On Wednesday 09 July 2003 08:18, Michael Torrie wrote:
<snip>
> I'm extremely grateful that HP has good linux supporters inside that
> develop drivers and other forms of support. Linux end-users represent
> such a small market (maybe half of the macintosh market) that most
> companies don't even find it worth their while.
<snip>
Less than half of the Macintosh market? I think the Linux market is much
bigger than that. The problem is that most Linux users install their own OS
instead of purchasing one, and simultaneously use more than one operating
system, so it is nearly impossible to estimate the Linux install-base. But I
think that we need to learn to see ourselves as an important part of the
computer consumer market, and demand recognition. Companies like Dell, HP,
and IBM should be catering to our needs because Linux will soon be the second
most widely used desktop.
I have no evidence for this prediction, but other pundits are identifying the
same trend. On June 18th, Business Week claimed that "Long maligned as a
desktop nonstarter, Linux should pass Apple in market share for desktop
operating systems on computers sold in the coming year. That means from 7% to
10% of all PCs shipped won't bear the Windows icon."
(http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2003/tc20030618_7983_tc056.htm)
And that doesn't count home-installed systems! Slate magazine (owned by MSN)
discussed the ramifications of such a change in the desktop market:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2084727/ . (Both articles presented to you courtesy
of
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/06/23/2232214&mode=thread&tid=107&tid=187)
With more low cost Linux PC's entering the market, and with the over-sea's
market so fundamentally anti-Microsoft, Linux is a force to be reckoned with.
Just some food for thought.
Richard Esplin
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