Windows 11

[Paddy]

Let's face it the best future OS is NOT Windows, the best server OS is NOT Windows.

Why are big companies still supporting this crap?

The only reason why Windows got to be so popular in the server market is that the front end of Windows server looked like Windows desktop OS. The non technical decision makers in companies though they understood Windows server because it looked the same as what they had at home. The best and most secure server OSs have long disappeared.

[AtW]

The only reason why Windows got to be so popular in the server market is that the front end of Windows server looked like Windows desktop OS.

It was best in class product, that's why it succeeded, obviously.

What was the alternative - OS/2, NetWare?

Windows Server is killing itself now with per core pricing - it was bad enough to pull that tulip for SQL Server but for a basic server OS is a no-*******-no. Plus (and that was present from start) CALs bulltulip totally not suitable for the Internet facing servers, which is why they totally lost that market to Linux/etc now.

[BR14]

The only reason why Windows got to be so popular in the server market is that the front end of Windows server looked like Windows desktop OS. The non technical decision makers in companies though they understood Windows server because it looked the same as what they had at home. The best and most secure server OSs have long disappeared.

Z/OS is still going strong

[vetran]

The only reason why Windows got to be so popular in the server market is that the front end of Windows server looked like Windows desktop OS. The non technical decision makers in companies though they understood Windows server because it looked the same as what they had at home. The best and most secure server OSs have long disappeared.

complete rowlocks.

It was cost, availability of software and marketing.

In the 90s proprietary UNIX was locked to hardware and cost thousands. Windows would run on any common PC compatible and cost £100. Wordperfect and lotus 123 (the original office apps) ran on it.

You could stand up a windows server including hardware for less than a copy of Novell and client licenses.

Plenty of shareware available for almost any task on Windows.

Microsoft looked at ways to solve common problems not gouge money from you.

If Microsoft had not existed servers would cost £100k and only work with software approved (at great cost) to run on it. A simple PC would be a few thousand. Look at a Macbook running FreBSD and it still costs more. You may consider it is worth more but without M$ it would cost a lot more.

There are a few technically more competent systems out there if you have millions to spare. There is FOSS and lots of that is good if you can convince the business to accept its limitations.