It's not a step towards a Windows-less world. They won't stop buying Microsoft - they just don't want a deal with Microsoft that makes Microsoft the obvious choice in government use - just like the Germans and France.
Europe has always focused on the ability to choose different suppliers, and the only reason why Microsoft hasn't been caught in those mechanisms, is that it doesn't sell directly to the enduser, but uses sales channels instead (distributors, PC makers etc.). But now Europe very much focuses on making sure, that the choices you are presented to, contain alternatives to Microsoft software, too, just like it should in a well working capitalistic market. It's no use if you can choose between three different kinds of PCs, that all run a $1000 Windows server OS and the hardware is only $500. That's not a choice.
The more hardware prices fall and software prices stay at the current level, the more focus there will be on alternatives to Microsoft. Simply because Microsoft's share of the sale becomes too visible.
It won't be a Microsoft-less world, they'll just loose their dominance, and with time, probably their market leadership.
Dybdahl. |
