49 Comments
- Tribis, on 07/22/2008, -2/+19It seems that Linux is always on the verge of going huge.
- sw3t, on 07/22/2008, -2/+17Linux is already huge.. you just don't know it. because behind linux is not a huge company rubing it in your eyes everywhere.
- inactive, on 07/22/2008, -8/+20"It's clear that Linux is going to be a leader in the mobile space,"said executive director of the Linux Foundation
This year I swear! oh wait no maybe next year! thats it! next year for sure! oh wait, no... the year after that is for sure! - TopBanana, on 07/22/2008, -0/+10In other news "It's clear Microsoft is gonig to be a leader in the mobile space", said executive director of Microsoft.
- div2n, on 07/22/2008, -0/+7Arguably, mid-2007 to mid-2008 _has_ been the year of the Linux desktop. It's really a matter of how you define it.
-Dell started selling Ubuntu desktops and laptops targeted for home users
-Other manufacturers followed their lead.
-WINE hit 1.0
-Ubuntu and other distros are starting to get the "grandmother" seal of approval in reviews.
If, however, you require xx percentage of computers to be running Linux to arrive at the year of the Linux desktop, you have a while to wait.
Even still, it's hard to gauge exactly how many Linux desktops there are. Many older systems are being reborn with Linux. Quite a few are doing dual boot duty these days. Some are outright being converted.
But the problem is that tracking these is an inexact science. But when you have vendors such as Adobe start releasing their free products such as Adobe Reader alongside or very near other OS versions, you know there is a sufficient market emerging. - jibbajabba2, on 07/22/2008, -2/+9I am a fan of Linux, but haven't we been hearing this along with "Year of Linux on the desktop!!" for 5 years now?
- katierosekills, on 07/22/2008, -1/+7I just might break up with my first gen iphone for a sexy new linux phone if things look good..
- javaroast, on 07/22/2008, -0/+5While reviewers are giving Windows the "grandmother" seal of approval, that is much different than my grandmother actually using it. As much progress that has been made with Windows desktop usability, there is still a level of technicality one must possess to make it run reliably, and I think that its inherent to Windows architecture and will always be the case. I'm quite sure that my grandmother does not know what a registry is, and she probably thinks UAC is a University...
- directrix13, on 07/22/2008, -0/+5@jibbajabb2:
You don't need to know what any of that stuff is to run Ubuntu. As a platform a default install of Ubuntu does what most people need it to do. And, generally speaking, installing software is easier on Linux. There are a few corner cases where a software package requires a nerd to configure it, but there are just as many corner cases requiring that on Windows. - WorldRTomi, on 07/22/2008, -0/+5they don't really need to realise it. That's not the point of the article.
- javaroast, on 07/22/2008, -0/+5I know that linux stole your girlfriend and took your lunch money, but you have to let it go. Try filtering the Linux/Unix category instead of making the same lame post for every article.
- inactive, on 07/22/2008, -1/+6Buried for stupidity.
Or arrogance
Or both - mooninite, on 07/22/2008, -0/+3OK, I'll match you. A few weeks ago when I was in the local airport there was a big .NET Windows crash box on a big display instead of the slide show of advertisements.
- kill4killin, on 07/22/2008, -2/+5This is so true. Just the other day, I saw the TV screens on the metro line displaying a GRUB boot prompt rather than the usual slide show of advertisements.
- carrtoonist, on 07/22/2008, -1/+4I can see it. When desktops where still young Apple had the superior product but lost out because they didn't want to share the way IBM did. Now history is going to repeat itself with smart phones.
- inactive, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Yes, whereas you arnt flailing your arms about bitching about a linux topic. grow the ***** up and get the ***** out.
- thomsamuels, on 07/22/2008, -0/+2"Linux really allows device manufacturers and new people to come in and create their own brand."
It's getting over the uncertainty to reap the rewards that the manufacturers need to understand and utilize. - inactive, on 07/22/2008, -0/+2Well it just sounds lame because the first one made sense. Lollipops being the leader in the mobile space? When i heard that, it made me want to stop reading, but I didn't in case there was anything funny below it, which imho there was not...
I just think it's usually taking it too far when you stop making sense. - skyshock1, on 07/22/2008, -0/+2Anyone have actual numbers on how many linux-based mobile devices are out there currently compared to Windows Mobile, etc...? We can make up statements like this all day, but where are the figures?
- jrattner1, on 07/22/2008, -0/+2Thats because every year is the "Year of Linux on the ______"
- gquaglia, on 07/22/2008, -1/+3In their dreams.
- inactive, on 07/22/2008, -0/+21. Joke already taken
2. This is a very lame version of it. - Laminarcissus, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1Damn, screwed by the comedy rule of threes yet again.
I understand that I've disappointed a whole lot of people with this, and with any luck I can make up for it by being super-funny in the future.
Thanks again for your advice, you're using your time even better than I am. - trogdoor, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1You know there exists a whole world outside of desktops, right?
- RetepNamenots, on 07/22/2008, -5/+6Makes sense.
- netgeek06, on 07/22/2008, -6/+7Linux is a great platform to work with. Sure it will be a leader in the mobile technology.
