Put simply, we're getting to a stage in the evolution of computing where Microsoft's role in the scheme of things is shrinking. Bizarrely, Microsoft just don't seem to have realised. Perhaps they're like the archetypal oil tanker--so big and unwieldy that they're simply unable to turn around.

People might still choose to use Microsoft, of course. Old loyalties die hard. But the nature of Microsoft's business model has always been to tie the user to a post, and force-feed them products. Now that tether has been broken. Isn't that liberating?

Open source doesn't require licensing fees, and is like a double-jointed Russian gymnast: It's flexible. Really flexible. This puts it in a far better position to provide a platform for the new platform agnostic online world.

Chrome (technically Google Chromium) is open source because it makes no sense for Google to lock-down software to one hardware platform or architecture. The platform no longer matters in the Google universe, and this perhaps is the biggest difference between the Microsoft and Google philosophies. Microsoft needs you to keep you using Windows and an x86 platform. Google don't care what computer or platform you use, and is actively encouraging you to be eclectic in your choice. Microsoft's approach is all about restriction. Google's approach is all about freedom.

I know which approach sounds healthiest to me.

Esoteric Architectures

Microsoft has a problem, and it's this: Virtually its entire business model is based on the x86 platform. It climbed into bed with Intel back in the day, again mostly by accident, but has steadfastly refused to climb out again, even though the bed clothes are smelling a bit musty.

There was a brief flirtation with getting NT to work on alternative chips a few years ago, but that pretty much came to nothing. And Microsoft is prepared to use other platforms in its specialist divisions, such as handheld computers and games consoles. But its core desktop and server businesses are most definitely x86. It's a winning formula. Why change it?

Here's why: the incredibly rampant world of mobile phones and PDAs has lead to a variety of low-powered chips that are making their way into the likes of netbooks. And it's not hard to see how these chips could migrate upwards to all kinds of computing devices.

ARM seems to be the king of this particular empire, and their chips promise insanely long battery life of 8 hours or more, yet with the same features and performance as regular chips (including hi-def video). Netbooks based on ARM chips use significantly less power, and are smaller, and quieter because they lack a fan (low power = less heat).