Why can't anybody create a new OS?

Question

Microsoft is a monopoly... but a very useful monopoly.. does that make sense? Yet how come nobody's competing with them in the war for the best OS?

(Please exclude Linux -- it's waaaay too much to handle for an average PC user)

Answer 1

You answered it, but let me expand. Linux Red Hat is a great competitor... for computer nerds. When windows began making computers so computer friendly then people were hooked. There used the graphic interface to make things easier to use...meaning icons like the start button and user tray... even sounds with beeps, and error messages. All this taught us new things while using. Also a long product line of software programs that just seemed so standard to have as they were ahead of the rest of programmers. They mass marketed word processing, spreadsheet, database, media players, and even the internet browser. They dominate in a world of entry level developers who concentrate on one area. Like netscape navigate, or corel wordperfect, musicmatch jukebox, and Linux red hat. They cant cover all the areas microsoft is leading. So we trust and use windows as its standard on most computers you buy today. Ever see linux red hat an option at dell? lol Companies today do not have the money to mess with microsoft. Profits in billions compared to hundreds of millions by leading computer companies. Software designers try to develop a program but it always lacks the skills bill gates puts behind products. Super databases, product support, extended features, quick buttons, and other functions that make them remarkable. However, since the bill gate departure from the company and slow progress of developing the next OS after windows XP sp2, there will be a great deal of new comers trying hard to upset the leader. It happened to apple macintosh so its not impossible. Technology developing rapidly so watch out. SOrry i typed so much, but hope ya got my point. Thanks for the question and have a great day!

Answer 2

Linux is pretty easy to handle, if you get the right distribution.

Unfortunately, most people don't know where to get the easy versions, and almost no computers ship with them.

Someone could certainly create a new OS if they wanted to. An engineering student made one for his senior project at the university i go to.

However, making powerful, attractive, and user-friendly OS like Windows takes more than just one guy in his basement. It takes a whole army of people all working together. Kind of like microsoft.

Linux is the same way, really, only that "army" is the distributed population of interested programmers on the internet. And to be honest, the Linux operating system, to me, reflects that fact in the way it's built.

Answer 3

I know you asked not to include Linux, but I disagree with your statement.

I think Linux has become much more user-friendly over the past 5 years. There are a number of distributions (Red Hat, SUSE, Mandrake), which have taken the initiative to work on these issues and create an operating system that's easier to use for the general user. I think you're also forgetting Mac OS-X operating systems and ease of use.

In any case, you could always be the one to code a better operating system for the people out there. :)

Answer 4

There are so many OSes out there. Mac OSX is the best, then comes linux and then windows (IMO). Linux is not that bad to install now.

The problem is with the applications, since windows has been around for so long and so many folks are using it, most of the ppl only create applications for windows and thats why ppl can move to something else

Answer 5

What about Apple? They recently launched a big "PC vs Mac" ad on TV.