XP Service Pack 2 was released shortly before the Fall of 2004.  It included Advanced Security Technologies according to Microsoft.  If you were a business waiting to upgrade to XP, this is what you were waiting for. 

Fast forward to 2007/2008 those XP computers are now ready to be replaced.  That means new computers running the new operating system called Vista. Unfortunately, the buzz on Vista is less than spectacular.  End users aren't upgrading.  Some companies aren't updating their older software and drivers to work with Vista.  That means software and hardware incompatibility issues for anyone who does take the bold step of upgrading.

Meanwhile, there's Linux.  Yes, it's incompatible with some of your Windows software.  But so is Vista.  Unlike Vista, Linux is compatible with most older hardware.  Linux is leaner than Vista which means it's able to get more performance out of that older hardware.

Microsoft seems to be ignoring these facts.  Instead of fixing Vista, they're trying to purchase Yahoo and make some money out of Internet advertising.  Perhaps they figure they still have a lock on the OS market and while Linux will make inroads it won't be able to dominate before they release Windows 7.  They may be right.  Until then, I think we'll be seeing Vista continue to turn the techies and budget conscious users to Linux. 

What will the major open source players be doing while Microsoft's attention is focused on Internet profits?