- duckyinc, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1Isn't that what everyone expected? Mobile phones can't and don't need any complex tasks and linux is free, perfect match. But computer world needs to write a double page article on why open source will win the war on close source software.
- JQP123, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1And since this comes from an obviously un-biased source, it carries more weight than all the similar pronouncements that have been made repeatedly over the years.
- yorian, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0This article is not about Linux on the desktop, can't you read?
- vinnieT, on 07/22/2008, -0/+0There's not a lot more to say than "good". It's about time for Linux to go mainstream.
- Tribis, on 07/22/2008, -1/+1I don't think any company could ever rub less than 1% market share in anyone's eyes.
- endofleg, on 07/23/2008, -0/+0these headlines always excite, and rarely deliver.
- Laminarcissus, on 07/22/2008, -2/+1Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Although I didn't know about 1. (and my sincerest apologize to the person who already took it), I can't agree with 2.
This is clearly an exquisite rendition of the joke -- well thought-out, meticulously constructed, and I believe it is a tribute to the form. - inactive, on 07/22/2008, -4/+3only here on Digg amirite?
- snkscore, on 07/22/2008, -4/+3I think I read this same stuff like 7 years ago when they came out with the "palm killer" running some flavor of linux.
The fact that I don't remember the name of this things might give you a clue that it didn't really do anything in the marketplace.
Check back in 7 more years for more "linux is going to take over next year" news. - Vesath, on 07/22/2008, -2/+0That's the goal to achieve, actually.
- Laminarcissus, on 07/22/2008, -5/+3"It's clear that lollipops are going to be leaders in the mobile space," said the executive director of the Lollipop Guild.
"It's clear that eggs are going to make the mobile space even more incredible and edible," said the executive director of the National Egg Board.
"It's clear that milk is what the mobile space is going to have got," said the executive director of the Dairy Board. - bpoteat, on 07/22/2008, -5/+2On top of usability (hint: since 1990 no regular user should ever be required to use a terminal) they need to make millions of dollars so they can make deals with hardware providers to ensure that as many hardware products as possible work out of the box - or close to it - with Linux.Yeah, I know, the chances of that happening are about the same as Linux being taken seriously as an alternative to Windows or Mac by most everyday users. If there is very little money in it for the hardware manufacturers, then they aren't going to waste their time.
- snkscore, on 07/22/2008, -4/+1And it always will be... :)
- purdo, on 07/22/2008, -4/+1I think Linux will suffer the same fate on mobiles as it has on the desktop, fragmented. Shame really...
- FMVorenkamp, on 07/22/2008, -3/+0It's more fun watching you nerds flail your chubby arms about.
- zadadka, on 07/22/2008, -6/+2Dugg for mentioning Mosaic.......happy memories....
- jibbajabba2, on 07/22/2008, -5/+1While reviewers are giving distros the "grandmother" seal of approval, that is much different than my grandmother actually using it. As much progress that has been made with Linux desktop usability, there is still a level of technicality one must possess to make it run reliably, and I think that its inherent to Linux architecture and will always be the case. I'm quite sure that my grandmother does not know what an init script is, and she probably thinks sudo is a card game...
- computershack, on 07/22/2008, -6/+2Will anyone apart from the Slashdot/Digg crowd even realise they're using a Linux OS on a mobile?
- polarengineer, on 07/22/2008, -9/+3Make a *splash*? C'mon! The the article goes on to say "Linux is set to make a major impact". Oh yeah, nevermind splash in the headline, that's not what we really meant.
Sure, Linux continues to evolve and enter various applications, but the only thing that makes a splash is something with marketing behind it, like say, the Apple iPhone.
Gas pumps and medical equipment are mobile? WTF?
Gimmie a break with these *!!!--NEWS FLASH--!!!* Linux articles. - tlm2021, on 07/22/2008, -8/+2I know I'm going to get buried for this, but Linux isn't exactly a "primary platform," particularly on the desktop with less than 1% market share.
I'm not suggesting it's bad. I've used Linux and while it wasn't my thing I could totally see using Linux alone if I wanted to. And it's open source, which I'm always 100% behind. And in the more behind-the-scenes world of computing (i.e. servers), Linux is already a powerful force.
I'm not saying it's impossible for Linux to become a dominant mobile platform. But in the desktop realm, even Ubuntu lags behind other operating systems in the user-friendly department. You and I find a lot of the functions easy, but as another Digg article pointed out, it doesn't yet pass the "girlfriend test." And if Linux really wants to become serious competitor as an end-user platform, they're going to need to spend some time with these usability issues, cause they really are major roadblocks for most consumers still. - 4NDr01D, on 07/22/2008, -10/+3Wisdom of the Crowd = Mob Rule
Linux did not invent the iPhone
Linux is a copy of a copy of a copy.
A.I. will Not be run on Linux - FMVorenkamp, on 07/22/2008, -10/+2Buried for linux.
What is Digg?
The Digg Toolbar for Firefox lets you Digg, submit content, and keep track of Digg even when you're not on the Digg site. Download the official