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The Linux Desktop and ISVs/OEMs

Posted by Soulskill on from the mixing-freedom-and-business dept.

olau writes "Michael Meeks, who's worked on GNOME and LibreOffice integration for many years, now for SuSE, has some really interesting thoughts on the recent Linux desktop debate and suggestions for possible strategies. He points out that regarding independent software vendors (ISVs), the real issue isn't actually the quality of the tools but the size and attractiveness of the market, and perhaps that a solution could be lower barriers for paying or donating. Regarding OEMs selling hardware with software preinstalled, he points out that while a free OS + software sounds good for consumers, it's actually a problem for OEMs on razor-thin margins, since they lose the cut they get from the preinstallations. A possible countermove could be nailing robustness and hardware diagnostics for good, lowering OEM support costs."

7 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Fall in line by pellik · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At the end of the day, it's a lot easier if Grandma has an OS that other family members can help her with.

    No matter how much I like my Linux Desktop, I don't want to be responsible for bringing non-tech-savvy people along. The rest of the family is fully capable of troubleshooting basic windows problems, more or less.

    1. Re:Fall in line by vurian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It was one, good, reason for moving to Linux. The perfect excuse to decline helping people with their Windows problems.

    2. Re:Fall in line by Nursie · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I view that the other way round - One way or another I will be tech support for my mother. It would be easier for me, as someone that doesn't use windows any more, to support her using linux.

      But frankly at this point I don't want the hassle of moving her from one OS that she knows how to use badly to another she doesn't know at all.

    3. Re:Fall in line by Urza9814 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      On the other hand...

      My mother has a Linux netbook. Other than getting her email set up with Thunderbird when she got it (she couldn't do that herself in Outlook Express either,) I haven't ever touched the thing. It's just never had an issue.

      Her Windows desktop, on the other hand, seems to need some kind of repair every time I visit.....

  2. Re:You sell for the market. by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It is 2012 everyone is using some kind of virtualization. Linux servers are as such free. They are just another vm your fire up, and the biggest savings are not having to hassle with licensing.

  3. Re:But why write applications for desktop Linux .. by Microlith · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ah, Slashdot. You've entered a new age when anti-FOSS/anti-Linux trolling is marked as "Insightful."

  4. I'm surprised no one is mentioning Chrome OS by tlambert · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Linux desktop, with browser, backed by web applications.

    Five OEM systems and counting.