Mactel: A Disaster for Linux?

[mipadi]

Mactel: A Distaster for Linux?

The segment in which Linux could be harmed is desktop computing. Here distrobutions like Linspire and Xandros have created Linux environments that are, on the surface, much more like Windows or OS X than ever before. There is some reason to believe that these will be seen as superfluous once there is an option to run OS X or Windows on the a x86 Mac. Though, looking into this situation a bit deeper, it can be recognized that the average Linux user is more computer literate than users of other opterating systems so this would imply that they are making the decision to use Linux based on intelligent and well-informed reasoning. Because of this it is not likely that they would all of a sudden see OS X as the best alternative to Windows and move to that. 

If anything, the increased competition will be good for everyone. Windows, which has been growing comparitively worse every year will have to respond to the head-to-head comparision with OS X, while Apple's operating system will either have to make efforts to increase compatibility and driver support or forced to be welcoming to a dual boot with Windows. Linux will no longer be the sole x86 alternative to Windows, it will have to compete with OS X for this spot, though this will never be an apples-to-apples comparision because the the limits to where OS X can be installed.

So the question remains, is Apple's move to x86 a disaster for Linux? No, of course not. Linux remains a diverse, highly scalable, and powerful operating system, the only one which has been able to hop the current gap between PowerPC and x86. It would be unrealistic to deny the attractiveness of an Apple computer which can run either OS X or Windows but with the rapid pace of current Linux development the thought that it would be overly harmed by the arrivals of the Mactels is a bit tough to swallow. Linux is quite reliant on the open source community but this is a dedicated group of individuals that have a great deal vested in Linux for them to step away simply because of a change in processor type is unlikely. Furthermore the involvement of large companies, like Red Hat and Novell, in Linux advancement means that even with a few less developers things will still be improving along with the pace of the industry.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

[tomalakborg]

Meh, linux will keep going in its two directions - corporate and oss. The open-sourcers will continue their project, and companies will continue dumping money into their distros. As for the average user? Until linux becomes as painless as windows/osx they won't use it. This is not more of a disaster for linux as it is a new option for every x86 user.