Windows 7 is opportunity for Linux

The "frim" (check your spelling Nick) says nothing new here. For 20 years the apps (their variety and compatibility) are the driving factor for users to pick one OS over another.
However this does not stop us to install Open Office 3 on Windows 7 Home Basic and still have it cheap - does it?

Android is Linux, dummy

Do a search on any engine for "year of linux" and count how many years have been predicted. Since Torvalds slapped a diaper on it, everyone in the past couple decades has claimed that "(X) = the year of linux".

Regardless, I still have to do command prompt installs from the (half-azzd) software that IS available, not to mention lack of drivers. If the average person can install linux and any application they want, without browsing a forum to find out why something doesn't work, then Linux will succeed.

I've been using it for a year now on an older laptop. It's cool for browsing and such, but when I want to jump on usenet, I have to link a few different apps via console, and get prompted for everything I do... MORE than windows 7 or Vista.

Linux IS superior given its technology, open-sauciness and ability to transform on the fly... but the amount that's put into support isn't there. Again, MS will have their own flavor of linux before it takes a majority of desktop market share.. it's open source.

See our new "Windows 7"-Convertite speaketh...

Somehow it was to be expected that you would feel attacked and try to defend your irrational decision to Dump Ubuntu for Win7.

The "next billion" is 1/6th of current total population of planet earth. At the point in the future, when der are 1 billion PC-Users more than now, they surely will give a shit about MSO-Compat. because by the time it won't be a problem anymore. As you yourself remarked, OOo does all that is needed already today, so this won't be a problem to anyone a few years from now.

I use Ubuntu at home, am forced to use Windows (XP at least, thank God) at work.

I prefer Ubuntu. Open Office gives me compatibility with Microsoft Orifice, so I don't have any issues moving work back and forth.

My home desktop is an elderly Shuttle box with an AMD X1900 single core cpu, 512MB memory, slow drive and NVidia 5200(?) graphic card. Nothing special, even old, but it runs my apps as well and as fast as my brand new Dell laptop at work.

Plus I like Ubuntu's update manager much better as it handles updates for all the applications on my system. With my work machine, I have to search for updates for all but Microsoft software. Takes time.

Lol more Fan Boi reporting. nice.

As long as the competition has to give away their products to compete, MS has little to worry about.

Windows 7 is a no-op, nothing more than a de-branding exercise wrapped around minimal improvements to get the hated "Vista" name off the market.

The major reason why linux is not adopted en mass is GAMES.

If you had just as many games on linux, adoption would be MUCH higher.

Why cant games be placed on linux? well they can, but it's a MAJOR hassle & it appeals to a very small crowd.
Chicken and egg you say? if you make games the market share would increase & thus more games would be made?
Well how many times did linux people say "well if you want games just use windows". Because really, linux is NOT for games.

For most people, the functionality that linux provides is LOST on them.

Will Windows 7 cause a mythical & meteoric rise for linux adoption? NOT AT ALL!

Once again linux shall remain in the shadows. An OS that can do what you need it to do. "But you cannot play games on it!! & I WANT THAT!" Guess what? LINUX IS NOT FOR GAMES. That was never the intention behind linux.

The bottom line is simple; Windows for show, Linux for a pro.

Comments from those using Win 7 are all positive, I'm even running 7068 full time on my desktop at home with zero issues. The same cannot be said about Linux (it may be solid and stable) but if people can't understand how to use it (flaky driver models, unix commands) it will never be accepted by the public. MS has made computing simple, Linux couldn't be further from the truth.

Linux has always been free and yet Microsoft has sold hundreds of millions if not billions of copies of windows in the time Linux has been around. Nothing has changed in that relationship.

There is a place for Linux in the market now more than ever, but not in it's current state. As long as Linux is a command line OS with a GUI wrapper, it's never going to gain a major foot hold in the desktop market.

And I agree with Mat, UAC in Vista and Windows 7 has nothing on the aggravation factor that Linux security prompts invoke.

I have been dropkicking Linux since 1996 every time I use it. I can tell you why you want Win7... So you don't have to frackin compile software packages every time you want feature X or option Y to be available to you. RPM and DEB just don't cut it for system level software that requires compilation and because of licensing or lazyness is not available as rpm or deb for your very specific distro and version. Linux is a damn terdstorm of small irritating problems that are showstoppers. I am sick of fixing them over and over and over and over.

@ Jason:

That's OK then...you sound like a powerless power-user, so Windows is the place for you to be. Have fun pulling viri out of your system...to each their own.

For others, free Ubuntu allows seamless downloading and installation of ready-to-run software from their free software repositories.

