Boyd's post about Lindows doesn't mention anything about the OS (operating System) used to power Lindows. It is Linux, not Windows. LindowsOS is under a family-use licence so you can install it, and the different applications on every computer in your home (at no additional cost)...whereas with MS WindowsXP you will have to purchase a different copy for every computer you own.
Not only is this expensive and frustrating it is going to KILL Windows on a lot of desktops. And those who decide to use LINDOWS might be interested in knowing that they support Netscape and Mozzila, not the Microsoft Browser. Lindows does offer partial support for Microsoft Office programs but they fully support the "Open Office" which you are going to see become a lot more popular over the next couple of years. It is a fact that over 20% of the offices using Windows based servers and products are not going to be able to afford the new Microsoft's licensing program. This makes Open Office a lot more attractive.
Linux is getting a lot more power behind. Especially from the likes of IBM. IBM logo xSeries servers offer a reliable foundation for leading Linux-based computing, providing outstanding performance, reliability and manageability for core business applications. IBM is working closely with four leading Linux distributors?Caldera International, Red Hat Inc., SuSE AG, and TurboLinux.
You might say -- sure that's nice Steve, but I just operate a desktop computer. Red Hat Inc. which is one of the Linux distributors IBM is working with is gearing up to support Desktop users with a new program code name "LIMBO." It is expected to become version 8.0 of Red Hat, and is already proving it may become a good solid replacement for Windows. It comes bundled with the Open Office suite, Gnome 2.0, Mozzila 1.0 and Apache 2.0. It also has a host of new and improved graphical system configuration tools. You are apt to see a greater presence for Red Hat in the desktop computing space.
Read Adam Scheinberg's review and Update on Red Hat's Limbo Progress and view the screen shots he took while giving Limbo a spin. It starting to look a lot more user friendly for Windows users, and a lot more cost effective. I haven't even touched on the subject of reliability and performance of the OS.
So besides AOL adoption of Netscape in version 8.0 of their software, in the next couple of years expect to see Linux coming to a desktop near you ;-) If you're not coding your pages (which I know many of you don't) for BOTH browsers you will pay the price in lost sales if potential customers cannot use your Microsoft based website.
And for those who will FREAK OUT (hope that term doesn't pre-date me) about having your IE browser replaced by Netscape or Mozilla, don't worry. The reason IE loads fast on your computer is because it is pre-loaded into Windows every time you boot up. Expect the same performance for Mozzila in LIMBO. For those of you taking a look at
Mozilla now, you may be aware that there is a "LOADER" program for "WIN32" users which will boot Mozilla up faster then IE.
Also note that the Mozzila web site features OEone HomeBase DESKTOP which is a free operating environment for Linux, based on Mozilla technologies.
For those of you who might think this is TOO NEW to be concerned with. It isn't new. Several big-name manufacturers, such as Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Compaq, signed up to participate in the Gnome Foundation dating back to the summer of 2000. The Gnome Foundation also won the support of Linux companies Red Hat, VA Linux Systems, Eazel, Helix Code, Henzai and Turbolinux. The short story of it is: they liked what they saw.
Steve -- I don't believe you or your predictions
That's fine! Years ago when everyone was developing their websites for Netscape 3.x they didn't develop for IE 3.x. I told you not to discount IE. Microsoft was producing a better browser. The browser war heated up when version 4.x browsers were released. This wasn't really a browser war. It was a realization. Microsoft had already won the war with version 3.x of their browser. No one really paid attention to me ;-) Now that I'm here and telling you that Microsoft Windows and their IE browser is on the way "out" I doubt few will believe me.
But if you have ANY doubts, make sure your web pages are compatible with the major browser and that old "whatsitsname."
Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan
homebusiness-websites.com