Same as You I have invested many (20+) years into what is usually called: “Microsoft stack”.
And same as you I almost got seriously distracted by Vista (and simillar) issues giving rise to prophets from other religions like: Java, Linux, Google etc.
The true real issue is that today M$FT is a major, major force in the data center.
A simple fact wonderously overlooked by many. Beliveve me I know what I am talking about. I just spent two years architecting and costing data centres. M$FT+HP+Intel are unstoppable.
And there is no one left to stop them too. Vista, W7, Office etc , are just desktop distractions, for the present IT “strategists” predicting the demise of M$FT.
Google? Well I think not. Just think carefully, what would be at your disposal if you will be an M$FT architect tasked to deliver (for example) an answer to Google Docs … Eh? Got it now?
M$FT is not doing things because they can not, they are simply bound much more by political than economical boundaries, v.s. othe IT companies, small or large.
Rest assured (or scared) : M$FT has a very long future.
Dusan
Dusan,
yes Microsoft has a future… just not as bright as in the past years but it seems IE9 is much better and more compatible.
I have always used *NIX/Linux operating systems, I didn’t invest much time into learn/try the insecure “Microsoft Stack”, I use Windows OS just for testing my code because I know a lot of “simple” users are still using browsers on Microsoft OS.
So if this is a question about Google forcing their employees to leave Windows, my answer is “well done Google” !
By using Windows, Google is too much exposed to attacks like those that took place early this year, so I believe their decision was based more on security than functionality. Linux is a much better choice for them and let them cut on costs.
The longevity of Microsoft has never been in discussion in my messages, though the latest happenings (Apple valued more than MS and Google security concerns) are mining MS OS hegemony. A lot of professionals do not use Windows since I began programming, it is clear that normal users do not care/understand the security problems they are exposed to. The latter being the reason why Windows has become so popular between the masses and why hackers have such an easy task.
@Diego
I think a very good article on that subject is here :
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/google-dumps-windows-but-can-the-rest-of-us/13136?tag=mantle_skin;content
And also on the issue of “leaving Windows”.
–DBJ