Re: GNUstep on MS Windows

[Andreas Hoeschler]

> > Why don't we just let WinDoze die?
>
> Yep good point. But, how do we start that?

Develop good (business) applications for GNUstep, deploy on open source 
platforms and wait until Microsoft finally died. They will die sooner 
or later. I just heard that China is about to purchase 1.000.000.000 
computer systems. I am not sure whether I got the figure right (sounds 
so huge), but even if it were only 50.000.000, it's still a lot. They 
founded a company that is supposed to figure out which system best fits 
their needs and open source is a strong argument for them. It is said 
that Microsoft is not even taken into consideration.

In this presentation they also remarked that there are already more 
handhelds and other mobile devices out there than WinTel PCs, so 
Microsoft still dominates the PC market, but who cares, if mobile 
devices, thin clients (Sun Ray) and other neat new developments more 
and more replace the fat and expensive (total costs of ownership) 
Wintel PC.

> > The attraction of making money on the still-existing
> > WinDoze market notwithstanding, aren't we in reality
> > trying to change the world's entire attitude toward
> > software?
>
> Yep and change means migration. First we run GNUstep on windows then 
> we throw windows away :)

I agree. Being able to run stuff on a windows PC is still important to 
get the foot in the door (enterprise market). As soon as you are in you 
can tell them that a Sun Ray or a small Linux appliance better suits 
their needs and push them to migrate to more reasonable setups.

This said, it will most likely still take a few years until Microsoft 
is history. In the meanwhile it would be helpful to have a windows port 
(migration path for companies with large windows installations).

Regards,

        Andreas