[CLUG] Desktop Linux Share Overtaking Macintosh

[Ruairi Newman]

On Sun, 2004-02-15 at 03:07, Peter Flynn wrote:

> I think the important bit is that it ought to make it marginally
> easier to persuade authors of software currently only available
> for Windows and Mac to port it to Linux, or companies currently
> supplying drivers for Mac or Windows to supply them for Linux too.

Though not necessarily under a Free or Open Source license
unfortunately.  If a proliferation of commercial closed-source Linux
software and drivers becomes available, you will eventually see the gap
between the free-for-download Linux, and the boxed-set Linux distros
widen in terms of functionality.

One of the factors that will drive this is that to open-source your
software and still make money, you need significant support revenues. 
If your product is targeted at home users then you might as well forget
it.  If your product is targeted at small businesses, support revenues
are likely also to be insignificant or non-existent.  Medium to
large-sized businesses are where the support contracts are.  It just
will not be feasible for companies targeting home users / small
businesses to open source.

Given this situation and human nature, I wonder how long it will take
before Linux developers become disillusioned enough to switch to the
(less functional, but more Free) *BSD communities?

Regards,

Ruairí

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