[Desktop_architects] Re: Portland: How to fix this situation

[Brooks, Phil]

I have to agree with Greg here.  It seems like figuring out just where
Linux does have the advantage on the desktop and then making that
environment compelling enough that it can dislodge Windows installations
in its close vicinity.

Who are the users that have the biggest reasons to use a Linux desktop?
Where is the strongest growth in the desktop coming from?

I am not sure we know other than through anecdotes.   If M$ were trying
to expand into a marketplace, they would have more than anecdotes.

Do we even have a clear picture of what the anecdotes are?   Seems like
I heard at the conference that the strong points are:

Designers using tools that grew up on Unix. (EDA, MCAD, high end
animation). Mass desktop deployments. (stores, schools, ??)

Then there are some secondary areas related to the above.  These users
might use Windows or might use Linux, but they are dealing directly with
the users above.  Here you might find salespeople, support people,
administrative people. I include myself in this category (software
developer for an EDA tool).

So then, what are the things we need to grow the groups above?  Maybe
the focus should be on applications that those people use or might use
especially where they do have a strong presence on Windows - i.e.
Autocad etc.  Maybe there are other applications that those people use
every day that we aren't aware of.

For me (the EDA software developer), I do need some windows apps, but I
run them on VMware and Windows.  That way I have an easy source of
support in that my Linux administrators handle the Linux parts of my box
and the Windows
administrators handle the WinXP and Outlook etc.  There is a pretty
clear line between who does what and it just works.  For Linux Desktop
to grow around me, it needs:

  1) more intuitive administration (editors and a bunch of config 
     files that constantly move around don't cut it).
     (I am also surprised that this wasn't on our list of
     items at the conference - it was mentionned in email - 
     I had a card written up for it, then decided to go with
     a build from strength card).
  2) better software development tools (gdb is no match for 
     Dev Studio).
  3) better email clients
  4) more mindshare from my IT department (very Windows centric 
     now).
  5) devices are important, but the devices are pretty targeted.
     limited to high end workstation and associated office 
     peripherals.  Notebooks are also important, but could also 
     be targeted.

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: desktop_architects-bounces at lists.osdl.org
[mailto:desktop_architects-bounces at lists.osdl.org] On Behalf Of Gregory
Raiz
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 8:15 AM
To: desktop_architects at lists.osdl.org
Subject: RE: [Desktop_architects] Re: Portland: How to fix this
situation

While WINE is great for solving adoption blockers and moving
applications to
Linux it will stay a moving target as new applications and games are
written. The shelf life for a game is just 6 months. By the time you get
the
game tested and working the new one is already out. 

Wine is a bridge that helps people move to Linux and I believe this
bridge
should be available on most distributions (at least as an option).

I may sound like I'm beating the same drum but instead of trying to be
good
at everything the Linux desktop should find its true target persona and
be
truly great at that one thing.  

Is the persona for Linux a business user or a gamer?
 The business user doesn't want an OS that lets their employees play
games. 
 The gamer doesn't want an OS that doesn't play games. 
Whose problem do we want to solve? If you try to satisfy everyone you
end up
satisfying no one. 


Greg Raiz 
www.raizlabs.com
617.820.5206