[plug] Linux Desktop Market

[simon]

Chris Watt (something.rotten at gmail.com) wrote:

> So, does anyone think that a company could be founded on the ability
> to offer premium computers (so computers ready for the internet,
> office apps, etc.) could be sold to the public or do you think there
> are still factors hindering the adoption of this system, esp. by
> schools, seniors and first time users?

One word - 'Office'. Noone cares about windows. However, the vast majority of
corporate users need Office to communicate with each other (ie, theyve settled
on a standard). Usually people like to use the same stuff at home as they do
at the office.

Desktop supremacy seems unlikely until people are given a valid reason to all
swap from office to a competing linux based product (which aint gonna happen),
or Microsoft Office import/export filters on the competing products becomes so
good that there is never an issue (which is unlikely to happen), or Microsoft
open their file formats for office (was that the sound of hell freezing
over?).

In short, widespread home use wont occur until you get the corporates. You
wont get the corporates until you solve this office problem.

--
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Simon Scott
simon at chrome64.org
mob: 0409113359
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