The rise of the open source OS

28-10-2009

by Ralph Averbuch

Microsoft's unassailable grip on the PC desktop will face fresh threats from open OS's.

Whilst last week was all about the Windows 7 launch, little fanfare has fallen upon an altogether quieter launch of the latest version of Ubuntu. For those unaware of it, Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system. There are loads of Linux flavoured OS's but Ubuntu is arguably one of those which might be called "user friendly". That's because its main supporter, Mark Shuttleworth, is a man of financial means who has been determined to bring Linux mainstream and make it as easy to install and operate as Windows or the Mac OSX. It may not be quite there yet, but it's getting a whole lot better with each new iteration. Of course, he's far from alone in this ambition. Google's development of Linux-based Android has initially been focussed on mobiles but there are likely to be many flavours of this OS, ranging across netbooks and even fully-fledged PCs, in the form of Chrome OS in the future. Inevitably this is yet another thorn in the side for Microsoft. With free to install competitors offering viable alternatives to Windows, it's likely that more computer makers will begin to offer PCs with Ubuntu or Android as options. It may only shave a little off the unit cost of a purchase but for many IT Managers stuck with tight budgets, that may be enough to break the Windows stranglehold on business IT. Provided open-source OS PCs can adequately cover the basics -- simple email, web and word processing -- it's going to be hard for companies approaching an upgrade cycle to ignore the potential savings. Should Microsoft respond, moving towards more free software and charge for support? Or charge rents for use over time, rather than charging up-front for shrink-wrapped packages? It's certain that the emergence of viable and free operating systems for the PC platform will work well with a move to the cloud-based computer world mentioned recently. That's why Microsoft really is facing a potential perfect storm on its home turf. It's something few would have predicted even in the recent past. It also makes for an interesting couple of years ahead as we see how the once unassailable Microsoft plans to meet this very real threat.

Comments

Email a friend

RSS feed

Socialite

Track this story's companies and topics

» Define your own keyword alert

Recent posts
Music sales get more social with Spotify
People make 140 letters priceless
Will Twitter ride the mobile wave?
Hope in the fight against censorship
Smartphones: the tipping point's coming
A malignant threat from our mobiles
Social takes the fight to search
Make room for the message
Apple's new court based tactics
Welcome back King Content