Linux still largely invisible in the marketplace

[ted leslie]

On Thu, 8 Dec 2005 22:29:54 +0200 (IST)
Peter <plp-ysDPMY98cNQDDBjDh4tngg at public.gmane.org> wrote:

> 
> On Thu, 8 Dec 2005, Rick Tomaschuk wrote:
> 
> > I travel a lot through the US and Canada and am frustrated that after
> > the last 10 years of working to promote Linux (it) is still largely
> > invisible in the market place especially when compared to the Apple
> > and their pirated lookalike copy called Windows produced by the convicted
> > monopolist Microsoft. The industry rag Computing Canada (also CDN) pretty
> > much ignores Linux and focuses on piracy. I sent their editor an email
> > complaining about their support for an illegal monopoly. I suppose that
> > is where their advertising $$ are coming from.  Is it really
> > possible to steal from lawyers and thieves?

I feel the same way, but usually perk myself up when I then think of the much higher
penetration everywhere else but USA/Canada, i.e. all South Korean schools go to linux (if i remember correctly) thus producing a HUGE linux population as they get through the system and graduate.
China perhaps similar, and germany ... etc, etc ..? 
I have seen numbers as low as 2% worldwide desktop use for linux, and numbers as high a 12%,
but regardless Linux on the desktop is bigger then OSX on the desktop worldwide, so thats good news,
that its the second most popular desktop out of the three "biggies".

I think alot of countries outside of US/CND will adopt it very heavily and in the end
US/CDN will finally turn.

With cellphone, tivo/pvr's, TV sets, pda's also using linux,
i think it might be possible for the "install" base of linux to out number the "install" base of
all MS OS products in as soon as 3 years, but for the average home desktop being linux,
i am guessing it might be 2012 before linux out numbers Microshaft, at least based on current trends.
but that isn't all that far away.

this MIT 100$ portable dream just doesnt seem to die, and thus getting closer to reality,
man 100M 100$US portable computer per year running linux, that can tilt the MS use % really quickly!
i can't remember, whats it estimated at, 600-750M pc currently in use world wide?
100M units a year via MIT project, 100's M linux units as asian countries rollout,
hey its possible! i can only hope!!

on a totally seperate subject ....
http://www.projectblackdog.com/  totally kicks ass, i can only imagine what one will have for linux
power (on their belt) in 2 years!!! maybe when you go in an buy a 2BG usb flash key from futureshop
2-3 years from now (for 50-80$), it will come with a low ampdraw cpu and linux onboard just as a free 
side extra, think of it, 2-3 years from now all usb memory stick come will linux built in, as a management
and optional interactive system!! not so far fetched. They have a Geode now at 1W power consumption for
a 400Mhz processor. A backdog , mass produce could be 50$ two  years from now (less the biometrics too).


-tl


> 
> Yes, but one would have to become a politician to pull that one off 
> imho.
> 
> > What is needed are more high profile brand name devices which clearly
> > indicate they are powered by Linux OR some other operating system. I'm
> <snip>
> 
> http://www.linuxdevices.com
> 
> The PDA, router, cell phone, and entertainment center used by idiots who 
> proclaim 'not to be using Linux' may very well have been taken over a 
> couple of years ago already. Even if one disregards the signature of 
> email servers on their messages, often attesting to the fact that they 
> are clueless (for example with their own organization's email being 
> handled by linux servers and open source virus checkers and mail 
> servers, or, if they are large enough, most of their web caching being 
> handled by akmai).
> 
> Peter
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