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Red Hat CEO Questions Relevance of Desktop Linux

Posted by Soulskill on from the year-of-something-on-the-something dept.

snydeq writes "Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst questioned the relevance of Linux on the desktop, citing several financial and interoperability hurdles to business adoption at a panel on end-users and Linux last night at the OSBC. 'First of all, I don't know how to make money on it,' Whitehurst said, adding that he was uncertain how relevant the desktop itself will be in five years given advances in cloud-based and smartphone computing, as well as VDI. 'The concept of a desktop is kind of ridiculous in this day and age. I'd rather think about skating to where the puck is going to be than where it is now.' Despite increasing awareness that desktop Linux is ready for widespread mainstream adoption, fellow panelists questioned the practicality of switching to Linux, noting that even some Linux developers prefer Macs to Linux. 'There's a desire [to use desktop Linux],' one panelist said, 'but practicality sets in. There are significant barriers to switching.'"

6 of 615 comments (clear)

  1. Give up control? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't want to give up control of 'MY' unit to the cloud...ever!

  2. Oh Yeah?! by oldhack · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about laptops, huh?!

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    1. Re:Oh Yeah?! by Foofoobar · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm still waiting for my mod point stimulus otherwise I'd definitely bail you out. MOD UP!!!

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      This is my sig. There are many like it but this one is mine.
  3. Re:Of course the desktop will be relevant in 5 yea by NeoSkandranon · · Score: 5, Funny

    wat u meen?!!

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    If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
  4. I had to. by Samschnooks · · Score: 5, Funny

    Were you forced to post this troll as part of some bizarre 12 step program?

    1. Accepting that you have a problem with accepting Linux and that you are powerless in regards to Windows.
    2. Came to believe that Linux will restore us to sanity.
    3. Make a decision to our computers to Linux or to the distribution that we prefer.
    4. Make a moral inventory of our computer systems.
    5. Admit to Slashdot, Linus, and to others the exact nature of our wrong OS choice.
    6. We submit to Linux to remove our OS shortcomings.
    7. Humbly submit to Linux
    8. Make a list of computers we installed Windows on and make amends and become willing to install Linux on them
    9. Find those machines and install Linux.
    10. Continued to take computer inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
    11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with Linux as we understood the distribution we use, praying only for knowledge of Linus' will for us and the power to carry that out.
    12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
  5. Re:He's just angry... by mcgrew · · Score: 5, Funny

    Making a profit and being relevant are two different things.

    Not if you're a Ferengi

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