Is it lights out for desktop Linux?

Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:23AM EST

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ZDNet's Robin Harris is taking a hell of a beating over his recent post entitled "Windows kicks Linux to the curb," where he posits that Linux completely blew its chance to become a mainstream operating system after the majority of netbook vendors dropped the free OS they were initially enamored with in favor of good old Windows XP. The latest statistic: In the netbook market, Windows now holds an 80 percent market share, which is astonishing, since it looked like it would end up with a zero percent share when the netbook market got its start.

This issue has been bubbling up for months, and it came to a head in October when netbook maker MSI revealed that its Linux-based netbooks were returned four times as often as its Windows ones, indicating that consumers were just not interested in learning a new operating system, even if it was fundamentally similar to the one they already knew. On the other hand, consumers have been flocking to Apple computers in droves, which would also suggest that Linux isn't quite as easy to use as many of its proponents would like... and that price isn't as big an issue as many had thought.

Harris is right to wonder what the next move for Linux is: If it can't make it on a platform known for being basic, simple, and cheap, what hope does it have down the line when expectations are higher? Windows 7 is looking good, runs well on netbooks (unlike Vista), and will be pushed far harder for that platform than XP has ever been.

Linux enthusiasts respond that, hey, compared to the OS's history of having a market share between 2 and 3 percent, 20 percent isn't bad at all. That still may represent just a toehold in the industry, but it's vastly better than it's done in the last decade. And for what it's worth, Microsoft isn't thrilled about the whole netbook market, either: It makes just a fraction of the money it earns selling retail copies of Vista when it sells a copy of XP for a netbook. Hence this mess...

Interesting times ahead, particularly as the release of Windows 7 approaches. But what do you think? Is Linux still a serious option for you when buying a new machine?

Comments on Is it lights out for desktop Linux?

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  • 46 Posted by dextrus2000 on Wed May 20, 2009 10:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am a avid fan of MSI desktop motherboards and grahics cards I have never bought anything else in the last ten years Linux now runs perfect on them. that's why I bought two MSI 115 net books with windows on them I could not buy them with Linux installed I do use Linux on my desktops both net books failed on hardware problems not software problems. now it is that MSI don't want to admit that most returns where hardware related problems because if they did it would have refelcted badly on their netbooks products By the way I don't see MSI net books for sale now in Best Buys, I wonder why,

  • 47 Posted by dextrus2000 on Wed May 20, 2009 11:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    notes 77 you are right on there, the average Americans are to lazy to learn, they buy a Mac and still want windows on it, that shows they are beyond learning a new operating systems, they are stuck in a windaz zombie time warp how would Apple Mac's do if it was not for windoz

  • 48 Posted by cartman00000001 on Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    word of advice for the fanboi's. If you REALLY want to get your point across, or even taken seriously, lose the Windoze or windaz, or whatever one your tiny little mind can muster. Put up valid points, LISTEN TO DISSENTING OPINION, and debate normally. Who knows, maybe you could get what you want to say across without sounding like a 12 year old. Good luck!!

  • 51 Posted by mbpsrw on Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is not the fact that Linux is free or not, or the stability etc. It is simply the fact that the low market share of Linux gives manufacturers no incentive to create drivers for their hardware or port their apps. to Linux. Until that changes Linux will always just wallow in the belly of the good ship Microsoft. Sorry Apple users but OSX just blows chunks!

  • 52 Posted by allstellar on Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:38AM EDT Report Abuse

    Linux simply kill Winblows in every way but lazy readers are indeed lazy... Keep learning, It's good fir the mind and soul....

  • 53 Posted by celebrat99 on Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Music and Video licensensing issues killed the OS. Negotiating with RIAA and Video production companys over the CODEC's license is impossible with open source. Google Chrome will be open source and it will provide what Microsoft cannot. However, with Bill Gates newest venture "investing in the Weather Buisness" the earth may not be around long enough to see it.

  • 55 Posted by tothewack on Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:30AM EDT Report Abuse

    Support is the only reason why I don't use it. But don't get me wrong Linux has its use for sure. It is a lighter OS and should be used on smaller platforms. You can turn it into a power OS but there aren't as many apps to take advantage of it. I think MS is more worried over OSX. I think thats a big reason why they priced W7 so cheap. Though they need to ditch the 6 versions or whatever it is.

