Linux poised to challenge Microsoft's desktop dominance
Linux poised to challenge Microsoft's desktop dominance
The pervasiveness of Linux in the data centre environment is likely to be replicated in the desktop market in the coming years.
That is according to speakers at the Desktop Linux Summit, currently taking place in San Diego, who are of the opinion that the introduction of more open source business applications combined with better marketing will see the Linux operating system become a common feature on the desktop PC.
Pia Smith, chairman of Linux Australia, agrees that the momentum of Linux in the desktop space is definitely building and has been for some time.
"The use of Linux on the desktop has certainly increased dramatically in the last couple of years. Some big projects, both overseas and locally, have helped drive this, such as the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and various governments taking it up."
Asked if that momentum will see Linux reach the level of penetration of 10 percent of all desktop machines within the next five years, as predicted by Linux advocates at the U.S. event, is somewhat more difficult to determine at present, said Smith.
"I certainly see the desktop system becoming more and more popular. Whether that figure of 10 percent in the next five years is reasonable, too little or too much, will become clearer in the next year or two, considering the number of companies and government organisations that are researching and looking at it now.
"I also see it becoming an equal competitor to any operating system out there at the moment, but I can't speculate on a timeframe for that at the moment."
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