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Is a Linux desktop avalanche coming?

desktoplinux.com — The Linux desktop has gradually been picking up momentum, but the ubiquity of Windows has kept many PC users from realizing that there really is a viable alternative. However, that's about to change, with the arrival of an easy-to-use installation system for applications and drivers, both free and proprietary.

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  • schestowitz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13This avalanche appears to be coming from governments, to businesses, to people's homes. The move to ODF is a good start. Sadly, OEMs like Dell are dependent on other companies in industry (notably Microsoft), so they can't deliver what people actually request. Instead, they get defensive and make up excuses.

    The change comes from nations' desire to appraoch economical independence. And Europe is just one among several regions that must fight the lobbying by proxies and pressure groups set up by monopolies.
    • atdigg, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11It takes time, but it's inevitable: an expensive proprietary OS can't compete with an OS that's free and gratis. The only thing they keeps people using WIndows is the de facto monopoly.

      Just imagine Microsoft being in the business of selling oranges... who would buy $199 rotten oranges when they could get free fresh oranges from trees? (and more they pick the more would grow...)
    • pcgeek101, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4A viable alternative when it works, maybe ... yep.

      @atdigg: While your Linux fanboyism obviously shows, your "rotten oranges" which you call Windows, are not rotten at all. If Linux was so great, I'd be using it, too ... unfortunately, I actually rely on being able to use my PC.
    • pabster, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4@atdigg

      Remember, time = money. That's why Windows commands 90% of the marketplace. Doesn't make a damn bit of difference if the OS is free or not.
    • Zuph, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4@atdigg

      The Microsoft Oranges aren't really rotten, they're just a different color. But also, the Linux oranges only grow in trees that are 150 feet tall and require the fire truck's ladder to get down. That's great, if you know someone in the fire department, or are a firefighter yourself: You get all the free oranges you want. Otherwise, it's easier to pay $199.

      Fortunately, Orange Tree developers like Ubuntu have made a 75 foot tall Orange tree. Now anyone that can rent a cherry picker can get free oranges. And the trees are only getting shorter.
    • ajifans, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Yep time=money. And companies around the world lose time almost every week having to install MS security patches and then having to reboot their machines.
    • christianw, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3ill save you reading the article,

      the answer is no
    • ohgr, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Let's not forget the other factor: Gaming. Yes Gaming. Gaming on Linux, although can be done, it's not as fluid or reliable as it is on Windows. And support for Linux is scarce. But yes that would also add to the monopoly that is Windows and OEMs.
    • thescimitar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@atdigg

      You're unfortunately getting dugg down, but I agree with you completely. I switched to Ubuntu this week, having no experience with Linux whatsoever, and only minor experience with Unix via OS X. Changing my Dell from XP to Ubuntu, even with virtually no experience, was really exceptionally easy. It wasn't instantaneous, it took a couple days of tweaking at night to get all my peripherals running, but there's no question that you're right: I will absolutely not be paying money for Vista when with a little effort, I can get a clean, decent looking OS for free.

      The people digging you down might be right in some aspects; a certain portion of any sales in the technology market is dependent upon sloth, not quality, but there are still lots of people like me who had never really considered a Linux build as a viable alternative, only to discover that it isn't as frightening, difficult, nor ungainly as we were led to believe.
    • TriZz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Dell is going to release pre-install Linux boxes...which, ironically will be more expensive than Windows boxes.

      If you're buying a new computer (and just an average user, not savvy like most of us are) - the Windows box is cheaper and more familiar. What's going to make them change?

      PS: I know that the Windows box is cheaper because it comes pre-installed with all those other useless programs that Dell gets paid to put on there.
    • MrFlesh, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Actually windows only has a large share of the home desktop market, it has next to nothing in Big Iron, most governments are moving away from Windows and controls only 40 something percent in business. The only reason it has such a huge desktop percentage is because of it's monopolistic business practices and PC gaming. There's all this talk about one being better than the other in whatever application...or which is more secure.....those arguements don't matter. The only argument that matters is.....do you want to pay for your vulnerabilities or not?
    • danmaz74, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I don't think that open source is the solution to everything, but in mature sectors (as in word processing, operative systems and other) there is no reason to pay so much for proprietary solutions. I agree that especially governments could save a HUGE amout of money adopting OSS in general, and Linux in particular, for their commodity-level software necessities. They have the scale to make it work.
  • elkos, on 10/12/2007, -7/+9It's inevitable Linux is coming to (K)onquer our desktop...
  • underdog5004, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6I sure hope so.
  • snooly, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2I buy my hardware to match the o/s. the o/s is not win-snot. or whatever they call it.
  • cato59, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1 HOORAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. WIN you're days are numbered
  • osc1882, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Just a friendly reminder to everyone that this is boycott the riaa month. Please refrain from buying anything at all that would aid to the RIAA untell the end of this month.
    • TriZz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I've seen you post this comment on every front page story today...please, if you're going to do this - please use spell check prior to posting this everywhere and looking like an idiot.

