Will Novell's Desktop Linux Catch On? 327
Laura writes "Novell says its newly released Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10(SLED) can replace Windows for the average office worker. But will enterprises embrace a widespread migration from Windows?" From the article: "The desktop market is a very mature market, and Microsoft has a very strong presence there, which makes it hard for customers to move off [...] However, Jeff Jaffe, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Novell, said at the SLED 10 launch Thursday he is fairly confident that if enterprises have a chance to kick the tires of the new desktop OS, mass migration from Windows is soon to follow."
Displacing MS is difficult (Score:5, Informative)
For the FOSS Means Business [foss-means-business.org] event, it was suggested that we get Microsoft to take part and make a big controversial event (since Perens and Stallman would be the other keynoters).
We decided against because MS have it too easy. They don't have to prove their offering is better, they just have to raise enough FUD so that transitions to free software are delayed for one more year. Just like last year, and probably like next year. So we decided against, and instead of controversy we'll concentrate on showing the business value of free software, and why it is sustainable.
Re:Displacing MS is difficult (Score:5, Insightful)
Inviting MS has two possible advantages (Score:3, Interesting)
Inviting MS has two potential advantages. First, it can make the event more controversial which helps spread the news into the mass media, and second it can allow the event to be a non-partisan event which shows both sides.
To make either of these possible values happen, MS need to be addes near then start of the organising. You should make sure they fund the event too since it will be you gathering the best audience possible and then handing MS the microphone. Finally, put them on early or mid-day and
Re:Displacing MS is difficult (Score:4, Insightful)
My company would gladdly pay for Windows licenses if I needed Windows, so price isn't an issue.
There are non-religious reasons to choose Linux over Windows or OSX.
Re:Displacing MS is difficult (Score:3, Insightful)
Lest we forget, the only reason everyone uses Windows today is because large corporations did in the 80s, not because it
Pity..... :-( (Score:5, Funny)
We decided against
I'm rather disappointed, If you could have gotten Steve Ballmer to attend on behalf of MS as well as Richard Stallman I would have be willing to pay for the privilege of watching the event. I'm convinced a debate between those two would end in a world class chairthrowing duel.......
Good question! (Score:5, Funny)
It may be depending on behaviour from Novell. (Score:5, Insightful)
If on the other hand Novell tries to tie SLED against OES they make a big enormous mistake. Even if SLED is nice i will not use it if its the only choice. Why would i want to lock myself in again coming from another lockin? Before i go SLED i want to see Novell supporting other client dists than SLED.
So basically its not how good product Novell ships but more about how good they interact with the rest of the Linux ecosystem that will doom or raise them to the sky.
It is in Indiana Schools (Score:5, Interesting)
Rumors .... (Score:2)
bye bye lullabye (Score:2)
Yeah, those dudes at IBM don't know what they are talking about. Neither do Lowes, GM or other great big companies who have already migrated. Sleep tight, Steve Bally Boy, everything is just fine. Your employees do not use Ipods either.
Re:Rumors .... (Score:2)
The Linux distribution that will really fight against Windows is one like Ubuntu that just expands and expands without nobody noticing.
For the slasdhot editors, it would be a nice poll to see which are the most used Linux distributions. The only poll I found is this and it seems quite outdated. [slashdot.org]
Another interesting place for similar statistics is Distrowatch [distrowatch.com] where the 3 most popular distributions are: 1st. U
Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:5, Insightful)
It rarely needs rebooting, it lets even computer illiterate users be surprisingly productive, and it really doesn't cost very much. In fact, it effectively comes "for free" with a $500 Dell desktop PC.
For a Linux desktop to be preferred over Windows, the Linux desktop experience will have to provide something new and innovative that Windows does not, rather than just knocking off Windows features.
Hackers like me and you like Linux for many reasons -- but none of those reasons are particularly interesting to Joe Office Manager or Mom and Pop User.
Get innovative, people -- invent something new and useful that Windows *doesn't* have, and then they will come.
boxlight
For free? (Score:2, Insightful)
In fact, it effectively comes "for free" with a $500 Dell desktop PC.
What on earth do you mean by that?
Re:For free? (Score:2)
Looking at the bigger picture, it is cheaper for a company like Dell to just support 1 OS. Think about it, which scenario is cheaper: offering machines with a copy of Windows XP for $10, or offering a choice of Windows and Linux (saving $10 a machine on those that choose Linux), and having to train a group of linux techs? the first option is cheaper by a long shot.
