CIO Jury: The Linux desktop is dead

Well tell that to EU that currently works really hard to throught out Microsoft from all areas. Yes they have not succeded yet..and yes it will take time..But it will get there sooner or later...probebly sooner.

Well, some at CIO suggested sacking the lot. :-)

[Edit] Well, not the lot, but the ones who were unwilling to ever evaluate Linux at a future point, based on the present. Gee, somehow, my comment didn't make it. Hmmm...

Hm, I think the headline is more of a press thing.

What the CIOs probably meant is that they have lost the belief that Linux is going to make it. Their arguments make sense and are not particular new: "The" LInux desktop is basically two desktop platforms which increases the risk of everybody using one of them. The Portland Stuff is just an ugly workaround to a basic design problem. At the same time, the possibilities of the web as a platform were growing the last years, thanks to stuff like AJAX and RubyOnRails. Also, the license cost of the Windows Desktop is decreasing, thanks to a growing number of open source projects for Windows (think OpenOffice).

So, why bother with the Linux desktop platforms? It looks as if it lacks sufficient momentum, and any platform that lacks momentum is about to die.

Some deployments every now and then won't fix the basic perception.

Also, the license cost of the Windows Desktop is decreasing, thanks to a growing number of open source projects for Windows (think OpenOffice).

You obviously have not seen the iron-clad "agreement" MS is offering businesses that upgrade to Vista. They are getting hosed. Of course the gouging is in place so as to offset the damage done to lack of sales of MS OFFICE. You posted an incorrect statement. The Pentagon and major sectors of wall street are now using the LInux Desktop and servers as their only platforms.

h