      I agree with the cause, but please be intelligent about it.
    • osc1882, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1LOL, sorry. I'm working on it.
  • nuclearpenguins, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Nope. Marked as inaccurate. Linux won't win any desktop wars until it's easy enough for grandma and grandpa to use. And by use I mean able to buy a boxed piece of software at their local walmart and have it able to install out of the box. You have to remember, old people don't always get their software online, there is still a large segment of the population that still buys software that comes in boxes.

    I know that lack of software support is the fault of the software companies, but it still holds Linux back from becoming mainstream.
    • gummih, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3How many old people set up their own OS anyway?
    • thescimitar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Grandma and Grandpa don't set up their machines... their children, or their grandchildren do.
  • MichaelKthx, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Awesome.

    Linux will do to the desktop as what Firefox did to the Web.

    And people went nuts over Firefox!
  • wwwhank, on 10/12/2007, -7/+7Not a Chance
  • opethlike, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4No.
  • rappermas, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Open your eyes, it's inevitable. How is WinXP easier to use than Linux? The first OEM to have it preinstalled will be the one that has the leadership to realize that Linux can work out of the box and that's really all it needs for popularity.
  • sirmadog, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Someday we will wake up to realize our toaster is run by linux.
  • pabster, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Yep, sure is. ROFL.
  • CrazyZ, on 10/12/2007, -4/+81995 The year of Linux on the... no wait...
    1996 The year of Linux on the... no wait...
    1997 The year of Linux on the... no wait...
    1998 dammit.....
    1999 but our servers are better.....
    2000 The year of Linux on the... no wait...
    2001 The, what?, you're kidding right?....
    2002 This is it, I mean it! Huh?
    2003 But we have Wine and.....
    2004 Okay, this is really it this time...
    2005 The year of Linux on the... dammit....
    2006 Ubuntu FTW!.... Huh? How many people use wireless anyway?
    and
    2007 The year of Linux..... forget it, I'm moving to OSX......

  • CheezIt9109, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1As much as I love Linux, and would like to see more competition to force Microsoft into having to do a better job...

    It's not going to happen, for at least a few years.

    I anxiously await the time that this happens, but please, let's not get delusional here.
  • Lynn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Linux has exploded to .42% of the market. That is massive and I can see it double in the next 10 years to almost 1%. RIP Microsoft.
    • Stemp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10.42% of the market ? Are you talking about the Linux used by MS employees ?
  • gummih, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I'm a programmer and up until now I've used Windows as my os of choice. This summer I will be getting a new PC, and I'm thinking that instead of Vista I might set it up with Linux. Games are no issue for mii and most of the software I use is open/freeware anyway so the switch wont be tough.
  • Fjinks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The idea of Linux getting a fair share of the desktop market is like Duke Nukem Forever.
  • MrFlesh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Buying Linux preinstalled is key to mass acception. But there is still a step between where we are today and the end goal. And that is a version of Linux that can be downloaded, put on a CD, installed in any computer with any hardware, updated, and used.....Now maybe that isn't "getting" the open crowd, but most people don't care about the open crowd. They care about easy, usable, and cheap. They MIGHT "get" the open crowd once they are more experienced with the OS. Really linux supporters need to stop trying to package their way of life with thier OS. The very fact that linux caught on in some circles when someone finally caved and made GUI shows that I'm right. Having said that I use Linux on my PS3 (I'm on it now)
  • Waterrat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Grandma and Grandpa don't set up their machines."

    A good many of them do.
    Not all boomers are computer illiterate.
  •  

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