Now this will give Microsoft the go ahead to double the price on XP 64-bit and the rest of their OS's. Linux does pose a threat, a very small one.
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True, but MS does have to be careful, since its pricing structure is rising, especially in its OFFICE suites, since it is creating more of an incentive to outsiders to compete as a few are already. Regardless of MS's momentum, the bigger they get, and the more costly they get, could be a entre to a large consortium to finally create another powerful, user-friendly OS for the PC, one that would have much greater market appeal than Linux, which is still too technical at the interface for the common computer consumer.
It could happen... :-)
You have read about the amnesty program MS is peddling now to all the piraters out there to give them incentives to purchase legit copies oif the software. I doubt that will help out their profit margin at all as the piraters are laughing at them.