Will Linux Always be Stuck in the Minority?
Recently, Steve Ballmer explained why Linux is going to stay in the minority for users. Some people feel that the main reason for this is that Developers aren’t really producing anything for Linux, as compared to OS X and Windows. Still others feel this is preposterous, and that Linux will soon become mainstream. I asked everyone over at FriendFeed what they think. Some of the answers are surprising.
stuck in the minority? what world are you living in? linux adoption is growing at a phenomenal rate. – Donald Turnbull
IMO Chris is pretty correct, ‘coz he intended (afais) "Desktop" Linux. If 6 editions of Windows Vista are 5 too much… – Yuvi
Color me stupid – it wasn’t Chris. But, I agree with what the blogger concerned said. – Yuvi
Some good points but rather limited thinking. – Deepak
When it comes to shareware apps today, I wonder if the place to be is not with Windows as the author says, but rather with the iPhone or OS X. The Windows market is so vast it’s hard to get noticed, even with a great app. Now in terms of the OS, I think it still matters. However, I’d add that Linux developers need to make their case today why Linux on a _notebook_ is the thing to do. Easier to manage connectons? Transparent switches between WIFI and EVDO? Longer battery life? Easy ad hoc networks? More and more people have notebooks. That’s where the market is in hardware. Where’s Linux in this? One area where Linux permutations are sprouting up along these lines is with MIDs. Special tuned versions of Linux are being created to support these small devices. If they’re done well, this may be something to watch. – Loren Heiny
its Sad but unfortunately its true. untill we either find a way to make money on linux or Finally get others to leave the greed theres no way linux will come out the shadows off windows & OSX. although more development of WINE will help a LOT – Ro11z
I do believe there needs to be some change to adopt.. Normal users will never understand the "Free as in Speech, Free as in Beer" concept. We need to get rid of the terms open, closed, free, etc.. (whether you care about them or not) Also, not allowing closed source (i.e. Nvidia drivers, Flash, etc) items to be pre-installed is an obvious death wish. Wine should be installed, enabled, and ready to go by default. There are plenty of awesome apps on Linux. Just make them easier to find and install. – Tim Hoeck
Ya lost me when you posted Ballmer spelling out his "thoughts". Gates, okay, but Ballmer – please… That said, as a full time Linux user, you are right in a number of areas. What is wild is that most of them are not that difficult to fix, either. And your point about open or closed source – spot-on. OS for the job getting done, not its license. I could care less how Linux is licensed, as long as I can maintain certain freedoms with it. Good write up. ;) – Matt Hartley
What do you think? Will Linux ever become as “mainstream” as what Windows is, and OS X is quickly becoming? Or is it going to remain something that hard-core Geeks use? Let’s hear your ideas and thoughts.
sigh….10 year old thinking – hate to break it to you but it isn’t the OS anymore – Kevin Cearns