There is a serious issue of corporate web software only working with Microsoft's IE.
These web developers use code that only works within the IE browser. Doing this blocks the use of anyone using a Window's operating system and a non IE browser.
Unfortunately many of these web developers have never used another operating system or web browser, and the corporate management is technically ignorant of how Microsoft likes to keep their captive market due to their marketing techniques for marketshare.
The issues of a captive market are many... basicly a control issue. Microsoft wants everybody to use their OS, so they design things to keep the masses locked in... it then becomes their way or no way.
IE7 is now restricted to working only in XP or the latest OS Vista, which is not released yet. This will bother many because there are people that still use Win98 or Millenium as an OS. This also compounds the corporate access problem, and will force many to upgrade their OS, when it may not be necessary.
Another issue is called Open Source. When a product is Open Source, the user has the ability to get the source code, and modify that code if so desired. This allows the user to not become a victim of the software developer, and to become a kind of partner. Microsoft product is not considered to be Open Source.
Although this discussion is about IE7, the issue also relates to office product like word processors, spreadsheets, and database software. Microsoft has their own product which follows their format, and other companies have product that follow the Open Source format. This includes operating systems like Linux which is also Open Source product.
Many institutions, from corporate to government want a format that is open for all data, so that information can be shared, and not become obsolete because the developer brings out a new version that has a higher price tag, and a restricted format... thus the reason why Open Source is becoming very popular.
The percentage of use for software product, other than Microsoft, has gone up due to the Open Source demand. I expect it to continue, especially when Microsoft's new OS Vista is released.
There are several versions of Linux that will get very popular since hardware corporations are installing it at the factory, and it keeps the cost of a new machine down and has all the bells of whistles that Window's would have.
Anyone interested is using Linux can try any or all of these links.
http://www.knoppix.org/ and click on the british american flag for the page in english. This version can be bought on disc or downloaded as an ISO file. It can run directly from the CD without being installed on the hard disk.
http://www.ubuntu.com/ is a very popular version with good support. It too can be downloaded or bought on CD. It can be installed with Window's, but on a separate hard disk partition. It will run from the CD, but is better/faster when installed.
http://www.linspire.com/ is out of California and another very commercial version... costs about $70. This version of Linux is pre-installed on many machines sold at WalMart.
All of the above come with office based software called Open Office, and many other things from games to media players.
The $ factor is enormous on a large scale... as example a city with ten thousand employees and computers can use Linux for a cost far less than what a Microsoft Windows format would be. The data then is shared in an Open Source format. If all government agencies adopted Open Source, appreciate the $ savings and also the ability to share the data.
This is happening now, as budgets get adjusted to stop the flow of endless $ payments towards Microsoft while creating document compatibility via Open Source.
I predict that Bill and his boys will eventually release their own version of Linux, and Window's will be history. It may take many years, but the writing is on the wall, or should I say Window