A few days ago I found this blog entry and I realized something interesting about the three main computer industry groups in existence today:  Apple, Microsoft, and Linux.

Apple creates computers as if they're works of art.  They're nice to look at with lots of style and they cost much more than any product made out of similar materials/parts.  This model is what worked, somewhat, for the Mac in the past.  This seems to be the personal vision of Steve Jobs.  Apple doesn't think they're creating consumer electronics.  They think they're creating art that also happens to be consumer electronics.

Microsoft creates software as if it was physical object.  They don't just create a new version of Office every few years.  They create a new version of Works, Office Standard, Office Professional, Office Home & Student.  They do the same with Windows: XP Pro, XP Home, XP Media Center, Vista Business, Ultimate, Home Premium, Home Basic...  Every year Honda makes a new set of cars, Accord, Civic, CR-V...  (You get it.)

Linux is more like the Internet.  It leverages the community of people using it to make itself better.  Linux is what you get when everyone in the world can contribute to your product.  The Internet isn't the product of one person, one vision, or one company.  The Internet is the sum of contributions of everyone who wants to contribute.  That's Linux and open source.

Apple and Microsoft both seem to have forgotten that computers are tools.  Software doesn't need to be replaced every other year and neither do operating systems.  If that tool breaks you don't need a new one, just reinstall it.  Computers don't need to be sold as art.  After the newness wears off, it's still just a screen, keyboard, and mouse.  A hammer with an ornately carved handle is still just a hammer.  Now consider Linux.  It's a tool that anyone in the world can use, improve, and distribute. 

If Apple and Microsoft seem small and insignificant in comparison to Linux, it's because they are.