[optimal]

How come nobody mentioned business? Microsoft is about the enterprise.

I think many criticize Microsoft from a consumer standpoint, but the CEO of Microsoft is going to know where his bread is buttered.

If any of us was the CEO we'd realize that we couldn't make the kind of radical changes we crave as consumers.

Changing course will take them some time, but I believe we'll see MSX eventually (in some horrible form).

In the meantime I'll keep using Mac/open source at home and (barely) tolerating MS software at work.

[cstejerean]

if you have to tolerate MS at work get a new job. No reason for employers not to support Mac and Linux in the work place.

[optimal]

My words probably mislead--I should have said "workplace." I'm a mercenary. ;)

In my market the money's in .NET. The customers are all very nice people who appreciate my efforts, and I work no more than 40 hours per week, leaving me (a little) time for my own projects.

The work isn't especially fun, but that's why they call it "work" and there are times when it's interesting. And, the users _deserve_ attentive and considerate software development.

The main development is in .NET, but I introduce open source alternatives whenever possible (jQuery I love you!). It would be irresponsible, though, for the customers to abandon their massive investment in MS technologies. I believe this to be true of the enterprise in general; at home it was easy to say I'd never use Windows again, but this isn't feasible for a large organization. I think this will eventually change, but over a couple of decades and not years.

That's the reality facing IT executives, and I think it bothers us as developers more than anybody else. Most folks just want to do their jobs, watch a couple of viral videos, and go home.

P.S.: I've enjoyed reading some of your recent comments.

[cstejerean]

That's a perfectly valid excuse for running Windows and I applaud your efforts to introduce open source whenever possible.

Part of my current job involves trying to figure out how to help midsize companies leverage open source technologies. I'm thinking of putting together a list of common questions and misconceptions companies have about OSS and the respective answers and clarifications. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what roadblocks you have encountered in trying to pitch open source solutions.