[LUAU] Re: Goobuntu Linux

prb at lava.net prb at lava.net
Wed Feb 1 20:40:28 PST 2006


Jim Thompson wrote:

> OK, but you still use Google, and very few people erect the
> Googlewall that you have.

Is that what it's called? :)

> They didn't have an org the size of Google (and with the branding of
>  Google) pushing it, either.   To my mind, the missing bit in a
> Google desktop is creating a support structure.

Red Hat and Novel have a support structure, so does IBM, but Google?
They would have to create one, preferably supporting the OS pre-installed.

>> I did manage to get my father to switch, though. I  told him that
>> the only way he would continue to get free tech  support from me is
>> if he converted. What does he do now? He runs  all his old software
>>  on Win4Lin, but with a couple of key  exceptions, browsing and
>> e-mail.

> I came >this close< to converting Jamie off XP in December.

Too bad. Better luck soon.

> I think you are (again) dealing in historical artifact.  Yes, most of
>  the early move was Unix -> Linux, but there is ample evidence that
>  Linux is now slowly eroding the growth Windows market share,
> especially on the server.   IDC estimated in late 2004 that linux was
> growing twice as fast as Windows in the "volume server" (< $25k)
> market.    In late 2004, IDC estimated that Windows had a 32% market
> share of the "value server" market (measured by revenue), Unix had a
> 36% share, and linux  a 9% share.  (I have no idea what "other" might
> have been.)

The data also indicates that most of the switches are still from Unix.
What Linux did was limit Windows' expansion into the Unix server market.
Over the next few years, I suspect Linux growth will taper off, as will
Windows.

> As you can see, if current trends continue, by 2009 there is nothing
>  but Windows and Linux in the "value server" market, and by 2010, 
> something has to give.   Of course, by 2010, Microsoft will have 
> shipped Vista.  :-)

Are you sure about Vista shipping? :) I predict stasis with Windows
owning the Exchange server segment, and smaller numbers with other types 
of servers. What do you think of Open Solaris' future?

-- 
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HAS Deepsky Atlas: http://www.hawastsoc.org/deepsky



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