[wplug] is there a market for linux in the US?

[Michael Smith]

I wouldn't consider it selling one's soul to become more proficient in 
Microsoft stuff. In fact, I would recommend bringing one's soul along, 
to evaluate Microsoft software in an unbiased manner. The fact that I 
work and play on Linux, Windows, and Mac OS gives me credibility when 
making recommendations to clients, as long as I can keep my personal 
disdain for Windows out of my tone-of-voice. (Which is often difficult 
for me, because I have a lot of problems with Windows.)

As a web developer, I spend more time talking about the resurgence of 
the browser wars (should we call it the "Browser Rebellion" now?) than 
about individual O.S.s. I feel that if more (reasonably 
standards-compliant) software were written for the Internet or 
intranets than individual users would have fewer computer problems 
regardless of their OSs. It's worth noting that Microsoft is trying to 
take over the web as well -- I've berated web developers for making 
software that only runs on I.E. to little to no avail in the short 
term.

In the long term, however, I'm worried about neither the OS nor the 
browser wars. I think that Microsoft has more money, but far less 
energy than the OSS community, and therefore doesn't have the growth 
potential. In fact, barring a really remarkable jump into a different, 
but close industry, I think Microsoft has already basically peaked, 
whereas OSS is still growing.

Another, more succinct way to put it might be my prediction that 
Windows probably won't outlive Bill Gates by very long, but Linux will 
outlive Linus for a very long time.

I would hope that Apple can outlive Steve Jobs, but I don't have a good 
feeling about that...

Anyway, <insert forward looking statements disclaimer here> that's my 
two-cents.

Peace,
Mike

On May 11, 2005, at 3:10 PM, Rob Prowel wrote:

> ok.  I'm new to this group but am curious about
> something.  I've been using/programming linux since
> the pre V1.0 days back in the early 90s and have been
> watching and hoping that posix based operating systems
> would beat out M$ in markets other than desktop.
>
> Unfortunately I'm not seeing that happening.  real
> UNIX seems to have fallen by the wayside and the only
> real linux embracing I see going on is on the
> international front...or in the hacker/geek community.
>  Just take a look at the linux related news articles.
> Most seem to be from international sources.
>
> I guess to be more susinct: can an old time unix geek
> find programming/analysis work with linux or to find a
> real job do we HAVE to sell our souls and jump on the
> M$ bandwagon?
>
> Are employers looking for linux...other than the
> occasional PR position to make it look like they are
> investing in open source?
>
> What do employers consider real linux experience:
> knowledge of the OS core and the ability to make GNU
> open source porjects work together, or business
> experience and (dread the thought...CERTIFICATION) in
> some particular vendors distribution with a gui
> attached?
>
> any thoughts?
>
>
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Thanks,
Michael A. Smith