Re:For free? (Score:5, Interesting)
The true cost of Windows is much more than ~$10, for both user and vendor.
For vendor, the true cost far exceeds ~$10 because of support. Hordes of people call vendor tech support lines because of problems with Windows, whether such problems are viruses, spyware, or other operating system defects.
For user, the true cost far exceeds ~$10 because one typically must factor in the cost of antivirus, perhaps antispyware too. Not to mention the time spent dealing with these programs, or time spent dealing with spyware and virus infections. Oh, and that doesn't include the cost of whatever proprietary software you'll need to get Windows to do anything truly useful.
Windows costs much more than ~$10, which is a long, long way from being "effectively free."
Re:For free? (Score:2, Insightful)
True, but keep in mind that with GNU/Linux hordes of people will be calling in because they can't figure out how to get X to use the correct widescreen resolution (try telling John Doe about modelines in
Pay particular attention to that! (Score:3, Insightful)
Microsoft has pushed the cost of tech support for their products off to the OEM's selling the hardware.
Novell will not be able to do that. So, in order for Novell to match Microsoft's profit margin on the OS, Novell will have to charge MORE to pay for the Novell support techs to answer the phone calls that, for Microsoft, would have gone to Dell.
And there will be MORE tech calls to Novell because Dell pre-approves all the hardware they ship for Windows, but not for SLED
Re:For free? (Score:2)
As another poster points out, the cost of a Dell with XP is identical to the cost of a Dell with XP replaced by Linux. It's free in that most people can't buy a PC without it.
Re:For free? (Score:2)
I suspect that number is completely bogus. Sources? As far as I know it was closer to $30 about 10 years ago...
Re:For free? (Score:2)
Re:For free? (Score:3, Insightful)
Nonsense. OEM licensing is typically much closer to $99 or so. One can see this in action at say, Fry's or Wal-Mart. Walmart will sell a system for $350 with XP Home and the EXACT SAME SYSTEM with Linspire (or another Linux) for $250.
The "Windows tax" is a significant chunk of the cost of low-end PCs (sub-$500 range), which is where the real money in consumer PCs is.
Of course, you're absoultely right about the
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm far from being a Mac Fanboy, but I think that in order for Linux to really be successful, what you need is a review saying 'This is just like OSX, but for free and works on your existing machine'. Windows only enters the equation as a reason to switch and being able to keep your machine will make switching easier for a lot of people.
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Let me guess, you're a gamer and there is no point for you to use anything other than XP because that is what your games require. That would be fine if you admitted it but please don't try to pass off WOW as a social life because it's not.
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:4, Informative)
OTOH they really seem to like the new Linux Terminal Server installation. Why? It just damn works and arent in any way harder to use than Windows.
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:3, Funny)
That's the part I love the best. It keeps me in a job. Be careful what you wish for.
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Applation avaliability isnt really a problem today except if you run a backend designed for Windows.
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:3, Interesting)
So, let's see, we'll be needing:
OpenOffice
Grisoft AVG
Microsoft Windows Defender, or Lavasoft Adaware, or Spybot Search and destrory
Firefox
Thunderbird
Eclipse
All free, a lot of them also open source. Cost of using XP is still 0 to me.
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:2, Interesting)
I installed Linux on a laptop the other day. It didn't detect my wireless card. I couldn't find Linux drivers for my wireless card. Linux can't use my wireless card.
Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP can.
Tell me again why I should use Linux?
Actually, I do use Linux, I'm illustrating a point: product support for Linux is erratic, applications can be hard to find, and documentation is woefully inadequate for inexperienced users. You can make a pretty desktop and package all the righ
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:4, Interesting)
I have to disagree. $500 Dell desktop has windows costs built in.
BTW, I live in a country where everybody - and I mean *everybody* - uses pirated copies of windows. I yet have to meet a home user that has all licenses for windows and office software. Many "tech guys" make their living by instaling pirated copies of windows.
When I say "no, I don't work with windows", people are amazed at me. Then, when I show my Ubuntu laptop, they are truly puzzled. Then, I tell them the advantages of security, updates and such, and they are fished.
What about a huge selection of free software, unmatchable security features, beautiful customization of the desktop and themes (that Windows XP is definitively lacking), out-of-the-box support for their hardware (like when you plug in your camera and get pictures with gphoto2, without having to install the camera's CD).