Oh come on, enough with the "my OS is better, your a nerd" crap. Sorry but we've seen this before, Linux isn't going to overtake Windows this year, nor will it ever, because it isn't easy to use nor does it have the programs, this includes programs written by companies used by companies to do their business. And no one in their right manly mind would ever use something as gayly named as "Jerkoff Jackelope" or whatever. Fiesty Fawn? What the hell is this crap.

Linux will NOT EVER be a valid alternative to Windows for virtually all of the population of the Earth, regardless of what Microsoft does or does not do, unless the following mind-bendingly obvious problems with Linux are fixed:

1. Brain-dead easy installation on any x86 hardware.

2. Rock-solid driver support for any x86 hardware and peripherals.

3. Robust software catalog at least equal to what you see in the Mac section at Best Buy - and it has to be available at Best Buy.

4. Kind of in line with the above, but to put a point on it, GAMES. Games drive enthusiast PC buying decisions. PC enthusiasts drive the buying decisions of those around them.

5. Widespread effort by OEMs to sell and support Linux on their PCs at large discounts from Windows...not the half-assed BS that has failed miserably so far. But in large part, the half-assed stuff has failed miserably so far because of failures in the points above.

6. Innovative GUIs are nice. Windows people need their PC to look and work exactly like Windows. Exactly. Like. Windows. The slightest deviation from the Windows norm causes 99.999% of the PC market to declare that it's "too hard to use" and they go away. Sad but true. KDE and Gnome are great, but there has to be a GUI that mimicks Windows in every possible way to start. Even the retarded, utterly useless little Aero window-flippy thing.

Android *is* linux.

More like power user that is sick of using his powers. Also a power user that is sick of being a programmer. This includes server and pc. I would happily pay a few hundred/thousand dollars every few years so I just don't have to deal with all that tedious work. I have better things to do then fix stupid problems. That's what it boils down to. Time is money and it takes too much time to fix Linux to meet my needs.

Linux didn't take advantage of the Vista failure; so why would a faster and leaner Vista create a opportunity for them?

Linux makes lots of noise but never has any fight to back it up, they will stay a vocal minority until they actually back up their threats.

My next netbook will likely be Ion based, even if Linux was an option I need Windows to be able to use the basic game running capability of the netbook.

I agree, if there were lots of games available for Linux many hardcore PC users would switch or at least run both OS's. I remember back in the late 80s and early 90s when games were being ported to Linux. I think 98 was the main OS but many games were written for Windows in the Open GL format back then and Linux versions were being carried for a while in shops but that went away. I can guarantee the main reason is Microsoft. Why do you think MS moved completely away from Open GL and now run their proprietary DX? Think, yup to screw Linux games. ID Software is one of the last holdouts for Open GL. Thank Mr. Carmack for not caving in.

With its apparent poor sales and poor everything else, according to the popular press. Now 7 is. Y'know, they should stop thinking of these "opportunities" which don't seem to aid them in the least, and pull their fingers out and get their names out there (i.e. beyond the raging fingers of slashdot readers) with ad campaigns and such.

Oh, and having decent support for crossover network bridging would be lovely, too.

I always thought Linux opportunity starts at Vista.

OK I installed Ubuntu on my computer about two weeks ago and I have to say I will eventually get it working, but shoot, first it assumes that if you installed it you want it to be your default OS, I want the default boot to be Windows, cuz the rest of the family aint gonna use Ubuntu until i get it all set up right. I finally figure out where the boot manager script is located, can't edit it, and then try to figure out how to log into the "root account" to change permissions on the file. Eventually I figure out you need to use Sudo to run chmod ...

And now my second task is to figure out how to get my wireless driver working so I can use internet, I hear there is some wrapper software which can if configured correctly use my windows driver ...

Now I know I will eventually figure it all out when I have the time, I also have an MS in computer science.

But what about the regular joe six pack computer user. Will they know about, xterms sudo, chmod, permissions, boot loaders, setting up scripts for the wireless driver ...

Probably not. So my verdict is, for home use, Ubuntu is probably out. For corporate use, if you can get the corporate guys to set the whole thing up for you - might work out, if you want to use an office package which is only 95% or so compatible with what the rest of the world uses.

Shadow King and Regulas have it SPOT on.
Linux needs to become a GAME OS if it EVER hopes to dethrone Windows. Look at Mac's they went the Graphics route and Ms chose to cater to Games . Gaming Industry is how Big ? Games ,Games ,Games
Linux is a Good OS but untill it becomes a viable Gaming PC OS it is never going to amount to anything more then it is.
Too bad they cant see that.

