Technogory

For those of you that are Linux supporters, argue that the Linux desktop numbers are not being reported correctly, and can’t understand why more of the public don’t embrace Linux - here’s your chance to participate.  The Desktop Linux (DTL) workgroup is holding their annual survey.

From their site -

The Desktop Linux (DTL) workgroup has been carried forward into the Linux Foundation to promote, protect, and standardize desktop Linux.

The Desktop Linux workgroup is working towards making the Linux desktop in the enterprise a reality. To achieve this objective:

• Move toward a standard Linux desktop application environment by moving desktop APIs into the desktop LSB profile.
• Identify and remove barriers that ISVs face in porting to and developing on Linux.
• Identify and promote a set of desktop Linux usage models and the standards needed for those usage models.
• Identify mismatches and gaps between existing desktop implementations and the usage models, then work with the open source community to address those problems.
• Promote and sponsor key desktop community events.

One of the things I have observed with larger corporations is their slower pace to adopt Linux is in the lack of personal touch and service from Linux.  Linux is not like Microsoft or Apple, in that you have people that contact you directly to work with you.  For the most part, you have to seek out Linux.  And, where are the perks?  I have witnessed too many upper management types lean towards vendors just because of the perks.  The vendors in question were probably not the right fit, but because someone got a perk, they are in.

For example, if I reach out to RedHat and purchase a enterprise support license, I get some contact.  Typically, it’s more of a sales contact than a true interest in what the company sees as important for more adoption of Linux.  In meetings I have been involved in where we discuss technical adoption and changes, RedHat technicians like to treat it as they know what’s more important than the company.

How about Novell - some of the worst support you can ever get.  But, a lot of the same things.  Although Novell tends to adopt technologies quicker than RedHat, they aren’t that much different in their Linux marketing model.

A company - maybe Ubuntu/Canonical - can step up and fill that gap.  They certainly have the momentum right now!

Take the survey!