From: Adam Flinton 

Joe Barr wrote:
> http://slate.msn.com/id/2084727/
>
> Flipping the Switch
> Linux's new popularity may hurt Apple more than Microsoft. By Paul Boutin
> Posted Monday, June 23, 2003, at 2:04 PM PT
>
> In the latest of his legendary keynote stage shows, Steve Jobs kicked off
> Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference this morning in San Francisco by
> showing off the company's speedy new aluminum G5 desktop Mac. But while
> listing the new machine's impressive specs, Jobs left out a related,
> eye-popping statistic: Business Week columnist Alex Salkever dropped the
> bomb last week that next year, "Linux should pass Apple in market share
> for desktop operating systems on computers."
>

I disagree with this.

I have a mate who says this exact same thing & has since.....1997-8 or
so. If Mac was still on the OS 7.6,8 or 9 I would agree but I think when
the maccies look back they'll see the move to a bsd base saved the mac

have a look at the below & note the OSS apps (esp the serverside apps)
which are coming to OSX because of it's *ix base :

http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/2226931

Built on top of the Jaguar code, the server-class OS adds in Automatic
Setup for multiple servers; Open Directory 2 for hosting an LDAP directory
and Kerberos authentication services; Samba 3 for providing login and home
directory support for Windows clients; and the JBoss application server for
running J2EE applications.

Panther Server also includes a brand new mail server based on the open
source Postfix SMTP and Cyrus IMAP and POP servers. In addition, a new
virtual private network (VPN) DEFINE:VPN> server built into the server
OS supports Mac OS X, Windows or UNIX clients using PPTP and L2TP tunneling
protocols. The operating system also includes an updated release of the
Apache Web server along with Apache Tomcat and Apache Axis for creating Web
services. "

Then factor in safari coming from kde & moz & OpenOffice etc.etc.

If I had to recomend a *ix for a neophyte then I'd recomend OSX right now.
I reckon the 1-2 between Apple & Linux is what is going to hurt MS most
of all.

Imagine 2 years from now where Linux is getting onto the desktop seriously.
Now imagine OSX with basically all the same apps. Suddenly OSX/Apple is a
"mainstream choice" once more.

heck Apple have even standardized on GCC...

Linux will pass apple in desktop share (mostly as a function of the intel
platform) but I reckon it will be a rising tide that lifts all boats in the
*ix camp.

adam

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