joe ferrare

Germany

public affairs

I think it would have been interesting if you had used the superpower metaphor for the whole article. Afterall, the MS vs Linux war is a lot like the USSR vs the USA -- philosophies fighting for mind share, proxy wars, partners/client states, etc. Except that, contrary to the whole "open source is communism" school of thought, MS is a much better fit for representing the USSR: one approved solution, one set of approved possibilities on every ballot (to say nothing of questionable aesthetic taste and and an arrogant attitude). Linux better represents the chaotic feel of democracy. And, as in real political life, people who are insecure are much more tolerant of authoritarianism. So you have to wonder what will happen to Microsoft once computing (or maybe just the OS end of it) becomes so non-threatening people are no longer willing to trade freedom and cash for hand-holding.