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Embed Linux, and put Microsoft on the desktop...

Guy Kewney AnchorDesk

Published: 27 Mar 2001 17:03 BST

Here's where I lose all my friends in the open software foundation: no, Linux is not going to move into the office any time soon. And the reason has nothing to do with the release of Windows XP. It is: you can't get the staff for Linux operations.

Here's how I see it: Microsoft does, indeed, fear the popularity of Linux. But if you think this has anything to do with desktop PC computing, you are mad. And I think I can prove it, two ways. First, I can make a case for saying that Linux is a real threat to Windows -- in embedded systems. And second, I can illustrate why it's no threat to Microsoft in the PC market, with the help of The Man -- my friend David.

The Man installs systems for businesses. They get this idea that they need some PCs and a server and a printer and Internet access, and if they're lucky, they call him. He pops around, measures the cables, buys the hardware, and installs it. And over the next couple of years, he'll hold their hands, install new software, fix their broken ISP connection, hire a Web jock to do their site, and even replace their used printer toner if they want.

"You can believe that Linux is ready for the desktop if you like," he told me recently while I was walking the dogs. "But you just go to any temp agency, and say you need someone with Star Office experience for a week, while your office assistant is away on holiday. See what they say."

It's an absolute killer. You can ring up any temp secretarial agency and say: "We need a PowerPoint person for a day" or "We need an Excel expert for a fortnight" or "Someone with Word 97 skills for a month" and they'll have someone knocking on the door that afternoon.

And it goes further. If you want to start a religious war about this, feel free; but the fact is that I'm not particularly interested in hearing that "Windows runs just fine under WINE" because the same problem applies, in spades.

Sure, I know dozens of clever nerds who can set up Linux to run Windows under some emulation or other. These clever nerds, however, are not The Man. They work for some large corporate. If you try to go to The Man and ask for a Linux installation with WINE, he will simply refuse. And it's pretty obvious why: if things go wrong, he's on his own.