The end of the big, ugly operating system

Australian Reseller News has a strange opinion piece on the end of the big, monster operating systems like OS X and Windows Vista.

Ephraim Schwartz thinks "our grandchildren will be using discreet, unobtrusive operating systems that will be invisible to the naked eye." I have news for him, we're using them already in mobile phones, DVD players and motor cars, just to name three of many thousands of items.

The small, compact and reliable OS is with us it's just that they are discreet and unobtrusive.

Comparing computers and operating systems to cars is a valid thing to do. I do it all the time because the analogy works well.

Unfortunately, Ephraim makes the comparison of today's operating system to a guy who built his garage in 1959 to fit a monster Cadillac of the ear. The problem with that analogy is such a garage would fit a modern SUV just nicely.

There's no doubt operating systems should go on a diet and I think that will happen as the current crop, particularly XP and Vista, are collapsing under their own weight.

They may well be simpler and have a smaller footprint but it's unlikely they'll have less features. This is what the market wants in an operating system. I don't think it's likely to change.