XP SP3 and Vista SP1 Will Own Linux-Free Desktops until Windows 7
section: windows, for your questions: KezNews forum, 20.4.2008
Even though with the advent of Windows Vista the open source community saw the ripe moment for Linux to strengthen its grip over consumer PCs, the fact of the matter is that Windows still holds a firm grip over the vast majority of desktops worldwide.
And there is no change visible on the horizon, especially as the two largest vendors of Linux operating systems have no plans to go against Microsoft. Neither Novell nor Red Hat feel that Linux has sufficient driving force behind it in order to go against Windows, which until Windows 7 will largely be represented by Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista SP1.
Novell President and CEO Ronald Hovsepian, revealed to InformationWorld that SUSE Linux will fail to become popular until Windows 7, and even beyond. The immediate reason for this is the slow pace at which the Linux consumer market is growing. "The market for the desktop for the next three to five years is mainly enterprise-related," Hovsepian explained. As a direct consequence, Novell is focusing the bulk of its efforts on winning over corporate desktops and technology enthusiasts.
But Novell's perspective is shared by Red Hat. "We have no plans to create a traditional desktop product for the consumer market in the foreseeable future," stated the Red Hat Desktop Team. With neither Novell nor Red Hat making a move against Windows, Vista SP1 and XP SP3 are bound to have an easy ride in the upcoming years. And if the situation perpetuates itself, Windows 7 will also not have much of a challenge from Linux, either.
"An explanation: as a public, for-profit company, Red Hat must create products and technologies with an eye on the bottom line, and with desktops this is much harder to do than with servers. The desktop market suffers from having one dominant vendor, and some people still perceive that today’s Linux desktops simply don’t provide a practical alternative. Of course, a growing number of technically savvy users and companies have discovered that today’s Linux desktop is indeed a practical alternative. Nevertheless, building a sustainable business around the Linux desktop is tough, and history is littered with example efforts that have either failed outright, are stalled or are run as charities," the Red Hat Desktop Team added.
Red Hat is pushing the open source operating system via Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Fedora and Red Hat Global Desktop. But all these desktop products are aimed at a niche of customers, mainly in corporate environments. One company that did go straight against Microsoft and Windows is Canonical. The Ubuntu distribution of Linux is slowly making its presence felt, but at just a superficial level at this point.
source:
news.softpedia.com
Send link 2 friend | Permalink
MORE RELATED ARTICLES:
Free Vista SP1 Deployment Toolkit Available – Nothing for XP SP3 || Microsoft: Some Free Vista (+SP1) to Go Along with the Free XP SP2 Downloads? || Are XP SP3 and Windows 7 Getting in the Way of Vista SP1? || Forget about Vista SP1, Just Go with XP SP3 and Windows 7 || No More Registry from Vista SP1 and XP SP3 to Windows 7?
Comments(4)
where linux distros are concerned, i've never seen xandros so much as mentioned here.
it comes with an acceptable desktop, firefox browser, thunderbird email handler and a
crossover program for running microsoft based programs (for those that can't live without
them). it's not free but it averages 25% of the cost of any microsoft os. i've been
using the deluxe version for several years now.
the only reason why windows is doing better is because most computer users don't know
any better since windows comes with their computers already installed. they believe that
it is like apple with their os/computer combo.
actually, you're probably more right than most people realize. i, myself am guilty of
not knowing a whole lot about linux, and the main reason is because windows is what came
on my first computer (back in the 95 days), and windows is what i have always used.
it is more "comfortable" for me, and it is, most likely, what i will always use.
i
currently use vista, and i am quite satisfied with it. it is fairly quick and very stable
for me.
to all of the linux and apple users, if you are happy using those
operating systems, then by all means, stick with it. :-) nobody can fault you for your
decision!
i do agree also with all of you, and i know for sure that if presented to a low end user
a linux desktop (ubuntu, dora, xandros, suse, caixamagica(pt), etc.. etc.. etc...) woul
sufice the needs of almost every such user... but i think you just missing the point of a
desktop system this days! this would be true years ago with almost every desktop you could
already browse the internet,use some kinda of document processing, imaging, and some other
basic things!, of course with the limitation of the time! but nowadays almost every
middleto power user of such system needs more! /they want to install some power games,
some applications, and do some crazy thing with their desktops, and there is not one linux
distro that comes with this facility to the user! i mean put 2 desktop pcs one with
(xp/vista) and one with linux in front of a person than doesn't know sh%$#% about it and
tell im to put a game in the cd, or an application in the cd andtell im to run in the 2
pcs, then you'l know that he will prefer much because of the easyness of microsfts
systems the ms os!
an i know cause i have witnessed something similar in front of me!
i am in the business of the ti market for along time and no argue in this!
Add a Comment
Some things are not represented here...
By whozzit on 21.04.2008 - 03:04