 years?
3. Linux -- 15-20 years?

We can't know yet, but we can guess :P

[paulmedic555]

I agree with you but i think if linux has the support from the companies windows has linux will replace windows in approximately in 5 years.This of cource will need a lot work from everyone

[jeremy1701]

I think you missed the second biggest buisness need:

1.5 OpenOffice replaces MS...



Jeremy

[techieMoe]

I definitely think that the shift away from Microsoft will be a gradual one starting with people using OSS programs in MS Windows. Firefox/Mozilla have already made great progress in this arena, and I hope soon OpenOffice will begin to supplant MS Office as well. Once the "everyday user" gets used to using OSS applications, switching the underlying OS won't be such a big deal. One of the biggest complaints I get from new Linux converts is "Where is my [insert MS product]? I need to [insert random easy task]."

I'm not a prophet, but I'm going to throw out some numbers just for fun. I'd say OpenOffice (provided it isn't sued into oblivion, MS has done it before) will have half the productivity users in another 5 years, development tools like the Eclipse IDE will replace Visual Studio and .NET in another 10, and the Linux OS will be about 50% of the desktop market in about 15 years. These are of course based on absolutely nothing.

[tylerwylie]

And Bill Gates will be chased out of Redmond or whichever mansion he's living in at the moment by a mob of linux dorks.

[Giro]

Getting a generic double click installer will help. Say a standard GUI using a file to say where to put the binarys and also handle dependencys.

[kkubasik]

agreeed, one of the biggest complaints people have is isntallation in linux, granted programs like apt-get and GUI's that interface with them are making leaps and bounds tword those goals, the depandancies on central FTP's is a little rough for those who don't have braodband.

[Mathiasdm]

Originally Posted by jeremy1701

I think you missed the second biggest buisness need:

1.5 OpenOffice replaces MS...



Jeremy

That's what I meant with "2. Open source text editing -- Within 5-10 years? " Maybe I stated it incorrectly :P