I'm ready for a change as Windows is looking pretty long in the tooth. Oh, I have nothing against Version 7. It's stable, quick, and practically maintenance free. I am especially fond of how well it sets up for a home network in its latest incarnation. That type of OS, though, is losing its importance as we get closer to cloud computing.
I also don't want you to think I am anti-Microsoft in any way. I was a die hard supporter of that company and what it was able to do as far as helping to make personal computers mainstream devices. And lest you think I'm too new to comment, I first used Windows on a hot new Intel 286 back in the 1980's.
I can soon picture not requiring a standard operating system such as MS Windows. Google's Chrome browser will basically be the entire OS on some netbooks next year.
It's just that things have changed. I anticipate using fewer copies of Windows in the future. A version of Windows will probably still run on my media server and maybe a laptop or two. Yet I just don't see Microsoft involved in as many of the new, smaller devices of my future. For example, I have already purchased a smartphone that runs Android. I can also completely foresee my subsequent netbook running on next year's release of Chrome OS by Google. I will still want a netbook for travel and work.
Probably 2011 will bring me sort of pad to primarily sit on the living room coffee table. I no longer have a desire for one that runs Windows. There is one thing, however, of which you can rest assured: No new slate device I own will start with a small letter i and be produced by Apple. I just don't swing that way.
