Linked by Eli Gottlieb on Wed 28th Dec 2005 13:29 UTC
Right now the situation for developers of minor operating systems seems somewhat bleak. Windows and the Unixes compete in the server world, and Windows and MacOS X compete on the desktop. Linux even gets ported to every embedded device, leaving few niches for the hobbyist or sidelined operating system developer. Some have even gone so far as to say that New Operating Systems Won't Stand a Chance. As anyone who reads OSNews can tell you, however there are a wealth of new systems with new ideas that just aren't taking off. Given all these new ideas some - like capability security from EROS for example - should be good enough to catch on, so why aren't they?
Thread beginning with comment 79081
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Recent Original Stories
Recent Comments
Headlines
Random Comments
Random Stories
Random OS Link
Member since:
2005-07-07
This was an extremely well written article but we have to remember that home computer users today really only have two hardware platforms to choose from:
1. PC.
2. Macintosh.
Back in the days of the 1980s, there were a multitude hardware platforms the home user/enthusiate could choose from.
a. PC; various manufacturers (IBM, Compaq, etc.)
b. Apple; Apple II, II+, IIe, IIc, IIgs, Macs & more
c. Commodore; Pet, VIC-20, C-64, C-128, Amiga 500-2000, and PC Clones)
d. Atari; 400 Series, 800 Series, ST Series
e. and the list goes on and on.....
These computers had their own individual requirements and hardware wasn't interchangeable between vendors. They all had their own proprietary way of doing things and we made the best decision based on wants, needs & budgets.
When you compare the old hardware-days to today, its somewhat similar. Various companies have video cards that support the PC, but most center on Intel i810, NVidia or ATI Chipsets and a few others.
Since they're using the same chipsets, they have to make better drivers to out-perform the competition. They all claim to have the best resolution, performance, etc. while the drivers are viewed as, 'proprietary,' by the companies.
But they still use the same chipsets.......
While the situation for drivers makes many a developer's life harder than it should be, they cynical part of me sayss that this all about money.
And since this may very well be all about money, I wouldn't be looking for this situation to change.