The problem with multi-OS environment such as this household, is compatibility between different file systems. It gets pretty annoying for external drives that the Macs have difficulty to write on NTFS which is not a problem for Linux and XP. exFAT solves the Mac/XP problem but it leaves Linux out in the cold given that Microsoft wants a license fee for it.

HFS+ is out of the question as XP and Linux have limitations. So where to from here? NTFS with only read support, for now. Microsoft is also introducing another file system for Windows 8, ReFS. I can understand the need for exFAT for external drives, and it should be the standard. With all the talk on memory cards, mobile devices, etc. at the end of the day, Microsoft gets paid even for Android devices sold by HTC, Samsung, etc. due to licensing. That's business acumen 101 for Microsoft.