To echo Madman, wouldn't use market share to define successes. I know many who are unfamiliar with Linux that are using it as their everyday desktop operating system.

Even though it can be complicated, so can Windows. I mean, seriously, you install anti-viruses, get the appropriate drivers, defragging, ect... Only reason it's not as big of an issue is because we're use to it. For Linux: Just put your needs aside, show whoever how to use the system in as plain english as possible, and you're set.

Well, some time later, another post with some hind sight on the subject since it was originally opened. Linux desktops have certainly evolved and the Windows desktop, well, has changed. There are not many differences between the Windows and the Linux desktops any more, they both look very good. Well, I'm of the opinion that Linux desktops, KDE in particular, is nicer than Windows.

This said, there are still small points to evaluate. Considering the overall progress of a desktop such as KDE over the past 2 years, they are very small. These points, however small, are blockers when one considers the office environment. Well, they are not even desktop issues, but applications that are necessary for the acceptance of the desktop. I'll mention two. First it is the all present email issue that has existed for a long time. From all the Linux mail client issues that are discussed and worked on, I believe the lack of support for the MS TNEF standard to be the greatest due to the market share of systems using TNEF. Although this is related to an email discussion, it also greatly dictates whether Linux (and thus any of the desktops on it) is viable in the office. Another point, and I have to say that this specific point has improved radically over the past years, are management tools. Management tools are great at the moment, but from my point of view I still have to go to too many places (and sometimes search for them on Google) to make changes to what I see as one "item". As an example, to make changes to the desktop, such as a screen saver, screen saver behavior, screen resolution, screen locking password settings, icon size setting, etc., I have to use various configuration tools or screens. All these setting are related to the desktop and should be in one place. They should be accessible from the specific item itself, such as a right click on the desktop.

Just considering these two points mentioned, if they were to change, I can all of a sudden install Linux in the office, on someone's desktop that is not a Linux expert, and give them this great environment to use.

The Linux desktop is certainly NOT dead and I believe that issues like these will be addressed, and once they are, the environment will certainly become very popular. Sometimes it is just small, seemingly insignificant issues, that prevent a great system from not being accepted.

ngativ wrote:Basically, they say that because the linux desktop stills only shares the "1% of the market", it failed. I've never care about the 1% thing since i have been a linux user for a long time. It just works for me, and every day i see new innovations, and the linux comunity is growing everyday. I meant , 1% it just means that the userbase for the linux desktop project has been ina steady growing ,isnt?.

While being old topic, it needs to be reminded that "1% market share" isn't truth as most people understands it.

As it doesn't mean "there are 1% Linux users among all personal computer users". But it is "1% of new personal computers are sold with Linux".

There is by estimation 1.2 billion desktop / laptop computers. 1% of those would be only a 12 million....
Everyone can make conclusions about that, is there a ̃12 million Linux users in total...
Or is it that 1% of new computers (desktop & laptop) are sold with Linux (as marketshare is used to present) meaning there are way more...