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What is the fate of Linux in the common market place.

As everyone knows Walmart is selling a computer for $199.00 with Linux. Rumor has it they are sold out on the website already. Is this really going to fly with all home users. Linux does take some tinkering. You just cant go out and buy that new piece of hardware for you machine without checking to see if it might work with Linux.

Will the common user who knows nothing about the hardware inside their pc really be up to tinkering and making things work? I don’t think so. Linux will have its following don’t get me wrong. I’m a die hard Ubuntu nut. It runs smoothly on my new Dell laptop, but I like to tinker with my machine, install new applications, beta test some software even write an app to help myself. Linux does make this very nice. If you really think about it will your Mom or Dad or Uncle who only use the computer, really want to deal with that. My wife is the perfect example of this.

When I first switched to Ubuntu, she was browsing the web with my laptop, she commented on how much faster it seemed to be. Then the question I had been waiting for, what will my laptop run like if it had Ubuntu on it. So we tried it. Her laptop is a Dell Inspiron B120. I know it’s a low end machine, all she really does, is download music from Itunes, surf the web, and email. I figured she would be a ideal candidate for Ubuntu. Boy was I wrong. The first morning she had a problem checking her work email, I was out of bed too. Then the weird problems started that just needed a little work. This didn’t please her a bit. She is my worst computer client and she will admit it. I applied a couple of updates and fixed the issue, then the next morning same thing. Needless to say she was back to Windows that next night. Is Linux right for her, probably not yet. Will she actually ever convert? I think so it will just take time.

I think the best solution to the Linux Windows debate is whatever the actual user is comfortable with. I am not comfortable with spending a lot of money on an operating system that will be replaced or not supported in a couple of years. I am a die hard Linux user. Do I still use windows on occasion? Yes, but it is pretty rare. Will Linux ever overtake Microsoft’s share of the PC operating system? I think it will be a toss up. Though if Microsoft continues to charge outrageous prices for their product, I’m sure it will have an impact. This will be a long road for Linux to overcome. With each release it gets closer and closer to a better product.

Will Linux suffer the same problems Windows users deal with. I would imagine in the next couple of years Linux will have some problems due to the vast amount of computers running it. Is it a targeted market for viruses right now, no, but it will happen.

All in all Linux has some very strong points, so does windows, even Apple. It just comes down to personal preference, and what the user wants to give up to be able to do what they want to.

I would like to hear some opinions, what do you think?