Should Ballmer Be Concerned by Linux?

Another grey "Grey Eagle" (or is it gray?), Jean-Louis Gassee says he's concerned about Steve Ballmer's getting distracted on his ride to work. He shouldn't be. The issue Jean-Louis mentions is the competition with free software. But the numbers don't back up the concern.

Every time we look at the issue, Windows is gaining by taking share away from "other" and Linux is gaining by taking share away from its predecessor, UNIX.  (Also see here.) The past is not a predicter of the future but there does not seem to be anything to change that trend in the server operating software world.

Jean-Louis' concerns about how Windows might do on appliances vis a vis Linux (or some other free/open source software-FOSS) is legitimate. But as for the desktop, that ship has sailed.

And Ballmer isn't really the guy that has to worry about such things any more on the drive in, Jean-Louis. It's another grey Grey (or Gray) Eagle, Ray Ozzie (see February 21 post in February 2008 archive).  As Gassee hints, by the time FOSS could be doing anything to Microsoft (MSFT) in the market, Microsoft will be in a different market.

But I'm sure Steve appreciates Jean-Louis' concern.

Comments

[Ishortyou:]

I have install Linux on my PC ubuntu more friendlier to use than vista and I am happy with it.

2008 Oct 26 09:28 AM

[steveballmer:]

No worries here!

2008 Oct 26 10:52 AM

[brewer:]

OSX is eating desktop & notebook share at an ever increasing rate.

2008 Oct 27 03:28 AM

[Tom B:]

Ballmer should been concerned about VISTA-- 5-plus years ago. It's amazing they still move any product; they are the ONLY commercial OS vendor that still isn't UNIX-based.

2008 Oct 27 09:10 AM

[Kunst:]

Is there a version of Unix/Linux that will run Microsoft Office on a PC?

2008 Oct 27 11:51 PM

[SteveJobs:]

Mac OSX

2008 Oct 28 04:15 PM

[Kunst:]

Mac OSX runs on a PC? I thought it only ran on Apple computers?

2008 Nov 02 10:09 PM