I think that you are making the mistake that there are two distinctly different classes of users for Linux: Classical Hackers and Corporate Users.
I will agree that classical hackers are less likely to buy software -- their commitment to open computing, however, is what created Linux -- never forget this.
Corporate users are using Linux simply because it just works better. These users will (probably) pay for software although the evidence isn't fully in yet.
The mistake seems to come when people want to make $ from truly end user software whose current only real market is Classical Hackers. For right now, the real money in software for Linux is server side.
Just my.02
Slashdot Mirror
I think that you are making the mistake that there are two distinctly different classes of users for Linux: Classical Hackers and Corporate Users. I will agree that classical hackers are less likely to buy software -- their commitment to open computing, however, is what created Linux -- never forget this. Corporate users are using Linux simply because it just works better. These users will (probably) pay for software although the evidence isn't fully in yet. The mistake seems to come when people want to make $ from truly end user software whose current only real market is Classical Hackers. For right now, the real money in software for Linux is server side. Just my .02