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Where Linux Gained Ground in 2007
christian.einfeldt writes "Computer scientist and media maven Roy Schestowitz takes a look at platforms where GNU Linux gained the most ground in 2007. In a thorough review which is the first of a two-part series, Schestowitz looks at trends in supercomputers, mobile phones, desktops, low-end laptops and tablets, consoles, media players and set-top boxes. Schestowitz finds that GNU Linux solidified its dominant grip on supercomputers; made huge gains in low-end laptops and tablets; won major OEM and retail support on the desktop; gained new entries into game consoles; and also spawned new businesses in set-top boxes while holding its ground in pre-existing product lines. He sums it all up by saying that '2007 will be remembered as the year when GNU/Linux became not only available, but also properly preinstalled on desktops and laptops by the world's largest companies.'"
Everything you just described would require:
1) An enormous amount of work with people open source developers sitting at their computers 40+ hours a week minimum and 80+ to really get consumer grade software out the door and actually working
2) An enormous amount of hard choices with grand plans for features being cut so the tedious and unglamorous tasks of getting consumer grade software out the door and actually working get done.
3) An enormous amount of maturity that the open source world simply does not have
The failure of Linux and open source software in many ways has been nothing more than a validation of the commercial software model of development where all that matters is results and not bullshit.
Creating forks and new projects sure as hell is fun. Adding features is a blast too.
Making software that works right out of the box requires a grown up sitting at a desk working their ass off 40 hours a week getting paid a nice fat wage.
keep those memes out of here!