Linux is Already Popular
I have read many articles about "the year of the desktop Linux" that commonly appear over the end of the year. This article does not pretend to be one of those. I will not try to foresee the behavior of desktop users in the next year. This article is just about what Linux already have reached.
The real thing is that there are already many people using Linux nowadays. I can't throw a number, but they are really many people. I don't mean that Linux is a popular desktop choice, although there are many people using it that way. I'm talking about the OS that many are using on their devices.
An OS goes beyond the desktop and server area, there are lots of "smart" devices and appliances that use advanced OSes and is there where Linux has became really popular. Just to name a few:
- Mobile phones: As many know, Linux is every day more popular in this field. From Google Android (like Motorola Droid, upcomming Google phone, and many others) to the Nokia Maemo (like the N900), a lot of phones are powered by Linux, including many Motorola phones. And will be more if the Samsung Bada project takes off.
- Wireless routers: It is fairly known that linksys has several Linux powered models.
- TV Set-top boxes: Linux powers several set-top boxes and media centers too.
- E-book readers: Most are based on Linux variants, with specific programs used to visualize the different documents formats, even DOC format.
- Many more: As TVs and even fridges get internet connection Linux is being included in them. You can find a more complete list in linuxfordevices.com.
Maybe Linux is not the most popular on the desktop but it is wide spread in other areas of the electronic consumer market, and that it's not only a very important achievement for the Open Source community but it's also an open door to new opportunities; an open door that might lead to the desktop. Or maybe not.
