1. The normal people ‘not computer-litterate’ DON’T INSTALL OS’s. Even installing windows, they need that same geek on the phone giving them ‘tech support’. They want a system that runs out-of-the-box, and Linux has offered that for years. It’s even better at it now(netbooks?)

2. The ‘many options’ thing is an argument already old and dusty. Today, most distros come from 3 or 4 main roots; so, if you use ubuntu, you use debian(they have different things, but the base is the same); it’s the same if you use fedora/redhat/centos/ and so on. If that can be ’scary’ to customers, then just OEM the ones that have made it to the mainstream! Put systems with Fedora/Ubuntu to the end customers, and that’s it. There are distro teams that don’t care that much about OEMs, they want to be an ‘alternative’ choice for computer literate people(like Slackware), or just have another market in mind(servers, etc.). This argument has been debated and thrown away long time ago.

3. I don’t think Red Hat needed a Linux CTO in order to be where it is right now; nor Ubuntu. The Linux Foundation, Open Source Development Labs,and also conferences like Linuxworld can show an insight of the CTOs involved in the Linux evolution.

4. I think this one could be acceptable, given the fact that windows is one and only one environment to code on(mind Vista); Linux, because of its different main roots has different environments to consider. But again, Linux apps can be just binaries(as .EXE files) and get installed and used like that if making packages is too complicated(which I think it may not). This is the case of VMware for example, XLite, and others.

5. The problem with OEM software, is that OEM manufacturers BUILD with Windows already. If the OEMs manufacturers just stopped treating Linux as ‘the weird option’ and start sending systems with it, OEM software houses should be forced to consider developing for them. It should be the same way Apple achieved MacOS drivers and support, with a really low percentage of world usage.

Most Windows users are akin to the people that can’t / don’t want to / won’t check their own oil… then complain because their engine knocks (but do nothing, “My pc used to be so fast, but it’s just slow now. I guess I used up all my memory.”), and then pay big when their system breaks down.

We need to educate, children especially, that computers are not ‘fool-proof’ that they are not absolute, that they do make mistakes, break down and need maintaince. And just as it’s easy for any ‘normal’ person to check the oil in their car, it’s also easy for any ‘normal’ user to check for mal-ware and remove it. Mostly, above all, at least us American’s need to stop being so damn lazy and educate ourselves… you expect to eat food without knowing what’s in it (*and complain because you got sick), drive a car without knowing what makes it work or keeps it running (*and complain because your breakpads wore out and now you got in a fender bender), and use a computer without wanting or knowing anything about them (*and complain because you gave some dude all your personal information, and then he stole your identity)

… just 2cents

DirectX is NOT the only way to write games. In fact OpenGL (especially 2.0) benchmarks better than DirectX, and is completely cross platform. Also several games run on Linux, AND if you know how to install and use WINE, most of the really popular games play without issue.

Games will almost certainly be a problem for Linux, but if more people switch to Linux then game makers will be forced to code for it or risk losing customers.

As for the rest of the article, there’s a lot of holes. For one thing, when it comes to standards there’s also the HIG standards that Gnome/KDE developers have been following for years. Also, the vetting of programs argument is flawed in that the Add/Remove Programs option in Ubuntu allows a user to pick the popular apps that DO work quite easily. And the issue of hardware support has seen major issue reductions in the last 5 years alone.

Office suite?Possible.
OEM? Possible.
Easy Installation? Possible.
Games without directx? Very difficult.

I’d say the average computer user is ALWAYS going to be very non-computer literate. And this is the reason linux desktop adoption has been slow. The linux crowd enjoys the fact that the OS isn’t dumbed down. They feel smarter for using it and like it that way. But then they turn around and bash “dumb” Windows users. The irony is they’re too stupid to understand that the vast majority of people out there aren’t tech geeks and don’t have any interest in tech at all. They just simply need to use a computer be it for work, internet or email. They don’t want to study CS and learn how a ‘nix OS runs under the hood.

A trading application would be useful. I suppose the nerds working on the software out there need to be given a mission. Also the traders out there inclined to pursue Linux realy should latch on and get behind any existing solutions that might be hidden out there or help design a fresh one. Trading is an interesting business from what I gather. A couple big data companies basically milking as much money as they can for live and delayed data. So they can choose who they want to work with and who to lock out.

Once upon a time there were two graphical OS: Geoworks and Windows. But something was lacking in Geoworks: A spreadsheet application. People don’t remember this anymore especially Geeks.

They can’t also remember that People in Enterprise at the very beginning of the PC, were ordering a PC it just because of Visicalc the first spreadsheet ever conceived.

Linux still don’t have a decent Office Suite for Business Power Users (I mean with a scripting language understandable by mere mortals, not like OpenOffice which require Java skill). I am part time trader and I still can’t use Major Trading Softwares on Linux. I don’t care about Windows or Linux, I do only care about what Real World Applications they can offer.

Why Geeks seem never catch this simple equation ?