A new study from the OSDL Desktop Linux Working Group attempts to shed some light on why Linux isn't making major inroads into the desktop market. Not surprisingly, the biggest stumbling block cited by potential Linux users is the lack of applications, as well as complex setup processes for peripherals, and limited training available for end-users. Yes, it's stuff we've all heard before. However, there are some interesting findings just under the surface. For example, the apps that most users said they wished they could use under Linux are e-mail programs, office productivity apps and web browsers. Given the widespread availability of programs like Firefox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice, this means there's a huge opportunity to educate potential customers. Of course, configuring peripherals is still a little harder than it should be. But the survey may actually be good news for companies attempting to bring Linux to the masses, since most of the pieces are already in place; they just need to put them together and make sure consumers know how to use them (yes, that's not an easy task — but it's certainly not insurmountable).Survey says: Not enough desktop Linux apps
A new study from the OSDL Desktop Linux Working Group attempts to shed some light on why Linux isn't making major inroads into the desktop market. Not surprisingly, the biggest stumbling block cited by potential Linux users is the lack of applications, as well as complex setup processes for peripherals, and limited training available for end-users. Yes, it's stuff we've all heard before. However, there are some interesting findings just under the surface. For example, the apps that most users said they wished they could use under Linux are e-mail programs, office productivity apps and web browsers. Given the widespread availability of programs like Firefox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice, this means there's a huge opportunity to educate potential customers. Of course, configuring peripherals is still a little harder than it should be. But the survey may actually be good news for companies attempting to bring Linux to the masses, since most of the pieces are already in place; they just need to put them together and make sure consumers know how to use them (yes, that's not an easy task — but it's certainly not insurmountable).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-01-2005 @ 5:52PM
Steve said...
I'd love to try Linux, but any time I need a little helper program, or read about a new tool that will make me more efficient, I always find it for Windows. Maybe someday!
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12-01-2005 @ 7:22PM
Mike said...
Another stumbling block for me has been finding laptops that run Linux well. Having a Linux desktop and a Windows Laptop is inconvenient, until I can get both systems on Linux I will most likely rely on Windows.
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12-02-2005 @ 4:19AM
henrrrik said...
Mike:
Mandriva is certified for Centrino.
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12-02-2005 @ 6:22AM
Mike said...
Finding software for Linux is no problem -- many modern distros have libraries (repositories) online and, with new downloaders like Synaptic, downloading and installation is much easier than Windows!
The real problem is hardware -- motherboards, audio chips, video chips, etc. all provide drivers for Windows, but not so often for Linux. So, before you buy (or build) a machine, check which hardware is supported by the distro you want and buy accordingly. It's not exactly rocket science.
I'm running Ubuntu, btw.
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12-02-2005 @ 10:05AM
gem said...
another thing is i never understood how to install programs for linux. i installed xandros desktop on my spare computer early this year and was quite happy with it and the pre-installed things that came with it, but when i wanted to install things like Gimp and Blender 3d and other things, there were all these weird steps like "compiling" that i didn't understand.
it's like you can't just install things by doubleclicking an .exe icon.
so after half a year i removed it.
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12-03-2005 @ 9:16AM
Andy said...
The article left out the answer to its question. LUGs, Linux users groups. Hpefully you might live near one. I have to drive an hour and a half to get to one. I have tried several Disributions since Mandrake 7.0. I still can not do what I want with it so it is not on my main machine. I now have fedora 4.0 installed and I still can not change slave drives on that machine. I do not understand the messages it prompts me to answer when I turn the machine back on. I can not find the Linux machine with my Windows computer on my network. I have found the windows machine with the Linux machine. Still not acceptable. Installing software is another trick. You have to know what kind of Distribution it is based on, such as Debian or Read Hat. Red Hat supports RPMs and I have had some luck in finding and installing RPMs with Fedora 4.0. I am getting close to useing it, but I am not there yet. I know education is the answer and just maybe LUGs are the answer. We just need more of them.
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