maddog: Letter to InfoWorld: Linux 64-bit since 1995!
Ken D'Ambrosio
ken at jots.org
Fri Jan 6 23:30:01 EST 2006
>>So, regarding x86-64, yeah, MS is pretty late to the party. And since that's
>>what runs the huge majority of desktops, that's really where it's at.
>>
>>
>
>Sorry, Ken, have to disagree with you. There is such a thing as a "server
>system".
>
Oh, absolutely. I didn't want to muddy the water with the place where,
as far as I'm concerned, we've already won. [Don't get me wrong: I
don't mean raw figures, or MS leaving the server market, or anything.
But I only see Linux expanding its grip on servers as time goes on, and
as more CS students with Linux under their belt enter the workplace.]
What I mean by desktops being "where it's at" is that that's where the
fight is. Five years ago, I thought Linux was six months from being
able to make inroads -- perhaps I was a bit optimistic. Now, however, I
have no doubt that Linux -can- make inroads. The functionality is in
place. It'll just take time for us to wear away at the huge amount of
inertia ("You can't get fired for buying IBM^H^H^H Microsoft") that they
have. Fortunately, I'd say that roughly 1/2 of the home users Just
Don't Care. They aren't looking to run any super-duper MS-specific apps
or games or anything. They want:
1) E-mail
1a) To be able to watch the (virus-laden) attachments and/or links they
get from their friends
2) Web surfing
3) IM
Linux can do all that, NOT get (as many) viruses, AND be a whole lot
less expensive. However, until you start seeing Linux boxen next to MS
boxen at (say) Circuit City -- and for less money -- I don't see us
making a substantial difference in userbase numbers.
Which just means, of course, that we continue fighting the good fight.
In other words, I violently agree. ;-)
-Ken
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