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December 08, 2006 | Comments: (0)
Europe loves Linux...but runs Windows (Wired)
Good story a few days ago in Wired about Linux's dominance of Europe...sort of. Bruce Gain writes:
European governments have long complained about their dependence on Microsoft's software, but their rhetoric has not turned into a mass migration away from Windows.What's going on? Office compatibility, mostly. Linux desktops (unless using Crossover Office and/or WINE) simply lack compatiblity with Exchange, Office, or other Microsoft technologies. It's become much better, but is still imperfect.During the past few years, Europe's elected officials have made a lot of noise about ambitious projects to switch to open source software, including big migrations of government PCs in France, Germany, Spain and Norway.
These plans are often heralded as major inroads against Microsoft's Windows hegemony in the old country -- where Microsoft has been fined close to $1 billion in antitrust violations by the European Commission.
Yet the actual migrations have been negligible. More than 95 percent of all PCs used by European government workers still run on Windows, according to the market research firm IDC.
This is why I continue to believe the desktop is not Linux's near-term opportunity. Servers and embedded devices are. But there are plenty of other opportunities for open source on the desktop - ECM, CRM, ERP, etc.
Regardless, so long as politicians are pushing, the dam will eventually burst.
Posted by Matt Asay on December 8, 2006 02:30 PM
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Matt, that's what the move to ODF is for. Linux will occupy all the desktops one day... they just need to break those delibarate shackles and FUD first.
Posted by: Roy Schestowitz at December 9, 2006 04:19 AMLinux is pretty useless for the desktop - that's why it's not being used.
Posted by: anon at December 9, 2006 10:25 AM"This is why I continue to believe the desktop is not Linux's near-term opportunity."
That's because of Microsoft patents/closed source software/monopoly. It's hard to beat such a monster like M$. But we have to promote open standards, because otherwise we will be owned by Microsoft forever!
Linux? useless for the desktop?
Somebody somewhere don't like linux!
Could save fortunes for local/central gov'mt
Could save absolute fortunes for business
But of course, no way!
Why?
Because Microsoft inveigled it's way into schools, colleges, and universrsities.
It's a bleedin great cuckoo, ousting out the proper chicks!
Linux rocks, microsoft sucks.
Posted by: Chris at December 9, 2006 02:57 PMLinux is sufficient for worker bee desktop:
-cheap
-hardy
-secure
-functional
nuff said
Worker Bee but not Professional. Linux refuses to pay for codecs. It's a freebee.
Posted by: Mark at December 12, 2006 03:07 AM
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