PDF export in OpenOffice, tab navigation in firefox, and so on... That features I use to sell Open Source to people which has no clue.
I think that when you show them the advantages above, they are willing to try it out. With a good explanation, you can make a change. I know it doesn't work like this for everybody, but I have a good rate of success.
If Novell is lauching SLED 10 with its Xgl extension, this will be another feature to show off and attract users that are easily impressed by this kind of eye candy.
In my humble opnion they are in the right path.
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:2)
Goddamn it, I hate it when I find out here at Slashdot that I'm doing things that it's not possible to do. Sigh, now I have to stop using my XP themes and my camera that automatically installed and mounted as a drive when I plugged it in... (but really, you used devi
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:3, Informative)
Don't get me wrong, I love Linux and I hate MS like the next guy around here, but out-of-the-box support for their hardware?! Pass the crackpipe please! After that, try installing (insert random WLAN card here) for Linux.
Just to get my 3 year old laptop running with a fairly popular WLAN card (D-Link) on (K)Ubuntu, it took me over 5 hours of searching the we
Out of whose box? (Score:3, Insightful)
If it's out of Dell's box, you may have a point.
But if you mean out of Microsoft's box, then you're on crack. Out-of-the-box XP simply does not work. You might have a chance if you also have all of your out-of-the-box driver CDs for all your components. But if you're in my boat, and have to install XP on mom's bare PC that she bought from who knows w
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:2)
So, for bang for the buck, linux distros offer the benefits of XP Pro, remote desktop, easy account managment, file shares, etc. Gnome and KDE still have bugs and do crash, XP is more stable but doesnt come with explorer process seperation by default (simple reg edit fixes that).
Linux has 2 weak spots, driver support and applications. Both are better today, but still not even close to perfect compared to XP. Linux should boot
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:2)
Also, you forget it is differcult for the Linux community to 'innovate' when hardware manufacturers only really cater to Window's users. Afterall, software is only as
Re:Linux guys don't like to hear this, but ... (Score:2)
It's not a matter of liking it or not, there are just facts. XP is a pretty good product, but it still takes a monthly antivirus subscription to keep it running in any kind of shape. It's not safe to surf the internet with Windows. The productivity you mentioned is evened out with the virus, trojan and spy
What is required (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:What is required (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:What is required (Score:2, Informative)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Break the inflexible desktop mindset first (Score:5, Interesting)
Why would they want the state of the desktop to change? It works. Linux, in a lot of the same ways, doesn't for the average user. There's definitely a larger learning curve (yes even for Ubuntu). Most people are simply not willing to have to learn new stuff when the old way works fine and is cheap enough.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Dell Has Novell Desktop 9 (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't know where you can try Linux in a retail outlet, but it would help convince people to buy it if they could, IMHO.
How to replace Microsoft on the desktop (Score:2, Interesting)
1. Sell upper management on the idea
a. emphasize savings, lack of viruses, etc. (things that an MBA can understand)
b. repeat 1 about 10 times
c. repeat at least once again to the new management
2. Point out the overall savings in the corporate environment:
a. savings due to protected deskstops
b. savings due to no virus recovery issues
3. Do a really
Shrink Wrap Linux Software at Staples (Score:3, Insightful)
Same thing applies to almost universal availability of manufacturers' Linux drivers on the same CD with Windows drivers.
Look out, a new office companion! (Score:2, Funny)
Staples
Gah! Is that the new Clippy?
Re:Shrink Wrap Linux Software at Staples (Score:4, Insightful)
In Linux, there is essentially no need to box up software on a shelf at Staples. The way that it is different is that you just need an internet connection. All of the software you will need (both Free and commercial) is available as downloads, not on the shelf. It's a new way of looking at things! Let people know about this, and they won't look for it at Staples.
Perhaps but probably not (Score:2)
If the cost is right *see not red hat prices* then I would be willing to do the extra work if I can save a nice
Re:Perhaps but probably not (Score:2)
One place I visited gave their interviewees 30 minutes to figure out how to type, average kinds of formatting and all, a printed document back into an OpenOffice document and print it out themselves to show the match, and likewise with a simple spreadsheet. A few just gave up and left ("I have to think? Oh noooo....") - only those who couldn't chew gum and type at the same time would fail. It was a trivial test, and anyone who couldn't figure it o
Screenshots anyone? (Score:2)
It doesn't say if it's based on Gnome, KDE or something else, nor name any features. What a crap press release.
