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Featured Entry 
Apr 18th, 2008, 1:57 pm
Neither RedHat nor Novell feel the need to push for a Linux Desktop that competes with the ubiquitous Windows OS. So the two largest commercial Linux vendors are throwing in the towel in the Desktop arena. There it is. Now go by yourselves a copy of Windows Vista--and while you're at it, buy a new computer to run it.
The grand, unified user displeasure with Windows Vista should have given our beloved Linux companies a boost in the right direction--should have--but didn't. The campaign to keep Windows XP has had some effect on Microsoft's plan to stop supporting the best OS Microsoft has produced to date. Microsoft realized that it would lose a significant market share to the low cost and ultra low cost PC market if it didn't revise it's plan to halt production and support of Windows XP.
The fact is that Vista won't work on those PCs. Microsoft can produce all the cute videos they want but Vista will still join the ranks of Windows Me as a great failure and the greatest potential opportunity for Linux to make ground in the once highly-prized desktop space.
I am disappointed, to say the least, at this latest turn of events from the leaders in the Linux market. Linux doesn't have to be great at everything but to submit at this point is admitting defeat at one of the most significant turning points in computing history: The mobile desktop revolution. Ultra low cost PCs and mobile platforms will be the focus of OS vendors in the coming years and this is the wrong time to give up. Linux shines on those two platforms but I feel that light has dimmed with the latest news from RedHat and Novell.
The grand, unified user displeasure with Windows Vista should have given our beloved Linux companies a boost in the right direction--should have--but didn't. The campaign to keep Windows XP has had some effect on Microsoft's plan to stop supporting the best OS Microsoft has produced to date. Microsoft realized that it would lose a significant market share to the low cost and ultra low cost PC market if it didn't revise it's plan to halt production and support of Windows XP.
The fact is that Vista won't work on those PCs. Microsoft can produce all the cute videos they want but Vista will still join the ranks of Windows Me as a great failure and the greatest potential opportunity for Linux to make ground in the once highly-prized desktop space.
I am disappointed, to say the least, at this latest turn of events from the leaders in the Linux market. Linux doesn't have to be great at everything but to submit at this point is admitting defeat at one of the most significant turning points in computing history: The mobile desktop revolution. Ultra low cost PCs and mobile platforms will be the focus of OS vendors in the coming years and this is the wrong time to give up. Linux shines on those two platforms but I feel that light has dimmed with the latest news from RedHat and Novell.
This blog entry was written by Ken Hess, staff writer aka khess. It has received 821 views, 5 comments, and 22 linkbacks. 2 voters have rated this entry an average of 5 out of 5 stars. It was promoted to featured status Apr 18th, 2008.
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All Recent Tags Comments (Newest First)
jbennet | Microsoft Fanboy | Apr 20th, 2008
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"but if you don't have it already, you need to upgrade anyways. "
the 512/1gb requirement is a joke. you need 1.5gb - 2.5gb to get a decent performance
the 512/1gb requirement is a joke. you need 1.5gb - 2.5gb to get a decent performance
TheNNS | Nearly a Posting Virtuoso | Apr 19th, 2008
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I agree. vista is not bad at all. It's a good OS. yes it takes good hardware, but if you don't have it already, you need to upgrade anyways.
scru | Posting Shark | Apr 18th, 2008
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WHen will people stop whining about Vista? It's been over a year.
TheNNS | Nearly a Posting Virtuoso | Apr 18th, 2008
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Red Hat and Novell don't give a crap about the Mobile OS. They are in the enterprise business, and that's where they'll stay. It's going to take the manufacturers to promote linux on their hardware before it's any popular. Sure, Vista won't run on the mobile platform, but no one knows that there is an alternative.
Like I've said before, Linux is unknown to most people, and when it becomes known, that's when we'll see it penetrate the Desktop market. It's ignorant for you to say Linux is submitting to Windows. It's not. It's actually better and more popular than it has ever been. So please do your research before blogging nonsense.
Like I've said before, Linux is unknown to most people, and when it becomes known, that's when we'll see it penetrate the Desktop market. It's ignorant for you to say Linux is submitting to Windows. It's not. It's actually better and more popular than it has ever been. So please do your research before blogging nonsense.
ToySouljah | Newbie Poster | Apr 18th, 2008
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I had used Linux on and off for a few years until last year when I decided to try out Ubuntu (7.04 at the time) and fell in love with the ease of use. I haven't tried Red Hat since about 2001 so I'm sure it has changed a lot, but back then it was really complicated...at least for me since I had used Windows since 3.1 and so the learning curve was pretty obvious.
I used Ubuntu exclusively for about a year...I did a hard switch and forced myself to learn it...lol. Then recently after building a new system I made it a dual boot of (at first) Vista Ultimate x64 and Ubuntu 7.10 64-bit and found Vista to run smooth (with full effects), but it wouldn't support my All in one printer (Lexmark 6150)...at least not fully. The nag screen people complain about so much really wasn't that bad since Ubuntu does the same thing and it was nice to know that at least the OS was paying attention to what was going on rather than just anything install in the background. In Ubuntu printer is a paperweight as well so I figured I'd install Windows to use it (I don't print too much, but like to scan). Vista limited my scanning to 300 dpi and so I "downgraded?" to XP Pro and now I have full functionality
I've heard a lot of good things about Fedora 9 (haven't personally tried it) and then there is also Ubuntu that make great desktop OS's for almost everything. So just because Red Hat has given up doesn't mean Linux has...Red Hat isn't Linux...it's just another distro so I find the title really misleading. Maybe it should be "Red Hat Submits to Windows Desktop Dominance" since there are plenty of other (in my oppinion...better) distros out there.
I used Ubuntu exclusively for about a year...I did a hard switch and forced myself to learn it...lol. Then recently after building a new system I made it a dual boot of (at first) Vista Ultimate x64 and Ubuntu 7.10 64-bit and found Vista to run smooth (with full effects), but it wouldn't support my All in one printer (Lexmark 6150)...at least not fully. The nag screen people complain about so much really wasn't that bad since Ubuntu does the same thing and it was nice to know that at least the OS was paying attention to what was going on rather than just anything install in the background. In Ubuntu printer is a paperweight as well so I figured I'd install Windows to use it (I don't print too much, but like to scan). Vista limited my scanning to 300 dpi and so I "downgraded?" to XP Pro and now I have full functionality
I've heard a lot of good things about Fedora 9 (haven't personally tried it) and then there is also Ubuntu that make great desktop OS's for almost everything. So just because Red Hat has given up doesn't mean Linux has...Red Hat isn't Linux...it's just another distro so I find the title really misleading. Maybe it should be "Red Hat Submits to Windows Desktop Dominance" since there are plenty of other (in my oppinion...better) distros out there.
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