Study explains how retailers stop Linux from entering the market

When I raised some of these same issues in recent week certain blog writers blamed the failure on Linux and the fact that, in their view, Linux just isn't ready for the masses. Despite all the evidence presented by the success of netbooks with Linux when they were allowed into retail channels (over 25 million units sold) the anti-Linux crowd is so sure that it's really that the software sucks or the hardware support sucks or really that Microsoft just does a brilliant job.

Well... here is yet more evidence those folks will ignore.

The economics are surely stacked against open source software.

I guess from a user's perspective it makes a lot more sense but from a shop's perspective it makes none at all. They can't make money from something that is free at the point of sale.

Selling Linux preloaded on hardware only makes sense for them if it gives them a sales edge over their competitors.

"here is yet more evidence those folks will ignore."

Some people, anyway. I enjoy conspiracy theories, especially when they involve Microsoft and their channel partners. :^)

> Some people, anyway.

Agreed. Caitlyn has been absolutely correct on this subject.

Caitlyn, well said and of course there is still obscene amount of FUD out there as it is.

However, I would caution the Linux enthusiasts not to give up as the paradigm is shifting so far away from "desktop" to an open scenerio where user devices become the integral tools.

Once more "devices" (tablets, smartphones and even lighter netbooks) expand market share Microsoft will have a very difficult time stopping people from using Google apps, OSS etc. Once this happens, the massive "migration" to Linux will simply sidestep the desktop and go straight to the new world model... one that has no room for bloated, feature excessive, and single user licensed software.

@raislinux2: I don't agree, sorry. The "new model" is really not suited to anything that requires significant typing on a real keyboard. I see the "new model" existing side by side with conventional desktops and laptops for a very long time to come.

+1 what caitlyn said. The paradigm may be shifting, but there will be a role for desktops and notebooks for a very long time, indeed. The entire lab where I'm employed runs on a mix of Windows desktops with LabVIEW software VIs others have "built" (which I thoroughly loathe, btw), and Debian desktops with Python/Bash test & data acquisition applications I've written. I can't imagine any of those 20+ systems being modified to use the "new model" any time soon.

Microsoft is merely looking to apply their old ways to new markets. That part isn't news.

The news is that Microsoft's old market of desktop PC's is now saturated. The history of Windows release techniques (along with thinking "of course, people will buy new PC's for it") is now obvious enough, with a little looking. People, and corporations, no longer feel obliged to upgrade their Windows version, if they don't want to replace their current PC's. It's been true ever since Windows Vista, about ten years now. Not that Ballmer & co. can grasp this.

Anyway, Microsoft's old ways no longer work in their old market, and they completely missed their opportunity in the new "portable computing" market. The "preference cascade" is about to engulf them, and they are unprepared.

Saturated? Desktop/laptop sales are down as a percentage of the overall market, yes, but are actually up in terms of sheer numbers. More units of everything are being sold than ever before.

@caitlyn, are those PC's new units, or replacements? I'd bet money it's the latter.

I love it when the spam bots post the wrong html

@gus3: It has to be both. 360 million units are shipping annually now, up from just over 100 million five years ago.

Considering the recent improvements in power consumption as well as multi-core usefulness, I can imagine that a whole bunch of circa-2004 equipment that has been running just fine is getting replaced.

caitlyn wrote:@raislinux2: I don't agree, sorry. The "new model" is really not suited to anything that requires significant typing on a real keyboard. I see the "new model" existing side by side with conventional desktops and laptops for a very long time to come.

I could not have said this better myself. Is this a "post-PC" era? Nope. Is it a "PC-plus" era? Absolutely.

Thanks, caitlyn

I concur. I have probably every gadget known to man (and tech savvy women too). The desktop machine is not dead,... It just needs dust cleaned off it more often...

Last year, I saw someone using an iPad. But this time, it had a carrying case that was a stand and keyboard/mousepad.

An add-on to turn a touchpad into a laptop.

So no, the "desktop" machine is not dead. And until StarTrek levels of voice input are available, I don't think it will be.

Bob, I was entertained for over 15 minutes during my visit to a coffee shop a few days ago. I was watching a guy struggle with a keyboard and mouse hooked into his Samsung Pad. He would have to constantly shift the keyboard, knocking the wireless mouse off the table, batteries rolling across the floor and under the feet of people waiting in line. Once he got everything back to normal, the keyboard was obviously not responding and it was funny/sad to see him plug and unplug the device into the same port, trying to get it to work.

Some of these people are determined to replace the laptop/desktop with their little playthings. I find some amusement in watching them try.

Tablets are good for what they're good at. Same as everything else. If that guy was just surfing the web looking for news,... a laptop would have provided the same level of giggles, while he tried to balance it on his little table while his coffee and papers, etc., got in the way.

Right tool for the right job...

@helios and @JaseP: I agree with both of you. Tech writers jump on the latest fad and pronounce everything else "dead" because it isn't the latest fad. I find that just plain silly.