Microsoft versus Linux for Netbooks?
Category Linux Ubuntu
Remember when Firefox was being launched ? Very few pundits thought it would survive well against Microsoft's dominance. Firefox has thrived. And, now a new class of mobile devices, netbooks, is opening up opportunities for Linux. I am reading Sunday paper advertisements of Dell's Mini 9, which are quite clearly describing that it runs Ubuntu.
Microsoft is being perceived as "getting some real competition," which is mostly coming from Ubuntu. Owned by Canonical, Ubuntu now has a world-wide installed base of 8 million users.
It's cool to read that Lotus Notes is associated with this surge, but there is another story: it's the netbooks. Hidden in Microsoft's latest finanical statement, there is a subtle hint about a cross-current with these micro-laptops.
The strangest part of this competitive trend is that underneath the netbooks, is another class of even smaller computing devices. These are the new smartphones, which have gotten smart enough to be running full-fledged operating systems. And, their OS is not Microsoft.
Technorati Tags: Lotus Notes, Ubuntu
Remember when Firefox was being launched ? Very few pundits thought it would survive well against Microsoft's dominance. Firefox has thrived. And, now a new class of mobile devices, netbooks, is opening up opportunities for Linux. I am reading Sunday paper advertisements of Dell's Mini 9, which are quite clearly describing that it runs Ubuntu.
Microsoft is being perceived as "getting some real competition," which is mostly coming from Ubuntu. Owned by Canonical, Ubuntu now has a world-wide installed base of 8 million users.
"We're not sharing our revenues publicly but I will say revenue growth is extremely strong and we're bullish across the board both at server side and desktop," Kenyon said. "The difference between now and even 12 months ago in terms of size and volume of deals coming through is a big difference."
"We'd expect there will be further significant announcements on that [partners] thread before the end of the year," Kenyon commented. "In terms of the large ISVs, we already have a good story with IBM DB2, Websphere, and now Lotus Notes as well."
It's cool to read that Lotus Notes is associated with this surge, but there is another story: it's the netbooks. Hidden in Microsoft's latest finanical statement, there is a subtle hint about a cross-current with these micro-laptops.
The company notes that growth in the client division was four points short of guidance. The company said PC units grew 10% - 12% in the latest quarter, in line with its guidance, but with a different product mix. Traditional PC units were slower, while netbooks were stronger.
The strangest part of this competitive trend is that underneath the netbooks, is another class of even smaller computing devices. These are the new smartphones, which have gotten smart enough to be running full-fledged operating systems. And, their OS is not Microsoft.
Technorati Tags: Lotus Notes, Ubuntu
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