[citation][nom]stm1185[/nom]It is that kind of sentiment that is always going to keep Linux as nothing more then it is right now. Without Commercial development for an OS there is really no point in using it beyond simple activities like web browsing or text editing. Steam would bring gaming to Linux, and not that terrible emulation experience; but a slick easy to use interface. But then that would mean Linux would move beyond being an OS for really boring nerds.[/citation]
[citation][nom]stm1185[/nom]It is that kind of sentiment that is always going to keep Linux as nothing more then it is right now. Without Commercial development for an OS there is really no point in using it beyond simple activities like web browsing or text editing. Steam would bring gaming to Linux, and not that terrible emulation experience; but a slick easy to use interface. But then that would mean Linux would move beyond being an OS for really boring nerds.[/citation]
Face it, Linux is for really boring nerds and that's unlikely to change.
Few people are willing to switch to a new OS because of the learning curve. Even though OS'es like Ubuntu have a minimal one, it's still too steep for casual users.
Linux developers can't strong arm their way into mainstream either. They don't have the funding to finance fancy advertising campaigns, nor do they have the enormous amount of money a company like MS can pour into OEM's, marketing and god knows what other things that it does to keep in top position.
Today's mainstream market is a hostile environment for an OS. Having Steam won't change that.
Apple prides itself in a huge, almost blind consumer loyalty. MS has a huge market share and as such a vast amount of software and trained users. Both have massive advertising budgets. A small Linux dev company can't force itself into such a market.
And then there's the problems that Linux created itself. There are a myriad of distros and most of them are great in one way or another. However, for a computer novice that's plain scary. How can someone unable to distinguish Office and Windows choose from the vast array of Linux distros? And such a number of distros doesn't simplify writing software either.
Linux is too small, too late and too divided internally to conquer to market, no matter how great it is.
So please, leave Linux to geeks, professionals, scientists and server users. I'd rather have an OS that succeeds in appealing to a niche - or an elite, depending on perspective - than one that aims at mass market but fails.
Facebook
Twitter