Linux is not windows in any way.
I hope it will stay this way.
There is no problem with Linux.
The only problem is with you perceptions.
You have it for free. Want more features ?
Write them or pay someone to do it.
Mr. Ubuntu does pay for writing features for you.
My family switched to Linux couple of years ago (no one plays games) and they are perfectly happy since they have 0 downtime due to software issues.
But they have me to install, update and explain how to use. And for me it is much more easier and much less time consuming than XP days. I have to admit that I do use MS for some games. And i don't have problem with it. But it is one of 3 computers with dual boot.
The laptop feel great with debian and the media center + main computer feel exceptionally well with Gentoo.
Don't like Linux? Use something else.

I just want to add my voice to Someone Special, Motoman, Regulas, Nate who mentioned that Linux will get adopted by gamers if they can play their games on it.

While we cant it wont. Simple as that.

Really we need PC software standardisation like you get for hardware so any game can run on any OS, but MS wont like that because they are convicted monopolists.

So I am guessing they wont make it easy but that doesn't mean they cant be made to play ball. Its what the software industry needs.

Linux is (and IMHO will ONLY EVRER BE!!), good at One thing, and One thing only.

...That thing being DVB/C/S/S2 or T.

Sure Microsoft can make a decent Mediacenter Frontend, but for whatever reasons best known to them, it's like they never hard of DVB-S much less C and quite frankly (living in Germany), DVB-T is about as useful as a useful thing, if had cared enough to pay the license fee to leagly watch that crap in the first place! That aside Microsoft is of absolutely OF NO BLOODY USE TO ME.

The Linux answer would be to use MythTV or VDR. Since I'm looking for more of a STB feel the the supper PC side of life I find VDR-1.7.0 w/the Reel eHD and TT S2-3200 to have been my best choice ever.

As for Desktop Linux I've tried it and unless your into a hardcore Dx-10.1 P!ssing match about who has the best 3DMark`0x scores. I did find it adequate for my needs. I did however find myself wishing to be able to run my iTunes installation / iPod off of it though, and then there's my CAS3+ which also needs to be ran under Windows. Sadly neither of these "Programs" seemd to work well under Emulation though.

I don't know much about the Desktop, but Linux is more then welcome in my Livingroom...

Most people aren't children, but most children are to be found yapping at the comment pits of articles such as these.

...why isn't it mainstream?

I wonder how many flipper heads would actually buy Linux if it went for $50?

I mean, how great of sales is Novell's Suse doing?

Hey, why not do this. Challenge Microsoft with saying everyone who will truthfully use Linux as their main machine donate $50 to a charity?

In other words, Linux users, put your money where your mouth is.

reading comments make me wandering.
What wrong with you people?
Fanboys, just use your beloved whatever.
And more important do it quietly.
and read this:
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
Linux is not Windows, it never was and it never gonna be.
They share some functionality, but Linux is not just OS. It philosophy.Or may be culture is more correct.
Typical M$ user is too mentally impaired to understand it. Specially US guys.

Linus knows Vista was horrible
Linus knows Win 7 is great

he has said as much. google it

Even with Vista, Linux couldn't get people to switch. Why would they think they have a better chance against Win 7.

2009 The Year of Linux. Ha

OSX made some inroads against Windows even with horribly overpriced hardware. Linux has no excuse why they haven't had a better adoption rate.

The same thing was told about Windows Vista. Hence 7 is better than Vista.........

Twitter? Office? He would have been better off saying that OpenOffice now does what Volish Office does so, why pay for it?

like wtf
openoffice does NOT do what volish office does no matter how much we want it to. it only does most of it. and as mr. shuttleworth sees no reason to lie; create FUD like teh rest, instead declares what is a victory a victory.

go read up on your debian political [internally] history - see some of the moves made by open sauce - without assumeing that being published lets you skip the hard bits: ACTUALLY FUCKING THINK FOR A SECOND. that's all mark is trying to get u to do ....

ps. i would have just flamed the author but i was just too irritated...

pss. i prefer linux, and dont need a handycap to beat Micro$h1t ;-)

... then why isn’t it mainstream? Let’s face it, 99% of the population of the world have never heard of it, and have no intention of ever figuring out how to install it, find the necessary drivers, download the necessary drivers, pick their way through the product activation maze, choose a suitable antivirus package, choose an antispyware package, get online to pick up updates, pick their way through the Windows Genuine Advantage maze, choose an internet security package, and then find that some Registry edit they were advised to do to work around some odd problem has screwed up their system, and the only way out is to reinstall the whole system from scratch again.

Until Microsoft can solve the usability problems, they will NEVER get the whole world using Windows.

LMAO, it makes me laugh the way the Linux geeks keep hoping like this.

It all depends, whether you use an OS for client or server purposes. It seems like most of you are regular users, who use desktop PCs for home or office. If you were a pro, then I don't need to explain that servers are based on one of the UNIX or Linux flavors.

As I said (and I am saying it again just to annoy the fanboys), Linux is CRAP.

