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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.

11 of 366 comments (clear)

  1. Re:BSD folks must have even more terrible problem. by tlhIngan · · Score: 3, Informative

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

    They did, however for a short time do the whole "UNIX Inside" thing. Even got as far as certifying one version of OS X.

  2. Re:technical people don't market their things well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    If I had my way, we would not have Intel processors in machines and Windows would have ended at 3.1 when it was clear it was a poor solution. The market didn't work that way and I still have to live with bits in the wrong order and drives identified by their letter.

    The 6502, Z80, DEC ALPHA, Atmel AVR, VAX, and the PDP-11 were all little endian amongst other examples that can be named. Little endian has little to do with Intel, moron.

  3. Re:BSD folks must have even more terrible problem. by dgatwood · · Score: 3, Informative

    Every version from 10.5 (on Intel) onward is UNIX '03 certified.

    --

    Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  4. There is a word for that: commoditization by morcego · · Score: 3, Informative

    It is the same reason you don't see "Linux inside" on your Android phone, or any of the other hundreds of devices you see around you that are "secretly" running Linux. Know that credit card reading machine (POS)? Almost always, Linux.

    The Operating System became a commodity, and the only think that is marketable is the interface.

    --
    morcego
  5. Re:BSD folks must have even more terrible problem. by Lunix+Nutcase · · Score: 4, Informative

    You would be wrong.

    http://arstechnica.com/apple/2007/08/mac-os-x-leopard-receives-unix-03-certification/

  6. Re:BSD folks must have even more terrible problem. by MooreCowbell · · Score: 4, Informative

    POSIX-compliant, Open Brand UNIX 03 Registered Product http://images.apple.com/media/us/osx/2012/docs/OSX_for_UNIX_Users_TB_July2011.pdf

  7. Re:BSD folks must have even more terrible problem. by ducomputergeek · · Score: 4, Informative

    Because it was never technically BSD. It's a Mach kernel with BSD-Userland.

    --
    "The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
  8. Re:Easy to answer. by amiga3D · · Score: 1, Informative

    I don't know a single person that likes windows. Not one. None. They all hate it but it never occurs to them there is something else. Everyone bitches and many say I wish I could afford a Mac. I'd bet at least half of the computer users I know whine and wish they could afford a Mac and many of them have switched to Macs over the last 7 or 8 years here. Linux isn't even known. It's like telling someone bitching about his piece of shit Chevrolet that he could buy a Caterham. He'd look at you and go, "huh?"

  9. Re:Easy to answer. by _133MHz · · Score: 4, Informative

    Windows 2000 did say "Built on NT Technology" on its startup and login screens.

  10. Re:Why should they? by CosaNostra+Pizza+Inc · · Score: 2, Informative

    Linux is just a kernel. Naming the whole system after a kernel seems a bit excessive to me

    Its actually GNU/Linux because desktop and laptop systems mostly use GNU software with the Linux kernel. For simplicity sake, the family of operating systems is referred to as "Linux". Most distros refer to it the same way.

  11. Re:BSD folks must have even more terrible problem. by Kenshin · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/

    UNIX 03
    Registered Products:
    Apple Inc.: Mac OS X Version 10.8 Mountain Lion on Intel-based Macintosh computers

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    Does it make you happy you're so strange?