Novell, RedHat and Sun Commit to a Linux Desktop

DeckerEgo writes "InfoWorld reports on the Linux desktop and how Novell, Sun and RedHat (wha?) are working on making 2004 the year corporations start adopting open desktops. But which desktop? Most interesting to note is how Novell is planning to beef up the number of Ximian, Gnome, Mozilla and OpenOffice developers after its SuSE aquisition is complete. Does this mean that SuSE will stop being one of the best KDE distros out there and follow the way of the Gnome?"

Comments

SuSE + Gnome

[thenextpresident]

I love SuSE, and I love Gnome. I know many people out there may disagree, but having SuSE actually provide better Gnome support is wonderful news to me.

Regardless of that fact, having some big companies work together to create a unified front, a unified showing for Linux on the desktop, whether they use KDE, Gnome, or whatever, is good news as well.

Looks like some fun and interesting things are coming.

I wonder

[ModernGeek]

I am wondering if they are going to put alot into user interface design like Apple did with OS X, and if they will be selling it preinstalled on computers like Windows does, that should deffinately bring up the market for it, also a unified desktop would be great for it too, people seem to think different on the subject though.

Re:Why the will pick Gnome.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, God forbid that a company that produces classy software like Qt should ever make any money whatsoever from it. However, when you compare Gnome to Qt you realise just how bloody awful free software can be. Gnome is the best advert for Qt there is. I`ve used both but would always choose Qt over Gnome if I had to develop an application. Kicking Trolltech in the teeth casts a bad light on some of the companies involved with Linux.

Re:good news

[Otter]

Dunno -- I could swear I've read the same article ("2004 will be the year of the Linux desktop! Red Hat...SuSE...IBM...Sun...HP...GNOME...KDE, also...cheaper...Microsoft...virus...finally...") every year since 1998. The year just changes. Also, for a while they'd fawn over Eazel but then it disappeared.

Re:Why the will pick Gnome.

[edwdig]

A $2000 one time is nothing in software development costs. However, $2000 per developer adds up very quickly in a large company. Also keep in mind, if you want support, you have to pay that fee yearly. No big company is going to consider something like Qt without having support.

Also, the Qt licensing completely kills the potential for shareware apps for KDE. It's not really an issue now, but it would be if Linux were more mainstream.

Re:Devide and rule

[segphault]

I am curious about Sun's motivation. Cost effective Dell and IBM servers running *nix variants seem to have pulled the rug out from under Sun's market strategy. Sun's only strong product is Java, and they dont distribute it in a way that is conducive to acquiring revenue. If their strategy does center around Java, it would make sense for them to support an open desktop *nix system, because it would provide an effective way of promoting Java use. Personally, my respect for Sun was vastly diminished when Bill Joy was elbowed out. I think he was their best resource, and I think he could have provided them with a new product capable of keeping them in the market.

Re:good news

[Otter]

I'd be inclined to agree with you, however look at the names up there.

C'mon, you've been here for ages. Remember all those Eazel/Ximian [Helix Code]/Red Hat press releases we used to get? Ximian is partnering with Compaq! Eazel is partnering with Compaq! What struck me was precisely seeing the same list of companies making the same proclamation for the first time in a while.

Not that I wouldn't welcome it, but it's clear by now that the HP guys aren't rushing back to Palo Alto to start cranking out consumer Linux preloads.

new worlds, new desktops

[Doc Ruby]

Sun just scored a 1M+ desktop agreement with China, which wants Gnome/Linux, not Windows or Solaris/CDE. Novell's got Ximian's Evolution, which offers a low retraining barrier-to-exit for Windows/Outlook users. Gnome's got the initiative right now. It's in RedHat's interest to make the Gnome/KDE interoperation barriers disappear, bringing together a unified desktop strategy for the growing Linux platform. Therefore, it's in Sun's interest to work on that convergence; likewise Novell. In fact, everybody is best served by converging to one basic desktop, perhaps with addon features specific to KDE, Gnome or others. Sun would be the last holdout, but that China contract might have finally convinced them that people prefer Linux on their desktop to Solaris, at least for now. By going along, Sun gets to sell them on Solaris for the server, which much better supports enterprises, especially distributed ones.

Re:Everyone Wanted Consolidation

[Anthony Boyd]

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect KDE to disappear overnight, but the Gnome crowd now has the majority of the professional KDE hackers by their paycheck. At the very least you can expect their to be a lot more talk in the KDE world about "integration" (and it will be the Gnome crowd calling the shots).

You know, when we're talking on Slashdot, it's easy to be evenhanded. That may sound absurd, what with Slashdot trolls and flamebait everywhere you look, but the point is, it usually doesn't have an impact (much to the disappointment of the more political among us). So I can love KDE but say I see merit to Gnome, and it's no skin off my back.

Having said that, I can't be so balanced here. If the Gnome crowd is calling the shots, then in my opinion, this is an unmitigated travesty. I want to be courteous, but seriously, if my desktop is at risk, I need to speak plainly: I think the goals of Gnome, the look & feel of Gnome, even some of the people behind Gnome, are completely at odds with everything I like. I dislike Miguel's MS cheerleading, and I love at least one of the KDE developers for saying bluntly in a Slashdot comment 2 years ago that he/she wants KDE to stay the hell away from that kind of thinking. I think Gnome's widgets are still terribly legacy-driven, and the ideas they have behind uber-simplified preferences flies in the face of everything I ever wanted.

In summary, I've always wanted to be a diplomat with the Gnome/KDE issue, because you catch more flies with honey and all that. But if KDE is going to get quietly redirected, my only response can be "do not go gently." I'm showing my cards. I don't think Gnome has any merit beyond their choice of licensing. KDE is superior in my opinion, and if KDE developers will not be leading Gnome, then at the very least I hope they retain autonomy.

Re:[OT] Americanisms

[baldass_newbie]

No.
We don't respond to foreign inquiries.

Seriously, though, why do languages take on any nuances? Spit is just as acceptable as spat, although there's a future perfect implied, as in, "I would have spit" versus the standard perfect "I almost spat".

Americans typically like to talk present tense so it would sound odd to use a present tense form of a verb in the past tense, completed sense.

As for petting vs. patting, petting connotes a caring, loving manner (http://m-w.com) while patting connotes merely showing approval. Again, cultural interpretations put a broader sense on these nuances, however slight.

Do return the favor and tell me why you use the form 'USians'. US is not a geographical area, nor is it a regional declaration. It is a political delineation, however, its principle stands on the unification of distinct and disparate elements. (Remember, the US was and is conceived of nations forgoing sovereignty to better guarantee their liberties.)

Personally, I find the term a show of ignorance and derision, but I'm sure you have better reasoning you could provide.
Thanks.