Ubuntu

Hello Everyone!

A simple question:

Do you think that Red Hat Linux will be obtaining a MAJOR share of the desktop operating systems on personal computers in near future?

1. Yes
2. No
3.Not Sure


Thanks

JAM

At this time I do not believe so. I think at this point in time if linux is going to make a stride into mainstream desktop usage it is going to require yet another distro brought in by someone will a new and in depth vision of linux on the desktop.

So you don't think that Red Hat Linux is polised and refined enough to meet the consumers' satisfaction. If a new and in depth new vision of linux has yet to come, is there any mentionable company which will deliver that?

JAM

No, i think redhat is plenty refined and polished for the market, but their focus is primarily on the workstation and sever market in the enterprise. At this moment I think the company with the best odds of bringing linux into the general public is Novell. Currently there are novell networks running in a large margin of offices and schools, and now with Novell jumping on the linux bandwagon, if they were to create a distro refined and polished, AND windows like enough to be usable without any prior linux knowledge by the everyday windows userm and to push it as THE os to use on a Novell network, then that would be the best place to start. If people were to begin using linux as the standard in workstations in cubicles, and at libraries, and in schools, then linux will gain a measurable desktop market share. The biggest issue holding back linux on the desktop is the fact that people dont know what it is, how it works, what it looks like, and that it isnt really difficult to use. To take a hold on the school market will educate people from the start that linux is a competant, stable, and easy to use desktop os that is far more affordable than windows.

One must also take into consideration the fact that most PC users are not very computer literate, and some form so tight a bond with their operating system that they will fight logic to use it. I can't count how many times I have argued the benefits of Macs vs. x86 boxes, proved the other person wrong, then watched as they became red-faced and hissie-fitty. Some people just don't want to or simply can't learn to use a different OS.

Then there's the whole compatability issue. Right now, I am unaware of any linux distro that supports windows apps out of the box. One is forced to install and configure things like wine and vmware on their own - something daunting if not impossible for 'the average user'.

The bright side to 'everyone else' using windows? As unjustified as it is, it makes some of us feel big

Well, its gonna be kinda tough for Red Hat to gain market share of the desktop when they are not going to support Red Hat 9.0 as of early 2004. In fact they are moving solely to their Enterprise Edition and will no longer release any more commercial desk top versions of Red Hat Linux. There is however, their open source project called Fedora which is aimed at developers as an open source effort. The Fedora project is only available by download (it used to be available by CD for purchase but even that has already been phased out). See Red Hat for more information.

Also, from the Red Hat site link
Q: Do you feel Linux will ever be a viable desktop OS? Or will it stay in the role of server OS? What work is Red Hat doing on this?

There are many different ways of describing a "desktop OS." One scenario is that of the power computer user, someone that needs to be able to run several multi-tasking programs at the same time. The person is heavily dependent on the Internet and is interested in tweaking their operating environment heavily to suit their tastes.

A second scenario might be the "Engineering Workstation," where a particular CAD/CAM or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) application is usually the sole focus, with other graphical programs like a web browser or e-mail client in use the rest of the time.

A third scenario is a computer interface for the non-technical user, one that insulates them from the underlying system and tries to simplify as many tasks as possible.

Red Hat Linux already excels in the first two scenarios, and continues to gain more and more converts as time progresses and Legacy UNIX platforms are phased out. Students, Scientists, and Engineers are all realizing the power of using Red Hat Linux as a desktop OS.

For the third scenario, Linux in general (including Red Hat Linux) is currently not the best fit.

Another link describing the same thing .. I was reading it this morning:

Red Hat tells customers, "No more freebies!"