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The 'Linux Inside' Stigma

Posted by Soulskill on from the someday-they'll-even-come-up-with-a-linux-phone dept.

New submitter dtschmitz highlights the success of the Google Chromebook to underscore what, in his view, is a serious Linux brand image problem. "It's remarkable how Google doesn't mention the word Linux anywhere in their marketing of the Google Chromebook. I mean, it's running the Linux Kernel, so shouldn't it be Google Linux instead of ChromeOS? Why did Google carefully avoid references to Linux? It's all a very carefully crafted, well executed plan of elegant branding and image making. ... The profile of this user is that of someone who really doesn't care anything about the technical underpinnings of a device. They are not sophisticated technophiles by any means. They have a set number of things which they wish to do--recreational surfing, banking, email, an occasional letter, not complicated. ... Google didn't mention Linux because they know it will scare buyers away. That's unfortunate, but true. And we need to come to terms with that fact and work towards improving the 'Linux Inside' brand image.

7 of 366 comments (clear)

  1. BSD folks must have even more terrible problem... by PaulBu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why the heck Apple has OS-X and no BSD inside stickers, for many years now? ;-)

    Paul B.

  2. Alone. by loufoque · · Score: 4, Funny

    An astronaut falling into a black hole would die alone.

    1. Re:Alone. by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Funny

      And yet it's still a more interesting response than most of the discussion on this story.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  3. Re:Easy to answer. by hodet · · Score: 3, Funny

    I resent that. I do not make you change your passwords every other day.

  4. Re:Easy to answer. by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about "Penguin Powered"?

    --
    Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
  5. Re:BSD folks must have even more terrible problem. by GrBear · · Score: 4, Funny

    With the current popularity of 50 Shades of Gray, they may garner some public interest if they renamed BSD to BDSM.

  6. Re:nope. it starts with accuracy by gman003 · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, no, people know the word "megapixel". It's the thing that makes the cameras better. Always get the one with the most megapixels. Or is it the biggest megapixels? Just get the biggest number, that's always better. All the megapixels.