In my case: Installing XP SP2 on a computer: 25-30 minutes or even less. In
Virtualbox, a little longer, but not much longer. Then, about 1-3 hours
installing all the needed programs, depending upon what stockpile of CDs were
given to me and depending on computer type. It is not the case with Virtualbox,
where you do not have to install drivers and you install only a few apps that do
not run in Wine or there is no Linux equivalent. Not my case, also.
I installed Windows 95 yesterday. It installed fast, but then I was faced with
lots of error messages, then I installed, experimentally, some modern programs
on it and I was surprised they got installed OK and ran.
Yes, without the Internet MS would earn less, but especially because a lot
less computers would be needed. Or maybe I am also hallucinating because there
are lots and lots of gamers and readers and many more who would want to listen
to music and watch movies more easily and there would be much more. Piracy would
be more difficult. Indeed, the antivirus industry would earn much less due to
the lack of a network on which viruses should spread.
Without the Internet, faults of an OS or of some programs would be more
difficult to broadcast. Also, vendors would carry more newspapers and electronic
newsletters on CD or tape.
Linux, also, would be far more difficult to distribute and its qualities would
not be as valuable as today, in the real world of Internet, hackers and viruses.
By the way, Linux is used a lot in Romania on servers but almost nobody wants
it on the desktop.