Re:Screenshots anyone? (Score:2)
I believe these are what you are looking for...
Re:Screenshots anyone? (Score:2)
How so? You don't lose any functionality or eye-candy if you choose KDE instead. Hell, even Nat Friedman admitted that!
Kicking the tires (Score:3, Funny)
if enterprises have a chance to kick the tires of the new desktop OS, mass migration from Windows is soon to follow.
Yeah, this has worked real well for Mac OS X. Seriously, what is the target market percentage that SLED10 is going to have in one year, two years? Will they be happy with 3.5%? Or must "success" be something much bigger? (maybe a video of Ballmer throwing a chair at a Novell booth?)
But it is a good sign that they refrained from calling call it SLEDX.
Change is bad (Score:5, Insightful)
It happened with WIN98 to 2000 and I've seen it with "interface issues" upgrading desktops from NT4 to XP.
Putting aside the REAL issues of a major migration, the answer to successful change is to not fight human nature.
Forget about pre-changeover sessions for enduser input and all that. Upgrades succeed in environments where
management doesn't let after-the-fact moaning and groaning be effective tools.
Everywhere else you selectively put shiny new computers (and OSes) on certain peoples desks and just wait.
One hour later when the inevitable jealousy and pettiness reach full force, the users are ready to realize they
can keep their old/slow/loud/ugly computers or be upgraded on schedule. Unfortunately, human nature rules.
Novell, as a company, is too weak (Score:3, Insightful)
I think that something along the lines of an OS platform switch will have to start with companies who outsource their entire IT infrastructure to a company like IBM Global Services, where all of the "figure it out" and "just make it work" bits are Someone Else's Problem.
I know that IBM has financial ties to Novell, and has an interest in keeping it alive. I just don't know that they'll be willing to make it Their Problem on thousands of desktops.
Too much at once (Score:2, Insightful)
Also, I think the end user should not have to use the command line. (...here comes the flame...) As much as I think any self respecting geek sh
Re:Too much at once (Score:2)
Take that thought one step further. Just because one is not a genius at [command shell of your choosing], doesn't make them 'not capable.'
The point is getting the machine to do what you want it to do. If you can do that without ever using the keyboard, that's as good as anything. The interface you use to get the job done matters far less than
Some companies can't. (Score:4, Insightful)
Here's why: we resell cellular phone service for one of the BIG providers, and their web-based interface to activate phones ONLY works on Internet Explorer. Period. They actually check for other browsers and REJECT ALL OTHERS. They claim security reasons, but I think their web gurus are just morons.
Additionally, our point of sale requires Terminal Server Client (RDP), and we need to have printer support. It is also a windows only application. They also highly recommend Citrix Metaframe, but that's out of our price range (the terminal server licenses are costly enough).
As long as we are an authorized agent for this company, we are required to meet their software requirements. This 100% means Windows, and Internet Explorer. We have managed to cut our MS Office Installs by using OO.org, but this hasn't been without troubles [whining idiots that can't use a mouse reliably, let alone figure out a slightly different interface--good thing MS Office 12 is going to be even more radically different].
There are a lot of small businesses in a similar situation, and as long as this is the case, linux will be a limited use OS.
Now, if someone would release a terminal server client that supported ALL attached peripherals (at the client end), then I would use that (and we might be able to get rid of windows at several points).
Re:Some companies can't. (Score:3, Informative)
I believe rdesktop [rdesktop.org] can be used to connect via RDP.
Re:Some companies can't. (Score:2)
Does rdesktop do printers?
Re:Some companies can't. (Score:2)
I think yes, though I have not tried it myself. You would need to install appropriate printer driver on the target computer (I would suggest postscript)
M$ Office (Score:2, Insightful)
The nail in the coffin will be a distro that can run all those applications, plus their own. Until then, I can't sell it to management. They won't even look at it. And I'm sorry, but OpenOffice is NOT a replacement for M$ Office, if it looks slightly different then what people are used too, they won't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
The same goes for Mac.
Granted Codewe
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
1997 called..... (Score:2)
It wants its story back.....
joab
Oh, man . . . I wish it could. (Score:3, Insightful)
Not because of any windows functionality per se, but rather because our chosen mail client is Blotus Notes.
