5 Myths That Stymie Linux Growth
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eWeek has a great article up on the top five myths that stymie Linux growth. In it they discuss the myths that are common among certain tech circles, and attempts to dispel them. Of course, they never really do address the issue of hardware drivers, or printer support (which happens to be my biggest complaint, by far). Still, some distributions of Linux have some advantages over Windows and OS X. One of the killer apps, I believe, is the ability to add software via a repository system (and I think Ubuntu’s Add Application program is, far and away, the best method of delivering this content).
“Year after year, industry pundits state, “This is the year of Linux,” and year after year, those same pundits say, “The market is just not ready yet.” So the big question here is, “Where are the Linux desktops?” For the most part, they’re not anywhere.
Regardless of the advantages offered by Linux, no one seems to be adopting it wholeheartedly in the business world. What makes that even more fascinating is that the backlash against Windows Vista is not reason enough to fuel the move to Linux.
The problem here is that the powers that be have created enough FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) about Linux that most decision makers feel it is safer to stick with Windows (including XP). That FUD is fueled by many myths and misconceptions about what Linux can and cannot do. Let’s explore the top five myths and see what the real truth is here:
Read the rest of the article here.
6 Comments
Matt Hartley
December 4th, 2007
at 11:35am
I think the future is in idiot proof options for the home user, like Zonbu mini and the notebook. Or even the ASUS Eee, all are vastly superior to Vista Home when comparing feature to feature. That and they just work - out of the box, blue screen free. ;)
sjc1963
December 6th, 2007
at 3:20am
Matt Hartley, Nothing is truly ever “idiot-proof” because there will always be a better idiot out there. ;-)
As for your second comment I totally agree.
Michael
December 6th, 2007
at 8:34am
I have several old machines from 166MHz to 800MHz that will be headed to the scrap yard. Ubuntu will not run on them very well, nor will Kubuntu. I could be very wrong, but I think a simpler version of full-blown Linux that runs well on old equipment could be useful (not Puppy!). Something that even an imbecile (i.e., kid from publik skool who only knows how to use Macs) could walk up to and use without a major curve. I realize there are copyright issues, but as the jump article says: there needs to be a good Mac-like or XP-like interface (or maybe something better and more creative). I’m guessing 95% of people *don’t* know what hardware specs they have or how many million lines of code are in the OS - - and don’t care. MAKE IT SIMPLE AND KEEP IT SIMPLE. and cheap.
Then again, I’m still an advocate for a genuine (under $300) lowcost-laptop /totable /luggable using standard parts for a true ‘world computer’, and I don’t think that will happen either.
Kiko
December 6th, 2007
at 2:22pm
Michael, while I agree overall with what you say, calling the average Mac user an “imbecile” won’t gain you any friends, or further your cause.
I only stablishes you as a prima donna and a wanker in front of your potential audience.
Bobzilla
December 9th, 2007
at 3:15pm
Anyone reading this already knows that Linux is superior to Windows. We all know this, except Joe Public, he could care less what OS is on his box. Will Linux keep getting better? Sure it will. Will Linux market share increase significantly? Not until Joe Public is educated in the fact that Linux is superior to Windows!
Alain Kelder
December 24th, 2007
at 8:53pm
Hmm, I would have to take issue with their statement that:
“Regardless of the advantages offered by Linux, no one seems to be adopting it wholeheartedly in the business world”,
given that it was eWeek’s own article from almost a year ago that reported:
“At the Paris Solutions Linux show on Jan. 30, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second-largest automobile manufacturer, and Novell announced the signing of a multiyear contract for the deployment of up to 20,000 Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installations plus 2,500 copies of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server”.
Make up your mind, eWeek!