The Death of Microsoft

The Las Vegas Sun tells of the development of a desktop search engine by Google, beating Microsoft to the punch by at least 2 years!

"Managing infoglut is an increasing challenge for computer users, and the program gives Google an important head start on Microsoft Corp., which is working on a similar file-searching tool that it recently said would not be ready for the next version of its Windows operating system promised for 2006."

I think this is the beginning of the end for Microsoft as the dominant force in desktop software. The fact that they are not on the leading edge of product development signals their demise. The corporation has become just like the software they develop: big, bloated, slow and unresponsive.
They are already loosing significant market share to Linux-based servers.
Due to its security issues, people are abandoning Internet Explorer in favor of Mozilla and Firefox browsers (just to name a few). Mozilla Mail, Thunderbird, and Evolution are replacing Outlook and Outlook Express as email clients of choice.

Linux desktop OS's are becoming easier to use everyday without the overwhelming security issues of Microsoft products. You can set up a Linux-based desktop system that does everything that 99% of the population needs to do with a computer, include have a fully functional office software suite, for FREE! (Do you enjoy spending hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on operating systems, add-ons and defensive software necessary to cover-up Windows' flaws??)
Web developer statistics indicate Linux is spreading rapidly. It has already bypassed Apple in the number of people using it.

The Linux community is an interesting place. There are a number of distributions aimed at the Windows-to-Linux convert, with all the point-and-click ease you have come to expect, most with web sites dedicated to helping the new user. I'm currently running SimplyMEPIS 2004.03 on my desktop, and it has been flawless Any problems I have had have been user-induced (by me!) and the Mepis Help forum has been incredible helping me correct my errors!
If you're interested in the wave of the future, a good place to begin learning about Linux is at Distrowatch.com. Take your time and READ. There are over 300 versions of Linux (its not as overwhelming as it sounds), with one (or two or three) being just what you need.
Start learning now, before Windows goes the way of the Model T.