Here is just a list of points I thought while reading it through I may add more later, thanks for the Link
The underlying idea is that once 64 bits comes as standard people will start replacing 32 bits for no reason other than its an old 32 bit machine, past trends are used as evidence, this is rubbish, ask any ecconomist,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminishing_returns (note its not a universal law but it dose apply to computer hardware, the fixed imput is the user). I don't know anyone (not coutning dedicated servers) who has anything near 4 gig, I run the latest debian etch on just under 400 meg. QT4 should reduce reqirements a little. Especially since most computer users see it as just a tool to make documents and communicate, I doub't they'll be switching over anytime soon.
Still weather 2008 is really a massive 64 bit switchover is a great debate, post viewpoints please.
it says Gates is leaving in 2008, and suggests thats not a coincidence, I say that it must be or Gates will be smart enough to leave in 07.
ESR says Wine 1.0 must not support 64 bit windows, WHAT IS HE THINKING! putting politics above good technical sense is against the whole Linux philosophy. Note: I said politics, not ethics, and in many cases its good technical sense to not have closed source, for example binary only modules makes kernal debugging next to impossible.
Random thoguht: wouldn't vmware or KVM be more legacy application friendly than Wine?
To be honest I don't like ESR's attitude of Linux must take over. I much prefur the Torvalds philosophy of makeing the best OS there ever was.
As for weather I want to see Linux take over, it has advantages and risks, and only one minor disadvantage.
As for Binary drivers left right and center, wouldn't that just mean that we never get open source drivers for everything?
Advantages:
Better for the ecconomy: lower startup costs for firms, no virus risks.
Safer for people: fewer credit card stealing viruses.
Open Standards become the standard.
Hardware support for everything.
Support for all games
Probobly no Trusted computing on end user desktops.
Probobly no software paitents, as a result of political clout for Kernal developers.
Disadvantage:
I lose the prestiege of being a "Linux User"
Risks:
A shift in culture to writing applications with lots of neet features and flexibility to writing really simple aplications so their easy to use.
The world will notice us. Right now I doub't the MPAA really knows or cares about Linux, if we were number one they may start to ask why dose ALSA have the option to send all incomeing sound to an ogg-vorbis? and Why dose the default way of playing DVDs on Linux involve cracking CSS?
Virus writers may start to notice us. (hey its a risk, not a guarenteed problem)