Why microsoft windows will eventually die – completely!
It used to be that the average PC running microsoft windows cost a couple of thousand dollars. When that was the case, it was feasible for microsoft to charge the PC manufacturers a pretty hefty fee for each windows license. With the current popularity of netbooks we are starting to see that as the overall cost of the device gets lower it is increasingly difficult for the manufacturer to justify paying a license fee for the windows operating system. As the PC makers push for lower and lower prices on their PCs this trend will tend to apply across the board.
When you combine this with the acceptability of Linux based operating systems such as Ubuntu and Android, it is easy to see where this will eventually lead.
And this is coming from someone who doesn’t hate microsoft.
Mike Smith - dominoconsultant 
I don’t think Microsoft will EVER die – they have patented so much of the computer, even with things that they didn’t really make so everyone could well be using Ubuntu or Google OS and Microsoft will still be there collecting royalties, getting richer from doing NOTHING – boy I HATE that company
I reckon some sort of Microsoft software will be running PC’s for quite some time. Like Dave is implying, as long as software companies keep writing programs that rely on Window, it will always be around. Take myself for example, my business software won’t run on anything but Windows, so I won’t be switching anytime soon.
Besides, as the PC comes down in price more people get into the market, which allows Microsoft to reduce the price of Windows while still making a nice income.
Everything has a lifespan…and dies. I just heard that Kodachrome is dying in the next few months. Born in @1938, dying in 2009. How long a life did/will buggy whips have? :-) I guess everything is relevant… and new generations happen…and disruptive innovation happens to wipe out entire industries. That’s what’s so scary to us. Carolyn
So when will it die? 5, 10, 20 years?
Most “standard” PC users are not going to be willing to learn a new system and deal with the problems for a couple of hundred dollars.
Will the software that comes with my printer work with Ubuntu – No
Will the PC Game that my 5 year old got from the Cornflakes box work with Ubuntu – No
Will i sacrifice a couple of hundred dollars to deal with that – No