Showdown On the Desktop.

The article discusses Microsoft Corp.'s competitions in the computer software market. The first competition comes from the open-source operating system Linux. Some organizations are pushing the use of Linux in personal computers of their employees. One reason is that licensing costs are low. Another is the ability of Linux to run on old hardware that would spurn Microsoft Windows. Also, Linux is more convenient than Windows for managing a large number of computers from a remote location. The second challenge to Microsoft comes in the form of a 15-centimeter box called the Mac Mini developed by Apple Computer Inc. The third competition comes from the open-source browser, Firefox developed by Mozilla Foundation.