gOSI never thought I would say what I am about to say right now. There is a threat to Windows looming about. A lot of people think the threat to Microsoft’s OS is Apple. Apple has been slowly gaining market share but they are still a long ways away to be any real threat. Actually, the market share that Apple is gaining is good for Microsoft. As long as there is another successful player in the game, it takes a little of the monopolistic appearance away from Microsoft. To be honest, this threat is as much of a threat to Apple as it is to Microsoft.

If the threat isnt Apple with the Mac OS , then what is the threat?

Recently there has been 2 PC’s released that has gained a little interest and word of mouth on the Internet. They aren’t Macs, and they do not run Windows. The PCs that Im talking about are the Asus Eee PC and the Everex gPC. The hype around these PC’s are that they are cheap, and with the Eee PC - really portable. When you check out the stats on these PCs, you’d notice that both comes with some OS other than Windows installed.

No Windows on these PCs how would that work?

If you asked me a year ago if Linux was any threat to Microsoft, I would’ve said no. In the past, Ive dabbled with Linux but I felt it was just too difficult to use for the average person. A geek’s OS. Then Ubuntu was released that made it more accessible but I still felt it was for hobbyist. Both of these PCs come with a version of Linux installed. The key here is that another enemy of Microsoft is helping me change my thoughts on Linux.

Google.

Along with Linux being installed with a Windows-like "skin" it comes with  all of Google’s Apps. Now you have a OS that looks similar to Windows, with Firefox, Google’s Wordpressor,  Photo App and Spreadsheet app. Pretty much  Microsoft Office-lite. There are other apps included on these PC’s but just looking at the software I just listed, these are PC’s I can now give to my mother. It has everything she does included and I feel safe that she can catch on to using one just as easy as she could catch on to a Windows based PC.

I know, there are only a few of these PCs but I can really see this catching on, and as it catch on, they will become more functional. The right combination of price and ease of use is all it takes for these to start flying off the shelves. If that happens, then comes more software support. The last thing Microsoft wants is a cheap PC that doesn’t use windows, getting major support from software and hardware vendors.

It can happen

Maybe thats why Microsoft got so hot and heavy on the Linux community a little while ago. Threatening to sue them for patent infringement one day, then trying to partner with them the next. Maybe thats why Microsoft has been so busy trying to chase Google, trying to compete with Google. Apple on the other hand, is so involved with themselves that this could completely take them by surprise. It wouldn’t take as long for the success Apple’s been having to get swallowed by another competitor. If it works out that way. If nothing else, it could put a halt on their growth.

Want an example of things to come? What do you think will happen with Android? The Mobile OS Google is preparing to release. Will every cell phone manufacture swarm to the OS? If phones using Android sell, will it take over?

I think yes.

This will be a Google cell phone world if Android works out. And if those non Windows based PC’s sell, you will see more Linux/Google and less Microsoft