If the only way Linux can succeed is if Microsoft fails, then God help us all, we will have to deal with even more CRAP than we do now.

We all know how arrogant and egoistic those open-sourcerers are -- every day brings some new forks to the open-source scene because those mega-brains can't learn to make some compromises.

Finally, they have never accepted any responsibility. Just try suing an open-sourcerer because his code ate your data -- you won't get far, because he gave you his code for free without any warranty.

Good luck with Linux CRAP in 2009.

Lawrence D'Oliveiro

Maybe...because it's not out yet ? LOL you Linux geeks are a riot...keep that dream alive...keep hoping and praying that everyone will like what you do. Personally I don't see the point...use what you want and everyone else can do the same. All this bad blood and wishing Windows would die is retarded...Microsoft doesn't owe you anything so give it a rest already...

Did Linux kick you dog or something?

I thought 2008 was the year for Linux? Wait... now that I think of it... 2007 was the year of Linux too.

I'm confused. Is every year the year of Linux? I'm just not seein it.

I faintly remember that 2007 and 2008 were supposed to be Years of Linux... funny that I'm running only IRIX and Windows XP.

"If you were a pro, then I don't need to explain that servers are based on one of the UNIX or Linux flavors."

Unless of course it is a Windows server - which I might point out is still growing market share at the cost of UNIX flavours (including Linux). Windows is more secure in a corporate environment - with fewer critical security vulnerabilities that are fixed much faster than in Linux equivalents, and in general provides higher performance on the same hardware.

e.g. just try writing a hardware accelerated 10 Gigagabit network driver for Linux with hardware offloading. You have to hack your own customised version of the kernel to be able to do it, because LINUX doesnt have any equivalent of the NDIS and TCP Chimney models in Windows. Corporates dont want that sort of non standard crap.

Lawrence: "If Windows 7 Is So Good ... ... then why isn’t it mainstream?"

Lawrence, give your head a shake! It isn't even out yet. Sheesh!

Hey how's that German city doing with Linux? Probably more Vista machines mainstreamed in business than Linux variants.

I know of two large corporations who have switched to it, en masse.

How many have switched to Linux?

tdr is completely right. i can't agree more...

i don't know if anyone here is a software developer, but as far as I'm concerned Visual Studio is BY FAR the best IDE out there, and the .NET framework is the most extensive, fastest and easy to use framework to EASILY and speedily create software... (i'm not talking about C++ with some kind of 3rd party GUI, that's not easy, so don't be silly...) and Java, well Java is ok I won't lie, but I don't think it comes anywhere near to the whole .NET thing.

The fact of the matter is, I wouldn't move to Linux and put myself through trouble to learn all this difficult rubbish when I can easily open VS and make whatever it is that I need, and be sure that it will work on most PCs (all Vista system, and quite a lot of XP systems that have .NET installed)... and I'm not fussed about macs, cause most mac users have a PC in their house/family anyway...

The thing stopping Linux being adopted is their RIDICULOUS way of installing software... if those guys wiped the condensation off their thick glasses so they could see anything, they would realise that they need to come together and help each other out to develop something standardised that people can use... They can carry on making their individual forms of linux, that's not a problem, some linux'es are specialised for certain tasks/field, but in terms of programs they should be compatible.

Of course, they don't HAVE to do this... but if they dont want to then maybe they should zip their mouths and not complain about MS having most of the marketshare.

First ,the commentor that said gaming is for children is wrong, probably more adults are gaming than children. It became a hobby for our house kids and aadults game for entertainment. Infact I have 3 PC's ,all mainly/mostly for gaming. Like others said and I FULLY agree ,if Linux ran all new 3D games ...I switch in an instant!

And to the microsuck payroll punks raving how great it is, shove your data mining Microsucks spyware where you head also belongs - http://news.softpedia.com/news/Forget-about-the-WGA-20-Windows-Vista-Features-and-Services-Harvest-User-Data-for-Microsoft-58752.shtml

I work in an IT consulting company and in the last months we had a lot of requests asking for switching to Linux, and I'm talking about middle and big sized companies.
Why? Because they're facing extreme costs for hardware and software. Most of them use multicore processor computers for just using word or web based databases..
Saddly a lot of them have partnerships with M$ so when the project goes out of IT departments, its all noes.

There is a lot of companies investing tons of money in gaming industry, mostly because there are tons of adults spending in really expensive products.
The last example I heard about was a neuronal device capable of be used as a human interface to use a computer. This will really help a lot of handicaped people, but instead all development goes to gaming..
I'm a regular player but I switched to a mac and a xbox 360 and I'm really happy with it, no more setups.
¿There's nobody who thinks that people who have a gaming platform will abandon windows?