Community weekly poll: Which prediction is the most likely to occur?

Marc Bennett

I think the end is near for MS if they don't soon change directions,spend a lot more time on quality rather than quantity.Right now,I'm thinking they are surviving on their reputation of old,surviving on the billions of dollars they pump into adverts etc.
Vista,to my way of seeing things,has never been travel-tested,never been battle-tested;just rushed to creation by substandard techs and creators.I've seen parts of Vista and am in no way impressed.If the IE 7 is an example of the overall quality of the entire OS,I wouldn't go near it if they suddenly decided to give Vista away as an upgrade/update.
Granted,I have the new IE 7 but only because I got so tired of them trying to shove it down my throat on a daily basis.Seldom use it as is far,FAR to slow to load.Is okay going from site to site once it's up and running but otherwise,it's a dud.
Have already downloaded Firefox,Opera and the newest edition out of the AOL version 9 Optimized which comes with all it's own spyware/AV/blockers/Topspeed Broadband etc.Is more attractive and easier to use than any other version of AOL since version 3.
Already places like Australia,England and other countries are leaving MS and going to an open-source OS in all depts including school districts.
There was a time right up until September last where I was totally devoted to MS,to the point where I had no other media players,nothing but it's become harder and harder to get any satisfaction from MS.Becoming extremely dictitorial,arrogant,self-serving,tell ME what I'll do,what I won't,what I'll have on my own privately owned system,what I won't.When the time comes where a company gets that bad,it's time past to put the brakes on and go one's own way.
I wasn't going to mention the price they want for their new 2007 products but why not,they too,are outrageously high.My open-source office products are just as good,perhaps better than MS today because those creators care about me,about us,want us to have a good product,enjoy using a fine product and their efforts are paying dividends.
I confess I haven't tried the Mac OS yet and likely won't until I go for another new custom system.I did,once,have a fantastic Apple lle well before the invention/creation,of the Internet and enjoyed that system a lot,everything in plain old english,no special codes.So many programs,games etc though that I can no longer use that are still hanging around as everything was based solely on the DOS system.
Perhaps Mr.Gates has/had,seen the writing on the walls early and thus doing a whole different thing now with his mega fortunes.Thanks.

Vista !

Not only that Vista requires more room and so on..but also, on this end of the "big blue" (Europe-side) Vista will cost us double of the US price... Many of us europeans will think twice before purchasing this new item and I predict that most of the customers will choose for a whole new computer (or laptop) with vista included, when they can afford it. But the rest of us (poor europeans, who can only afford a simple upgrade once every 5 years) will choose more space, videocard, or memory before even considering paying 250 euros for vista.
At this end of the world, I predict a major flop.

(NT) ...then go use your old mac, sir.

Yeah, that's basically it

I'm not a Mac person either, but I understand the difference between hype and quality. The problem with Vista is that Microsoft expects all PC users to become gamers by 2008. They expect everybody to be loaded with at least a 8800 and dual core by the time Vista becomes mainstream. They talked about it, and Vista is all about gaming now. Microsoft is trying to lose the "business" image they have worked so hard to build over the years.

I suspect few people will want Vi$ta.

In reply to: Which prediction is the most likely to occur? by Marc Bennett 

Considering that Windows XP does everything you need it to do, I fail to see why anyone in their right mind would shell out money for a buggy, bloated and ineffecient OS that's hobbled by so much DRM and other BS. I remember many years back there was a version of MS-DOS that no one wanted, and when that version was out, everyone kept using the previous version. Perhaps the same thing will happen with Vista.

Love your $ character!!!

I totally agree with you and others. Vista for me is in the future, if ever. Gates has bullied us, can't take care of security for XP let alone a new system, and now seems to be singling out gamers for his priority. The price is outrageous and without at least a yr. in service, I will not touch it. I believe the time is ripe for another company perhaps foreign to develop an OS that is people friendly and people priced. I'm sure Firefox is loving this and I love Firefox. Trouble is you have two choices for OS's. Apple is too pricey for me and the latest with Steve Jobs leaves me with a bad feeling in my stomach. Vista alone is terribly inflated price wise. It's not our fault it took them yrs. to supposedly develop it. What a crock!!!
Changing subjects I can foresee a lot of business consolidation maybe even this yr. What I'm talking about is Intel essentially and AMD to a lesser degree. With the latest actions....Intel/Sun and AMD/ATI I see that as a pattern just beginning.
Bottom line is Gates SUCKS!!!! His research/development team SUCKS!!!!
Time for me to leave before I need medication. Thanks.