Quote:
Originally Posted by Katsunami
Microsoft failing after 2020 with no new Windows version in sight would plunge the entire world in an indescribable computing crisis.
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No, it wouldn't. Microsoft is only going to fail if substantial numbers people switch to other kinds of services--which would mean that the corporate world would have substantial reliance on other services if Microsoft vanished.
I suppose it's possible that MS could lose enough market share to stop releasing new software and stop supporting their older software, but all that would do (besides switching a lot of offices to Mac or Chrome or whatever other OS is prominent) would be to increase the number of bootleg keygens used in offices.
Right now, most offices buy licensed versions of the MS Office suite. If that's not available, they won't stop installing MS Office; they'll either buy up slightly older versions (and MS can grind its teeth realizing that no, the business world really didn't care about the differences between 03, 07, 10 and 13; they just wanted Word and Powerpoint to allow them to make reports), or they'll find some nice hacker who can invent authorization numbers for the software.
After all, if there's no licensed version available, who would they be hurting? That argument might even stand up in copyright court; lack of financial damage to the rights holder isn't a guaranteed win, but it's a strong mark in favor of fair use.