The hunt for Windows alternatives

Google Chrome OS is the highest profile attempt to unseat Windows in some time. Simon looks at the growing hunt for mass-market Windows alternatives.

Private investigator
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That's not going to stop manufacturers pushing for it, though. Because it seems that the thirst to hunt down viable Windows alternatives for a desktop or portable environment is showing little signs of going away right now. Whether that's because said manufacturers are looking for a way to cut the cost of bringing their products to market, or to weaken the grip that Microsoft has isn't entirely clearly. There's a fair chance that it's a combination of them both.

As it stands however, searching for a viable alternative and one becoming popular are two very different things. All eyes are inevitably on Google come the end of the year when it rolls out Chrome OS formally, but so entrenched is Windows in the market that it even falling below 90 per cent share would be a fairly sizeable sea change. Even Google, with all its power and mighty, may just struggle to make a dent in it

Simon Brew
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