Too many Linux distros?
from The PC InformantAs a number of PC manufacturers began to install Linux on netbooks, I asked
Could it be that there’s hope for Linux on the desktop after all? It is my firm belief that until an average PC user can walk into a store and see a variety of Linux-based systems with all that the user needs pre-installed, Linux will remain absent from home use. But looky here- all of a sudden PC vendors are installing Linux.
But Microsoft has been using all its muscle to keep Linux off PCs. Recognizing that Vista was a no-go for the less powerful machines, it has kept XP alive for that market and the marketers of netbooks are selling systems with XP as well as Linux. I suspect Microsoft is putting a lot of pressure on OEMs. I note some peculiar pricing. Even though Linux is free, I see manufacturers charging more for Linux systems than for Windows systems. Of course, the Linux systems have better hardware but the average PC buyer is going to look at price first. There’s also the confusion caused by so many different flavors of Linux. So the question remains, will the average PC user choose a Linux system when a Windows one is available? And will the developers write programs and drivers for Linux? As I have said before:
I never underestimate the incredible grip that Microsoft has on the market. Windows is not an appropriate operating system for hundreds of millions of PC users who only want to go on the Internet. But they end up with Windows anyway.
Sol Libes has been involved with PCs since their beginning and he has written me expressing his opinion about the chances for Linux:
Linux is superior to Windows in many ways. It is great that Linux is making inroads, via subnotebooks, as an personal computing operating system. However, the problem is that there are so many different Linux implementations. Brad Linder maintains the Liliputing web site with an excellent table comparing subnoteooks. On it one can see the many different Linux implementations: Ubuntu, Linpus, SUSE, gOS, Mandriva, Ultimate, Xandros, Linux, and even custom Linux versions. I suspect this is why many purchasers of these units, and application developers, will stick with Windows and avoid Linux.
What’s your opinion? Does Linux have a chance?
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