I don't think price is a major consideration for most people using Linux. After all, most pc's come with Windows preinstalled and bundled software.

I personally wouldn't accept the Microsoft EULA and their intrusion into my pc if they paid me. Well, I would, but it would have to be a substantial sum :-)

I think the main reasons for using Linux are curiousity, flexibility, security and dissatisfaction with Windows. A free XP woldn't affect these.

If MS made a version of windows that was secure, standars-compliant, easy to develop for, stable, fast, and everything linux has, and then they offered it for free, I might use it. The thing keeping me back would be its closed source.

Yeah, but there is one more thing that makes me choose Linux before Windows. And that is how the Linux community works. In Linux you can choose to set up your own system. I start with a custom installation of slackware and fluxbox. And from there I put together different programs to end up with a fully customized system that feels very individual. I don't get that feeling from Windows. Here I feel that this is MY system with MY setup. I windows it's just Microsoft all the way.

If microsoft released a free version of windows, I'd download it, install it, install all my games on it and then reboot into linux.

Up to 75% in my house. Can't convince the missus to move off XP, unfortunately

another few things I love about Linux over Windows:

• Versatility in Purpose. Linux functions great as a desktop, a server, and there are PDA implementations. Windows is a desktop OS at best, it isn't a great server OS.
• Power. Before I came to linux, who knew about X? "Did you say you could let a computer display control windows of applications running remotely?" and same thing w/ arts.
• The community!!!
• The vast amount of Free Software available for it, all ready for you to modify if you need to...
• Anybody care to add more? There must be hundreds...

Divorce her

Microsoft will never realese free Windows version.

Oh I wouldn't count on it... Selling services online? How about a basic OS to get you started... Lovely vendor lock-in before you can say "proprietary hell". Here's the reasons why they may just do it

1. Seriously damages linux credibility as "a cheaper OS"
2. Responds to criticism over security - patches available to everyone
3. Provides everyone with a free OS that they can then sell services on top for

I'm sure there's plenty more. They can certainly afford to do it. How much money do they honestly make off Home Edition as a % of their net income - I'd love to know.

EDIT: Oh help - I've just realised that my 666th post is me talking about a free MS OS!!! Now I KNOW I'm going to hell.....

They already have released a cheap one - http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/p...terPilotPR.asp

It's being released in Asian countries, where software piracy runs rampant. I think this is Micro$soft's attempt to coerce people in those nations to purchase legal copies of Windows XP. They probably figured that if they can't stop the piracy, they can do something to make legit XP more attractive (lower the price). The article mentioned that M$ was working with the local governments on this project, so that, to me, supports the idea that they are doing this as a move against piracy of their OS in those areas. I wouldn't doubt that this article was heavily influeced by M$ spin doctors, along with the people quoted in the article.

It's all about control...to turn a human being...into this: <insert image of M$ butterfly>.

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