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Analyst Puts Linux In Minor Leagues For Five More Years
By: Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
2009-10-21
Windows 7 is due to launch tomorrow, and since it'll have people thinking about new operating systems, Linux supporters might have realistically hoped that now would be a good time to make a grab for market share. However, at least a couple of analysts believe that more patience is required.
Laurent Lachal, who works for the information, communication, and technology advisory firm known as Ovum, told Victoria Ho that the competition between two main GUIs is one issue. The coexistence of KDE and Gnome "confuses the market," according to Lachal.
He also said, "Usability is not a problem with Linux, but the issue lies with application support."
And even in instances where Linux would work well for certain tasks or individuals within a company, IT chiefs often see it as a nuisance (and not cost-effective) to split their attention between Linux and Windows.
So Lachal believes we'll have to wait about five years for Linux to grow out of its position as a minority operating system. Still, in the grand scheme of things, half a decade is not so long, and maybe Windows 8 will provide another convenient transition opportunity at that time.
About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.
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