In the server market, Microsoft has always been worried about the competition from Linux. However, in the ordinary desktop and laptop market, Microsoft has always believed that Linux poses no threat.
Recently, though, this situation has changed. Compared to Apple's Mac system, Microsoft now fears the threat from Linux desktop operating systems more. The arrival of Windows 7 will completely eliminate this concern for Microsoft.
Currently, the main competitor for Windows systems are still netbooks. Netbooks are not only lightweight but also come equipped with low-end Intel processors, making their prices very affordable. The primary purpose of designing netbooks is for web browsing, email handling, writing notes, and they can perform simple word processing or spreadsheet tasks.