Microsoft Windows has enjoyed a virtual monopoly on the global computer operating systems market for the last 30 years. But one Korean company has dared to challenge the software giant.

TmaxSoft launched Tmax Window in an attempt to create viable competition in the OS market. More than 300 researchers have developed the system over almost five years. The company claims that Tmax Window has a high rate of compatibility with Microsoft software titles and the chairman of the company says the system is more stable and suitable for many users.

Microsoft has been criticized for unfairly stifling competition by packaging its OS with its other software applications such as MS Office and Internet Explorer. A survey carried out by TmaxSoft shows that 94 percent of 3,500 respondents are currently using MS Windows while only two percent are using Mac OS and one percent Linux. However 99 percent of people said that a domestic OS is very much needed. Korea developed its first ever OS, K-DOS, back in 1993 but it failed to attract many users.

Most of the people who attended the launching ceremony said that they will use Tmax Window instead of Microsoft's product as long as it suits their needs.

Tmax says its target clients will be the public sector and businesses at first, adding that the company plans to take 30 percent of MS Windows' global market share by 2015. But it looks as though Tmax has a long road ahead to achieve that goal -- a David and Goliath story of attempting to bring down giant Microsoft with its 30 year history of unrivaled dominance.