Following my previous entry on “future-proofing” when purchasing IT kit, and prompted by reading a bit of IBMs redbook on migrating to a Linux desktop, I would like to make a concession to the concept of future-proofing, based around the following question:

How sure are you that Microsoft will continue to be the dominant player, at no additional cost to its customer base?

As is beautifully illustrated in this Wired poster, Microsoft is battle Open Source Software on many fronts, and, in the majority of the cases, is beginning to lose battles. I think that it is a reasonably safe assumption that Windows, and (to an extent) Microsoft Office, will not continue to be as dominant in their respective markets as they have been in recent years.

This brings us to the second clause of my question. What is Microsofts reaction likely to be? Obviously, we have begun to see certain evidence of reaction - the hugely crippled ‘Starter Edition’ of XP, for instance. But, given that Microsoft seems intend on maximising both profit and market share (which is understandable in their case, given that market share has given them huge amounts of profit, and keeping it will keep the profits rolling in), if their market share begins to decrease (which is already is in some areas), will they decide to maximise profits in other ways, and will that then impact the cost of their goods, and thus the customer?

OK - so maybe this isn’t news to you. Equally, you probably feel that this is just a generic rant by me about Linux. But here’s the crux of the matter:
If you are interested in futureproofing your business (or home computers too), then start with your software. Start moving your files to open file formats - consider a move to OpenOffice.org, maybe not tomorrow, but as a possibility for the future. If you are using “web applications”, then make sure that they are real web applications, and not the other type. Consider a migration plan away from Outlook/Exchange.

Never leave yourself in a situation where, if your vendor decides to suddenly up their costs, you can’t just walk away.

mrBen

Yep, I ran through some figures over the weekend and the great dream of opening a comic/gaming/hobby shop is going to be put on hold for the forseeable future. I had some really great ideas for it to try and push comics to a wider audience but it looks like it’s going to have to wait.

The problem is finance. Because of the way the industry operates it would take a LARGE initial outlay for stock and enough to keep going until I had built up a regular customer base. I still believe that the project could work and that it’s worth trying at some point but it’s not going to be any time soon and it’s not going to be me.

BigAl

I had my first experience of iTunes last night. Well, when I say “I” I mean Ruth used it and I got an album I was looking for. So technically it was an experience through association.

I have to admit I’ve always been sceptical of these music download systems, especially with all the DRM (Digital Rights/Restrictions Management) issues that go with it. But I’ll check that out later on, when I have more time…

So using iTunes I got my hands on “Cthulhu Strikes Back” by “The Darkest Of The Hillside Thickets”. I stumbled on to them when some of their lyrics found their way into Call of Cthulhu sourcebooks I was reading at the time. Their website had a couple of downloadable songs and I was pretty much hooked.

Problem is getting the albums in this country for a reasonable price. (They are Canadian and on a small record label, hence the problems with availability.)

Anyway, iTunes came to my rescue. I can’t see that I’ll use the service much but it’s handy for those songs I just can’t find by any other means. After the download I (I being Ruth of course) could choose to rip it onto CD as an audio disc or an MP3 disc. I (I now being me again…) was more than happy with the audio disc, which is great quality BTW, which I can always re-rip onto the other computer as MP3 so I can stick it on my Creative Jukebox.

I know that Ogg Vorbis is really the way forward with audio but it’s not supported by the Jukebox yet so it’s better going with MP3 than the WMA alternative.

BigAl