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(When) Will Linux Pass Apple On The Desktop?

Posted by timothy on from the my-little-3-percenters dept.

EisPick writes "A column posted today on Slate ponders projections that Linux PCs will pass Apple in desktop market share next year. Will Linux do to OS X what it already has done to Tru64, Irix, HP/UX, AIX and Solaris and emerge as the only viable competitor to Windows on the desktop?"

9 of 1,316 comments (clear)

  1. No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    1. Re:No by Temporal · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, it's a little-known fact that OSX already supports three-button mice! It's sort of tricky to enable, though. If you want to use a three-button mouse (complete with right-click context menus like you'd expect), you'll need to follow the following steps:

      (1) Plug in a 3-button USB mouse.

      I know this procedure may be a little confusing compared to the simple config file edits and driver installations you might be used to in other OS's, but if you follow the steps carefully, you should be able to figure it out. Have fun!

    2. Re:No by RetiredMidn · · Score: 5, Funny
      Studies show that computer-illiterate people are easily confused by multiple buttons. You'd be surprised, but it really is a problem.

      Short version, in response to the complaint that the Mac has no right mouse button: the Mac has no wrong mouse button.

  2. I would say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The SCO licensing fees should prove a healthy deterrent to future adoption of Linux. Windows, as the only desktop operating system untainted by the whole Unix mess, is the only secure bet for the future.

  3. Answer: by ruiner13 · · Score: 5, Funny
    When penguins fly.

    Or when Linus gets the commercial and media attention Steve Jovs gets. Or when Linus developes a reality distortion field of his own.

    --

    today is spelling optional day.

  4. Re:Market Share? by El · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, by your definition, Internet Explorer has a market share of 0%? Wait 'till M$ hears this!

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  5. Re:No. by El · · Score: 4, Funny
    To be succesful on the desktop, for the average user, you have to have a system that's very consistent and 'just works'.


    How then do you explain the success of Windows?

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  6. shared user base by cybin · · Score: 3, Funny

    who cares about OS X vs. linux? all we should care about is everybody else vs. microsoft. we should all have a nice beige linux box and a nice grey sleek mac on our desks.

    if there's one thing the mac world and the linux world share it's fanatical users. we need a marvel comics team-up to start converting the unwashed masses!

  7. Re:Apple is a system by CoolVibe · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, Linux is a tank.