Vista will likely have a rockier startup than most new editions of windows due to the significant jump in system specs (and associated cost) for the added benefit of 'looking pretty' (and even that's questionable), many large companies have stated they will not be jumping on the vista bandwagon anytime soon.
However, the majority of Microsoft's desktop OS sales is *not* through upgrades -- it's bundled OEM versions of windows. When vista comes out, that's what you'll get -- period. It will be near impossible to buy anything else. Thanks to that huge market share, microsoft can make whatever they want, and ram it down your throat. They *will* release their next version, and the market *will* run it, simply because the vast majority of retail customers wouldn't even think about spending additional money to buy anything else. Aren't monopolies fun?
However, the majority of Microsoft's desktop OS sales is *not* through upgrades -- it's bundled OEM versions of windows. When vista comes out, that's what you'll get -- period. It will be near impossible to buy anything else. Thanks to that huge market share, microsoft can make whatever they want, and ram it down your throat. They *will* release their next version, and the market *will* run it, simply because the vast majority of retail customers wouldn't even think about spending additional money to buy anything else. Aren't monopolies fun?