  • 56 Posted by s_atchison@sbcglobal.net on Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Windows stinks! I don't miss the spyware, viruses, and the annoying pop ups that tell me my operating system is not protected! And when I install software I am treated like a crook because I might be a pirate. I have switched to Ubuntu, and I will never go back to windows! Ubuntu rocks!

  • 57 Posted by ianyorkston on Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:38AM EDT Report Abuse

    It will never be lights out for Linux. Nothing trumps free. Lack of commercial application support is a big issue here in the US definitely. I have jumped through many different flavors of Linux, and right now I am rather enamored with Puppy Linux. 100 mb distro size, runs off cd, runs great on old equipment. Set up internet access in less than 2 minutes and was streaming Pandora through the browser with ease. As far as a full size version of Linux i like PC Linux 2009. Just worked right after installation, no add-ons or extra packages required. No updates, No BS. just install and go. Firefox worked great and streamed audio perfectly. Open office does work with OFFICE 07. its a great alternative to Windows and it just runs....

  • 58 Posted by agnes.dsilva on Fri Oct 2, 2009 2:32AM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes but not technical it is by USA Goggle Internet ----- terror dirt Swine Drunk dancing on my Computer-19 months Agnes

  • 59 Posted by escribame_ya on Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    I built a Linux box from new parts just to learn the system. Shortly after my Windows laptop crashed and burned. So the Linux (Debian) box became my main machine. I installed Windows XP in a virtual environment for those few programs that I couldn't find equals in Linux. Now the only thing I do in Windows is Quicken for my financial records. Everything else is in Linux.

  • 60 Posted by sapanalyst on Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    Linux requires one to not only learn a new system and application suite but also presents challenges in support, customer service, service packs and upgrades. Linux is best suited for hard-core eastern europeans, Russians, some Indians and Nerd-Americans. It can never be a consumer's preferred choice. Does anyone here think that a western customer cannot spare a few dollars for an operating system when he or she is paying hundreds of dollars for a computer? Microsoft earns its well deserved revenue by being cost effective, reliable and user friendly. Linux has not standing here. Bye Linux or Ubuntu or Kubunto and whatever.

  • 61 Posted by andystarr001 on Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Until Linux gets a free and easy way to play games for windows(Direct X10. A large segment of the population won't even consider switching.

  • 62 Posted by pc_411 on Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:03AM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it will take a mentally challenged celebrity to make Linux sound "cool" before the mainstream starts giving it a try. LOL netbooks are a niche market anyway....you have to look at the people who are NOT using them. I have 4 desktops & 1 laptop computers in my store, all running Linux except for 1 that I use for accounting (and playing Perfect World) I'm stuck all day, 6 days a week there...as much as I like gadgets & shopping when would I use it? Perhaps I'm just defensive of Linux!

  • 63 Posted by sehson on Sun Nov 8, 2009 10:51PM EST Report Abuse

    Linux will still be around, but as others have said it's all about the apps. Linux has lots of great programs that do all the same stuff as on a Windows or MAC and most of them are free, but the problem come in the form of finding them, then installing them. Most users really don't get much farther then the programs that come pre-installed on the computer. Linux is changing and becoming more novice friendly, but even with wine and play-on-linux apps, if many of the popular programs don't run on linux without help, it won't grow into the mainstream.

  • 64 Posted by dougmagdaleno on Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:51PM EST Report Abuse

    Windows, even up to Windows 7, will NEVER be secure, due to its use of IPC's (inter procedure calls) which are inherently susceptible to hacking and cracking. Unix variants ( Mac, Linux, BSD, etc) do not have this vulnerability. I have "grown up" on Microsoft, and am an accomplished developer in the MS world, however, I am switching as I am just following the market, and am REALLY TIRED of patching systems every day, and/or re-installing OS's and and apps due to a virus. After 29 years with MS, I'm done. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. I spend more time patching/ reinstalling, and policing I still will develop apps for clients, but the tide has turned.

  • 65 Posted by markfkaufman on Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:40AM EST Report Abuse

    Let's see, I use a Ubuntu Desktop machine, another Ubuntu Desktop machine as a server and an OS X desktop. As far as network apps go, Linux has lots of great stuff, as far as multimedia, Linux again has it all, but some of this is depending on the creativity of the used. There are "power users" and there are those of us who will actually script to get exactly what we want. We wha are not lazy, we are the future, the Linux people. OS X is pretty cool too.

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