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Desktop Linux Survey Results Published
An anonymous reader writes "The Open Source Development Labs has published preliminary results from its desktop Linux survey, which had 3,300 responses. The month-long online survey focused on determining the key issues driving Linux on the desktop, as well as the major barriers to Linux desktop adoption. 'What was most surprising to us was probably the top two reasons given for deploying Linux on the desktop,' OSDL's Principal Analyst Dave Rosenberg said. 'It's not TCO (total cost of ownership), or security, or lack of license fees. It was 'employees requesting Linux (user demand)' and because 'my competitors have successfully deployed Linux,' he added."
Only 7-15% reported being unhappy with existing OS (i.e., windoze). This may seem on first inspection surprising. It suggests that change to linux was not driven by the user base in these cases.
However, herein lies an important point; users are users, they rate what they can see, the GUI and the apps. They'd have to be working in a very strange company to be allowed to, for example, discover how much easier life is when config is all done by plain text files, i.e., to learn and appreciate the beauty of *nix. Thus, I'm really not sure how they are in a position to rate the OS/kernel.
When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown in to the sea
I can think of very few systems that have been around as long as DOS/Windows and have better backwards compatibility. I can think of only one Windows program that runs on an earlier version but not XP
Well, you can think, that's good. If you could think right, it would be better.
I can show you lots of programs that ran on Win9x and don't work in WinXP (my TV card capture program and its codecs are one of them).
Or that work on XP, but not as intended, but I supposed that counts as "works" for you (VirtualDub capture is one of these programs).
Look no further than Windows XP SP2.
Your experience and your thinking is clearly not representative of the majority.
Oh I fail it as a geek. I'm not yet so overweight that a laptop with a 17" screen will fit on my lap.
I've used notebook computers off and on for years, plugging them into standard keyboards and screens at work or home, and using the builtin kbd and screen only when actually on the move. So that's like pretty geeky, with the cables on the desk and all. And when I'm on the move, I'm actually able to set the thing up and work on it, without taking up more than my allotted width on an airplane, at a library table, etc.
But I agree that my approach doesn't have the same kind of status symbol appeal as wrestling a supersized laptop out of your 6 mpg Hummer, buying three side-by-each airline seats so you can use the thing in flight, etc etc.