Desktop Linux--What Happened, And What Didn't, In 2006
,----[ Quote ]
| First of all, what didn't happen in 2006? Once again, major OEMs
| turned away from offering Linux pre-loaded on to laptops. Although
| some had anticipated that Lenovo might break new ground in this way,
| the company's announcement at LinuxWorld held some surprises.
|
| Lenovo's T60p is enabled to run Novell's SLED (SUSE Linux Enterprise
| 10). It is receiving full phone support, and all Linux drivers needed
| are downloadable from Novell's Web site. But the PC is being sold
| with a blank hard disk. Users who want to run SLED on the desktop
| must purchase SLED licensing either direct from Novell or from a
| reseller.
`----
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/6342/1/
Retaliation/scare tactics, as always.
Related:
Linux and its closing window of opportunity with OEMs
,----[ Quote ]
| Right now, the following factors are true:
|
| * Linux has a very viable desktop and office suite--for free.
| OpenOffice being bloated is basically not an issue anymore,
| since even a basic computer today will run OpenOffice completely
| fine. Thanks to Ubuntu, end users can now use Linux and not notice
| the difference.
| * Again thanks to Ubuntu, Linux is amazingly simple to configure.
| * Computers are getting cheaper and cheaper. I am using a $950
| laptop, and it's an amazing machine which will probably last
| many years.
| * Linux's hardware support is impressive.
| * Vista is being released. All the anti-piracy procedures will
| annoy users immensely. Plus, Vista is a new system: a big break
| from XP.
|
|
| [...]
|
| Microsoft lobbying. There is no conspiracy theory here: it's
| something everybody knows. Executives of big companies are being
| pressured (see blackmailed) so that they will never allow people to
| buy a Linux laptop.
`----
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/blogs/linux_and_its_closing_window_of_opportunity_with_oems
http://tinyurl.com/yknye9
,----[ Quote ]
| ...PC makers remain loyal to (read: scared of) Microsoft. But Linux
| is catching on like crazy in other devices, powering the sleek new
| Motorola A1200 Ming smart phone, the Sony Mylo handheld computer,
| Linksys wireless routers and TiVo digital video recorders.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2006/0918/102e.html?partner=yahoomag
Novell's CEO:
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Corp is using scare tactics to exert pressure on PC vendors
| not to explore the potential of desktop Linux, according to Novell
| Inc president and COO, Ron Hovsepian
`----
http://www.commentwire.com/article_news.asp?guid=2044AB5A-59CA-4EC3-AD3F-73DF7BC4F8E0
Jury Hears Microsoft Competition Suit
,----[ Quote ]
| A judge on Friday told jurors they must accept as fact that a
| federal court found in 1999 that Microsoft holds a monopoly over
| computer operating systems and that it restricted computer
| manufacturers' ability to use competing systems.
|
| [...]
|
| She said she'll show that the company used its monopoly power
| to exclude competition and control prices and that it conspired with
| other companies to restrain trade, maintaining what she called a
| chokehold on software competitors and computer manufacturers.
|
| "It isn't illegal to be successful," Conlin said in opening
| remarks. "We applaud that. ... But you can't freeze out competitors
| and punish and retaliate against people who cooperate with
| competitors. Microsoft did all that and more."
|
| Conlin warned jurors that she would say some unflattering things
| about Microsoft and its billionaire founder Bill Gates, who
| serves as company chairman.
|
| [...]
|
| Conlin's first 3 1/2 hours of opening arguments delved deeply into
| computer industry history and how Microsoft fought off competitors
| attempting to design rival software.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061201/microsoft_trial.html?.v=1
Unisys Predicts 2007 Open Source Trends
,----[ Quote ]
| According to Unisys experts, 2007 will be the year that open source
| software attains the architectural backing and distribution channels needed
| to gain acceptance from enterprise customers as a front-rank vehicle for
| deploying enterprise applications to drive business growth and innovation
| at a lower cost per transaction.
`----
http://www.linuxelectrons.com/News/Application/Unisys_Predicts_2007_Open_Source_Trends
http://tinyurl.com/yytlf5
Outlook 2007: Linux and Open Source
,----[ Quote ]
| Next year will be a big one for Linux, with new platforms
| and opportunities in the data center.
|
| [...]
|
| Much more interesting, we hope, will be next year's vendor
| activities surrounding desktop Linux.
|
| While Linux is well positioned, featurewise, to give Windows a
| run for its money in 2007, what the platform still lacks is the
| sort of OEM support model that Windows enjoys.
|
| It's nearly impossible to buy a PC without a bundled Windows
| license, which makes Windows effectively free for most
| buyers and erodes the Linux price advantage--particularly
| since most enterprise or business user oriented desktop
| Linux options come with per machine fees attached.
|
| In addition, Microsoft's practically exclusive relationships
| to PC OEMs ensures that vendor efforts to provide working
| drivers remain trained almost solely on Windows.
|
| Linux distributions have grown quite good over the past
| few years at making their way onto PCs without the help of OEMs.
`----
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2066805,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594
|
|