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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Cyber Cynic

Are there too many desktop Linuxes?

42 comments

TAGS:Android, desktop linux, Fedora, Google, netbook, openSUSE, SLED, Ubuntu
IT TOPICS:Desktops & Servers, Hardware, Linux, Operating Systems, Software

I like choice. I like being able to pick just the right operating system for the right job. But, when I look in the mirror, I don't see an ordinary user. I see someone who regularly uses no less 7 different Linux distributions; 3 versions of Windows, and Mac OS X Tiger and Leopard, and I'm not even going to mention the server operating systems. Most people want to use 1 (one) operating system and that's more than enough for them. And, that may be one of the reasons why desktop Linux has had fits gaining market share.

In a recent feature, Neil McAllister asks whether desktop Linux is too fragmented to succeed. He comments, "Unlike Windows or Mac OS X, each of which is the product of a single vendor, Linux comes in many different distributions that target the desktop, and each has its own look and feel. Some are based on the Gnome desktop environment, while others use KDE, and still others let the user choose between both."

Again, for people who love choice, that's great. But, how many people are there really who can tell you the differences between something as 'obvious' as KDE 4.2x and GNOME 2.26 desktop interfaces. Perhaps a million in the whole world. That's not many compared to the hundreds of millions who use Windows on a daily basis.

There are many reasons why Linux is still trying to become the king of the desktop mountain. But, the more I think about it, the more I believe that one of the major ones is that there are too many choices.

Nothing can be done about that. There's no practical way to reduce the number of Linux distributions, not would I destroy them if I had a magic wand and with a wave I could eliminate dozens of them. Each viable distribution works well for its developers and users.

The more popular ones, such as Fedora, openSUSE and Ubuntu, appeal to large numbers of users. Others, like SLED (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop) 11, are full business Windows desktop replacements. While Ubuntu 9.04 appeals to users who want the newest developments combined with ease of use, and distributions such as Mint 6 and MEPIS 8, may not be that well known but are outstanding desktop Linux distributions in their own right.

So what can be done?

Google can take charge of the Linux desktop. The Google Android Linux desktop isn't just on its way, the first Android netbook is already on the production line.

At the same time though, I also think there's still a realistic chance for one of the other desktop Linuxes to make a grab for serious desktop market share. What the company or community needs to do is to align itself with a major hardware vendor and get that OEM to not just sell desktop Linux, but to give it the kind of advertising and support that needed for any product to get the attention of customers.

Although some major PC vendors, Dell most noticeably, have been installing and supporting Linux, none of them have aggressively tried to push desktop Linux. If Google, as it appears they will be, starts making a major push for Android Linux, then perhaps Dell and other hardware companies will also start pushing their desktop Linux offerings. In that case, Ubuntu or SLED, which have the strongest PC OEM connections, may finally gain the mind-share needed to stand out from the other Linux distributions and gain a significant share of the overall desktop market.

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To many desktops

Submitted by Steven on May 1, 2009 - 12:17 A.M.

No
There are not to many desktops and this is evident by Microsoft thinking that they can charge people far to much for an operating system that many don't really want or need for email and internet. If more people cottoned on to Linux and realised they can have a good system for email and internet at low cost they would be shocked.

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dell gives only lip support to linux

Submitted by dell user on April 30, 2009 - 8:32 P.M.

I have a Dell and a Dell printer when I installed ubuntu and tried to get the printer to work they have refused to provide driver. They do not want linux around. They like having a captive audience.

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Yes there are too many

Submitted by Chris on April 30, 2009 - 2:00 P.M.

To answer the question, yes. People always want the best then can get and to evaluate 300+ distro's is just crazy. I like the BSD's myself.

OpenBSD - Security
FreeBSD - Server
NetBSD - run on your toaster
PC-BSD - Desktop

Each distro has a general idea in mind, even though then can do whatever you want them to do. Another thing that is common in Linux distro's is the lack of file system consistencies. Some put a conf file in /etc some put it in /usr/etc. Its a PITA where as again BSD uses a consistant model and as an admin is much less of a learning curve.

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there are too many

Submitted by Jerry on April 29, 2009 - 7:51 P.M.

I'm a pretty bright guy and I want Linux to succeed. I've tried a couple of distros and was not impressed. If I have to use the command to change my screen resolution then I can't be bothered.

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too many desktops

Submitted by Jake on June 15, 2009 - 11:47 A.M.

I totally agree with this statement. I've been sick of GUI Desktops since Caldera 2.3 and SuSE 7.3. SuSE didn't even have a workable mouse driver until SuSE 9.0 and then it was questionable at times...9.3 fixed that but, the point is - KDE/GNOME GUI's really are poorly planned and the developers will not listen to what the people want and then when people do buy it or download a version they find that important things such as video drivers, sound codecs and much more that involve the real purposes of today's use of computers - just don't work or if they do - not very good. Linux is being overcast by the Illusions of KDE and GNOME. MacOSX is so much better than what Linux has and Mac is running UNIX from Berkeley (BSD) so what's the problem with KDE/GNOME - basically a bunch of hackes who don't agree on much of anything and each one thinks they are the only solution to the problems.

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I call shenanigans. I've

Submitted by Jim on May 5, 2009 - 3:57 P.M.

I call shenanigans. I've used linux distros as well and haven't had to change the screen resolution through the command line.

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Censorship?

Submitted by Anonymous on April 29, 2009 - 3:04 P.M.

This notice shows up far too often. And, it takes at least twelve hours to get the comment posted.

The comment you posted has been flagged as potential spam. It will not be visible until the site administrator has a chance to review it.

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Explanation

Submitted by Anonymous on May 1, 2009 - 10:52 A.M.

That happens if you do not get the silly captcha
exactly right the first time. It would be nice if
you got one extra chance to enter it correctly, but
not on this site.

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Marketing....thats it!

Submitted by Anonymous on April 29, 2009 - 8:52 A.M.

The only place this makes sense is marketing. Its hard to market Linux because is all about concepts and a kernel. People aren't going to understand that. They need to be led to a flagship entry point where they can get a little experience and then learn about what the whole Linux world has to offer.

Right now that entry point is mainly Ubuntu though some people don't like that. But lets face it...you cannot bring new people in on this platform of choice and power. You have to bring them in one something they can use to get their feet wet. Then if they like it and seek more power or freedom they can move to other distros. Or if they just want to use a PC for basic functions they can stay where they are.

Aside from marketing it would be stupid to actually limit the number of distros in any way. They all bring various things to the table. And I thought competition was supposed to be this great thing anyway.

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Too many Linux desktops?

Submitted by Anonymous on April 29, 2009 - 6:22 A.M.

I don't believe in "one size fits all". Some desktops are more featureful so thay are more suited to a more powerful machine, Some desktops are more "compact" so they are more suited to less powerful machines. By using an all-architectures approach, Linux desktops can cover a larger market slice. What is a desktop? I remember the metaphor: the computer desktop is like looking at a desk top surface from above. The word processor is the equivalent of a pencil. The spreadsheet app is the equivalent of a paper spreadsheet. And on and on... Is this metaphor still valid with all Linux desktops? I think it is.

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