Ubuntu, Macintosh and Windows XP

[twowheeler]

An interesting article appeared on slashdot today, with an attempt to objectively evaluate ubuntu vs. OS/X vs. XP. There is both good news and bad news according to this author.

Ubuntu has in excess of 25% of the Linux desktop market which compares to number two SUSE with 11.4% of the market.

I had no idea we had hit 25% -- is that right?

Secondly, the continuous development cycle concerns companies like Adobe and Intuit whose cost could increase with every release and upgrade of Linux. Ubuntu has a six month release cycle and replaces applications and libraries continuously. This scares ISVs.


Hmm, I don't know. Developers have to test and customize many windows packages for each service pack released by MS. Are the ubuntu releases that different?

Link (http://lxer.lxer.com/lxer/story/56437/index.html)

The conclusion is that we aren't going to be able to shake MS's grip on the market. That's not news, unfortunately.

Just wanted to see what anyone else thought about it.

[s|k]

I think the high development cycle is a good thing. For instance microsoft's IE 7 is not goign to be able to keep up with the rapid adoption of new technologies that OO browsers will integrate like microformats. Everytime Adobe comes out with a new version of Photoshop or MS comes out with a new windows OS everyone cries 'they're only doing it for the money.' But with OO new versions are contininuous, there's no underhanded motive to make money, the products are actually being improved for the sake of improving them. I think OO may someday win the big fight you know. :)

EDIT: After having read the article it made it sound as if not havinG Adobe support or other commerical software support were a bad thing. It's not. I don't want any of that propietary code running on my computer.