And, yes, some of my co-workers use WINE to run their mail client, but I'm not up for doing that at work (at home, use OpenSuSE 10 x86_64 and Solaris SPARC for all computing), but I can't afford to fight the good fight at work; I'm too busy trying to bring home the big evil!
Still, between efforts like this, Linspire and a whole bevy of others, I suspect that Microsoft's dominance of the desktop is becoming less of a carved-in-stone given and more of simply being the way it is now.
Re:Mod the AC -1 clueless or troll (Score:3, Informative)
There's more than just mail to be considered here. Databases, availability/scheduling. Our lockin is to Lotus Notes - not the Lotus Notes mail client.
Eat any good books lately?
Think like a business user about desktop Linux (Score:5, Insightful)
Here's one thing that's holding the Linux desktop back...standards. Non-technical users know a superset of the following things about their computer:
- To log on in the morning, I press Ctrl+Alt+Del, enter my e-mail address and password, and click OK. To log off, I use Start -> Shut Down.
- To read my e-mail, I use {Outlook | Notes | GroupWise | something else}.
- Ctrl+O opens a file. Ctrl+S saves it. Alt+F4 closes a window. Alt+Tab switches apps, etc.
- To write a document, I use Word. I know 500 key combimations and tricks to get my work done.
- To use a spreadsheet, I open Excel. I also know 500 key combos and tricks.
- To write a presentation, I use PowerPoint. If I'm in sales, I could practically code the next version of PowerPoint. If I'm a normal user, I know a few tricks to get slides written.
- To browse the Internet, I use IE.
- To use my USB flash drive / iPod / scanner / printer, I plug it in and go. (Microsoft really works with vendors to make sure devices work as advertised in all but the screwiest of configurations.)
What people in IT don't realize is that users do not care what technology is new or cool. Users want to do the job they are hired for, go home and spend time with the family. Their computer is a tool, nothing more. It's like a phone or copier to them. They learned Windows and Office, and if a replacement doesn't work exactly as the old one did, they'll resist it.
If the Linux distributions put their strength behind one core set of applications, and also made Linux all but invisible to users who don't want the command line, then a real contender against Windows will emerge. Even Microsoft is worried about people adopting Vista at the corporate level because of the huge system requirements. A well-organized, standard Linux with no complexities exposed to the end-user would be a welcome change in some companies.
Novell can't get out of its own way. (Score:4, Interesting)
So what's going to happen? My guess would be that the new technology like Xgl and its associated compositing managers etc. will find their way into the pool of open source software, and then someone like Ubuntu will drive it into a slick, easy to install, easy to use desktop that people will actually want to use.
And then when Novell's revenues continue to slide, even these technologies will lose their staffing, when the next round of layoffs will cut those who are not working on products and services that directly generate revenue. Seriously, the whole Novell organization ought to be divested and sold off as pieces to other companies who can work with the products and services that still have some value.
Novell (Score:2)
The first person to say... (Score:2)
Is all about the Applications! (Score:2, Informative)
Other key apps are QuickBooks and PhotoShop. I'm sure there are a number of others. Novell should really get after these companies to support them.
microsoft upgrades cost a lot over time. (Score:3, Insightful)
I dont think novell could seriously expect to take a lions share of the market anytime soon - linux adoption will always be a gradual process. I think a big problem is that a lot of windows admin would be out of a job if they had to use linux. there is a big learning curve for moving from windows to linux especially when something doesnt appear to work.
but there are plenty of places where linux on work desktop could start, especially when user have restricted functionality to a few apps anyway (e.g. call centres which genreraly restrict users severely) i would think these sorts of places would be a good place to start.
i had a friend that was working for a company which tried to roll out linux to company desktop but the user revloted because thopenoffice wouldnt run excel macros and they were a finance company. there are always going to be a plethora of issues doing a migration like this and most users will say linux doesnt work (simply cos they're used to windows and are too lazy to figue things out) - so there would have to be a deegree of training to offset this.
so, in summary, for a company generally there will be an increased cost in training/administering linux in the short term but i would say the TCO in the long term would have to work out in linux advantage in the long term as windows always forces upgrades of its products and as we all know is prone to all sorts of security holes/bugs.
It won't catch on (Score:3, Insightful)
email, calendar, phones oh my (Score:3, Insightful)
The desktop has never been important in the workplace. Look at all of the shops that have Windows and Mac users. Getting work easily done through document, information, and financial exchange is the only thing that is important.
