Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> Why Linux isn't mainstream
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| First, the home computer. People at home generally want to
>| use an OS compatible with what they use at work. Linux
>| isn't at work, so it isn't at home. Additionally, you
>| can't easily play many commercial games on Linux. An
>| overwhelming majority of retail PC games are released for
>| Windows only. Those PC games that are also released for
>| other operating systems are usually released for Windows
>| and MacIntosh. It's rare that a retail PC game is released
>| for Linux.
>|
>| But the primary reason that more home users aren't on
>| Linux is because they don't use Linux at work. So the work
>| environment is the root of the problem.
> `----
>
> http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/07/17/1535
> 230&from=rss
>
> Same can probably apply to school (e.g. every student can
> take/afford OpenOffice for home use). Each corporate
> migration to Linux and OSS gives people skills that bridge
> the habitual gap.
Overall, author has a point. My current employer is a Windows
only shop and games I enjoy are Windows only, which is why I
have a dual boot system.
However, with emphasis on streamlining costs, I believe
employers are now considering alternatives. This is
especially in light of the cost of licensing Microsoft
Windows.
There is more and more emphasis on international operations
and international compatibility.
Singapore Government has migrated to Open Office suite from
Microsoft Office. China has implemented wide spread Linux
desktops and servers. Massachussets and various European
countries and cities are looking to Open Document format for
vendor independent document access.
University students are more familiar with Linux and will have
an impact on the working world they enter. Linux has a wealth
of applications for learning compiled and interpreted
languages, data bases, electrical, civil and mechanical
engineering analysis programs available at no or low cost. A
student needing a PC can install Linux on an older machine and
still have the office automation and web functions at a within
budget of a college student, which is perfectly legal.
I believe we will see a shift over the next 5 to 10 years.
Growth of Linux and Open Source will not be linear, it will be
exponential.
--
HPT
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