Ubuntu & Linux missing the ride

[cjnkns]

I realize posting this in a pro-linux forum is simply asking for it , but I'll do it anyway.

I personally feel that Linux is going to miss out on a seriously perfect opportunity to make a mass appeal for the desktop market.
Even the average user can not stand the thought of switching to Vista - yet instead of Linux, people move to XP.

Don't get me wrong there are a TON of good things about Linux. Sure its free, and you can modify it, change it, sell it blah blah blah.
But, there is little direction and no real opportunity to make money.
Herein lies the problem. If developers can't make money (or it's hard to) by developing applications for linux -they will on Windows OS's.

Ubuntu has made a good run because it has some direction, but other Linux distro's have a harder time because there is little to know money to be made in its development.

I just feel that you need to follow the money.

[bufsabre666]

i agree with what chris pirillo has stated before, linux needs one company to grasp onto it modify it and make it its own operating system like mac, start selling it retail and online and giving it press and everything, i mean honestly dont bring up the dell ubuntus and system76, those programs are great but when the idea is to get people to use linux those are just jokes, dell needs to start selling it on all their computers, or maybe hp or anyone really, one of the big guys, and the availability on stores is key for this, online only isnt ganna get you too many buyers. maybe thats what acer is ganna do with their anti windows initiative, seriously just add lindvd and most peoples needs are done, browser, email, music, movies, and then dvd's, most people would be set, and i do mean most people, gaming is a big market but casual gaming is the biggest component of that market and supertuxkart and majong do that for most people, there are tons of free fun linux games, i could play super tux for hours

[wolfen69]

why are some people in a rush to see linux go mainstream? things take time. linux is making inroads everyday. even if it doesnt overtake macs, it will not bother me. i, and many others enjoy it immensely. whatever happens is OK with me.

[aysiu]

Please read this:
How does open source make money? (http://ubuntucat.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/how-does-open-source-make-money/)

[SunnyRabbiera]

i agree with what chris pirillo has stated before, linux needs one company to grasp onto it modify it and make it its own operating system like mac, start selling it retail and online and giving it press and everything, i mean honestly dont bring up the dell ubuntus and system76, those programs are great but when the idea is to get people to use linux those are just jokes, dell needs to start selling it on all their computers, or maybe hp or anyone really, one of the big guys, and the availability on stores is key for this, online only isnt ganna get you too many buyers. maybe thats what acer is ganna do with their anti windows initiative, seriously just add lindvd and most peoples needs are done, browser, email, music, movies, and then dvd's, most people would be set, and i do mean most people, gaming is a big market but casual gaming is the biggest component of that market and supertuxkart and majong do that for most people, there are tons of free fun linux games, i could play super tux for hours


Yeh one company that will close off the source code, disallow free software and charge a arm and a leg for blinking the wrong way while reading a mile long EULA...
Microsoft and Apple lead very great examples #-o:roll:

[lisati]

there is little to know money to be made in its development.

I just feel that you need to follow the money.
:confused:I, too, sometimes wish I could know having more money....

Possibly some brave soul could look into migrating Vista or XP onto an 8080-based machine. Any volunteers?

[bmac]

I'd like to consider a alternative interpretation of this post.

Seems many M$ software groups appear to feel threatened by open source. Posts similar to this remind me of just how potentially threaten they are. "Following the money" has created the mess M$ is in with respect to Vista and possibly future versions. Which I believe is one of the primary reasons why Ubuntu / Linux continues to attract new users.
Many new users are attracted by the ability to download, install and test drive multiple programs to identify which application best fits their specific requirements. Oh, and don't forget that this entire process is basically free. No infected shareware or virus / security riddled software downloads from the net, etc.
Another big plus is the diversity in functionally. No rigid structure or privatized code which leaves many individuals with the impression that they rent the software and don't really own it.
I truly believe that M$ and it's followers will endeavor to capitalize on everything associated with their product and this post exhibits indicators of just how potentially threatened they may be....

Just a thought....

[bufsabre666]

Yeh one company that will close off the source code, disallow free software and charge a arm and a leg for blinking the wrong way while reading a mile long EULA...
Microsoft and Apple lead very great examples #-o:roll:

you cant do that under the gpl, mac got luck they took over a bsd which is perfectly okay, but that really is the best bet to make it main stream, right now its not getting there unless it gets more press that meets more people, right now 90+% of linux press goes to people who are already invested in the computer industry

[karellen]

I think there are two problems that have to be overcome in order to Linux become mainstream:
the first one is it's kinda of a vicious circle: as long Linux maintains a minuscule market share (less or approximately 1%) OEM won't bother to support it. and if it won't be supported by all the big names, it won't enlarge its market share ("why would I use an OS if I'm not able to use my webcam on it?" - the common people's concern)
and second, maybe I'll be stoned for this, but the Linux world is very very (maybe too) heterogenous. there are at least 2 main package formats (.rpm and .deb), many DE (Gnome, KDE, Xfce, openbox, fluxbox, you-name-the-box yada yada yada), tons of distros each heading in its own direction and so on. it's very hard for such a thing to make an inroad on dektops. I've been using Linux since 2003, I know all its advantages, all the talk about freedom of choice and all kinds of freedoms, but if (and it's a big doubt here) somebody wants to see Linux gaining a market share at least equal to Mac OS X, some efforts in unification, standardization (and cutting off choices, why not) should be made. if the goal is to be a hobbyist OS used by enthusiasts, it has already been achieved

[cjnkns]

why are some people in a rush to see linux go mainstream?

Not sure I am in a rush, but it would be nice to see more mainstream games available. Linux is still just a nerds toy at home. BUT, it is obviously being used by many organizations for servers and other things. People just will not embrace it if all the development and time that goes into it is for free.
Only the very passionate or developers with a lot of time on their hands will be able to work on it. Not sure about you guys but I don't have that kind of time. ;)

It takes rich people (Mark Shuttleworth) to give linux the direction it needs. But, there are just to many things missing for it to be worth while.

For some - if you can't install iTunes on it or buy software at Best Buy and shove it in the DVD drive. Then it's just not a OS.
I know that sounds a bit crazy, but people are trained to go to the store buy, install and use or buy, download & click.