Novell has their groupware and SUSE has OpenXchange and Evolution. When they make it easily integrated with handhelds and desktops they will begin to win market share.
If they make something that is a "drop in" replacement I'll be there.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2, Insightful)
Dell has no clean line of thought. There is no such thing as "one major distribution", and there won't be.
What he needs to do is to support one distribution, release modules, patches, etc, for it, and since compatible hardware is highly desirable in open source software these days, all other major distributions will join.
The distribution choosen could be Novell's SuSE, or Fedora, or Ubuntu, or almost anything.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2)
The distribution chosen is Red Hat. Same as most other companies, such as IBM and EMC.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2)
If it ain't Windows, they don't want it. (Score:2, Interesting)
I've had that experience too many times. If it can't run on Windows, they see it as off-limits. They feel safer thinking within their box. It's unfortunate.
And I'm talking about a lot of people I met. And quite a few are professional programmers.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Namechange (Score:2)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:3, Insightful)
We've been looking for the opportunity to get MS off our desktops for 5 years. If Novell has a product that can replace Windoze we will seriously consider it for 150 desktops. Disclosure: we are a Novell/Red Hat/Suse shop, which makes a Novell product far more interesting than Ubuntu, as one example.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2)
But support is only 1 issue in migration, you need to make sure all applications port over. Openoffice isnt even close to use for legal applications and formats, doesnt support most 3rd party VB scripts or macros. But if you are not locked in to any legacy applications or documents it might just be more
Re:Unlikely. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:3, Insightful)
I used to think that Red Hat was Linux too (from a commercial/marketing perspective, that is). But now I'm starting to think that it's not someone like RedHat (or even Fedora) who are going to make Linux mainstream.
What's (arguably) the most popular and widely known open-source app out there? Firefox. Is that because of big corporate backing? Nope (well, corporate money, but not marketing or support).
Just yesterday I looked at Ubuntu seriously for the first time, and I'm amazed. It looks like the Firefo
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2)
This is where companies like Redhat and SuSE have a major advantage when it comes to getting their software bundled by big companies like Dell.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:3, Insightful)
Dell can use that excuse forever. If he chose one distro to bundle and support, he could do that. No one expects an OEM to support stuff they don't sell.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Unlikely. (Score:5, Interesting)
Dell might be saying that they want only one "major" distribution is horse hockey. In many, many conversations with IBM and HP, both those vendors want the opposite. They want two major distributions that have full enterprise support. Novell/SUSE as one (see IBM investment in Novell) and Red Hat as the other. Why do they want this? Because they don't want another Microsoft. They want to encourage standards, competition, and hardware upgrades. They can't do this if everyone runs the OS of the year from Microsoft. They can do this if everyone runs either SUSE Linux, Red Hat Linux, or Microsoft. Doing that creates lots of churn for them to take advantage of when trying to sell boxes equipped with the latest bells and whistles.
As far as Umbuntu... I don't know what to tell you. Most of my customers (anywhere from 100 users in a local township to 30,000 users at a Fortune 100 company) won't install software X on OS Y on hardware Z unless it's 100% supported and certified by both vendors. Problem with Umbuntu is, as far as I know, no major software or hardware companies are doing that. That alone will put the screws to Umbuntu. At Novell/SUSE, our biggest challenge (and our biggest success) has been getting third party companies like Intel, Dell, HP, IBM, Oracle, PeopleSoft, BEA, etc. to certify our OS as a platform that they will support. Check to see if the app you want is supported here http://developer.novell.com/yessearch/Search.jsp [novell.com]. Without a company behind Umbuntu, getting that kind of support is going to be impossible. And, as we all know, without supported software, no one will use your distro.
That's just my opinion... I certainly could be wrong.
Re:Unlikely. (Score:2, Informative)
Wow, you weren't kidding there. Here are some things of which you should take note:
Re:too many Linuxes (Score:3, Insightful)
I can forward an X session from any Unix box to any Linux [or BSD] box. My cupsd in Gentoo speaks to the one in Redhat. My NFS in freebsd speaks Fedoraese [e.g. Fedora implements NFS properly], etc.
While it's true some [mostly C++] applications are not as binary portable as they should be the actual platforms themselves are stable. The programs I run in Gentoo are the same ones you can run in Fedora or SUSE or
If anything the Unix, Linux and BS
Re: (Score:2)
Re:You guys are talking to the wrong people. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Linux is great until it doesn't work (Score:3, Informative)