Windows Vista has by no means had an easy ride on the market since it was released to businesses in November 2006 and to the general consumers in January 2007. But the rough ride so far is about to get a lot rougher. From this month forward, Vista has to not only deal with the inhouse competition from Windows XP, but also face fresh rival products. Two competitors are heading straight for Vista. Both Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard are on a collision course with Microsoft's latest operating system.

"At its core, Ubuntu is a free platform for delivering open source software, certified and guaranteed to work, and with each release we strive to enhance the experience of our strong and growing user base of over 6 million people," said Jane Silber, Chief Operating Officer, Canonical UK. "7.10 improves still further the user experience of a Linux operating system - it is now more fun to use with the option of 3D desktop effects and more productive, with major improvements in external and additional monitor support. The desktop search tool gives significant productivity gains, improved printer functionality and wider wireless card support will make it appropriate for the new users that discover Ubuntu every day."

"Leopard, the sixth major release of Mac OS X, is the best upgrade we've ever released," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "And everyone gets the 'Ultimate' version, packed with all the new innovative features, for just $129." Jobs of course said more than enough with just a few words. The Ultimate reference from Apple's Chief Executive Officer is a direct swing at Microsoft's jugular which offers a luxuriant variety of Vista SKUs, the most expensive of which, the high end Ultimate edition, runs as high as $399. And in this context, this is a face-off that Canonical and Apple have already won as Ubuntu is free and leopard is just $129.

Windows Vista, benefiting from the window of opportunity for the largest part of 2007 when it had no real competition outside of Windows XP, grew to 7.38% of the operating system market as indicated by Net Applications. Mac OS X is at 6.61% and Ubuntu is lost in the sea of Linux distributions which combined account for some 0.81% of the market. Still, both Ubuntu and Leopard are now gunning for Vista, and it just remains to be seen if the two operating systems will be able to dislodge Windows from its market dominance.