LoL
03-13-2007, 09:47 PM
Today's Wall Street Journal has an interesting article in the Business Technology Section by Robert A. Guth.
The article states that more businesses are adopting Linux on PCs of some workers. According to the author the market for Linux-based PCs was long ago left for dead, but is now showing signs of life.
As an editor of Linux on Laptops site, I have not seen a slow down in interest in running Linux on desktops for past few years. Yes, Apple with its OS-X based notebooks/desktops has been a serious challenger in the unix-like desktop segment. But Linux has a strong presence on the desktop, and proof points have been visible with popularity of desktop oriented distros like Ubuntu.
According to WSJ, Linux desktops making in-roads in areas of "narrow applications" - replacing Unix (primarily Solaris) based desktops which were previously used for such applications. Microsoft's progress in curtailing piracy in places like China is cited as another reason for growing popularity of Linux desktops - especially in Asia.
Per IDC, Windows has 92% share of PCs sold each year. One of Microsoft's way of defending this battlefront is tie Windows PCs very closely with its servers. As Microsoft's answer to growing number cities and states going to Linux and standard formats, the article ends with quoting IT department of the State of Illinois - "We don't have time for science projects in state government". May be they are trying to get Microsoft to open an office in Chicago...
Article has several key ommissions. It does not mentions the fastest growing distro on desktops - Ubuntu. It also does not mention companies which already offer pre-installed Linux laptops, e.g. LinuxCertified (http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux_laptops.html).
The article states that more businesses are adopting Linux on PCs of some workers. According to the author the market for Linux-based PCs was long ago left for dead, but is now showing signs of life.
As an editor of Linux on Laptops site, I have not seen a slow down in interest in running Linux on desktops for past few years. Yes, Apple with its OS-X based notebooks/desktops has been a serious challenger in the unix-like desktop segment. But Linux has a strong presence on the desktop, and proof points have been visible with popularity of desktop oriented distros like Ubuntu.
According to WSJ, Linux desktops making in-roads in areas of "narrow applications" - replacing Unix (primarily Solaris) based desktops which were previously used for such applications. Microsoft's progress in curtailing piracy in places like China is cited as another reason for growing popularity of Linux desktops - especially in Asia.
Per IDC, Windows has 92% share of PCs sold each year. One of Microsoft's way of defending this battlefront is tie Windows PCs very closely with its servers. As Microsoft's answer to growing number cities and states going to Linux and standard formats, the article ends with quoting IT department of the State of Illinois - "We don't have time for science projects in state government". May be they are trying to get Microsoft to open an office in Chicago...
Article has several key ommissions. It does not mentions the fastest growing distro on desktops - Ubuntu. It also does not mention companies which already offer pre-installed Linux laptops, e.g. LinuxCertified (http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux_laptops.html).