Linux on the Desktop is Doomed

Introduction Over several years I have taken a keen interest in Linux and the Open Source Movement generally. I have bought and read countless Linux magazines, installed Linux many times, written a pro-Linux article, purchased an EEE that ran Linux etc etc. At one point, my employer even sent me to full-time Unix training for a couple of weeks. Every year I read how this will be the big one - "Linux on the Desktop" will arrive at last, and we will see the decline of the "evil empire". After almost a decade of waiting and hoping, Linux still languishes at less than 2% market share. Given the advent of people now surfing the net with their smart phones (some based on Linux of course), the era of "Linux on the Desktop" has already passed. Soon we will see the deluded Linux Community trying to take credit for the success of Google's Android and similar smart phones. Sad to report, but Google (and Microsoft and Apple for that matter) are much better at producing finished software that works than the FLOSS Movement will ever be. The Desktop Verdict It's a hard-nosed thing to say, but Linux must be classified as a failure. It may soon be running every server in the world, but it has failed dismally as a desktop operating system. After all these years, it should have evolved and emerged as a major player. What on earth went wrong? The articles that will gradually appear here will outline some of my experiences and thoughts about Linux and why it has failed. It's a crying shame, but all the little nerds and nerdettes who fancied themselves as programmers and designers only have themselves to blame. The valiant efforts of the several hundred people who have devoted their lives to GNU/Linux/FLOSS have been wiped out by the foolish waffle and poor quality contributions by all the wanna-be hangers-on. That's the verdict, folks!!! PS: Links to my supporting articles will start appearing here soon.

		This page was last updated on Monday, 5th April, 2010.
| Top of Page |