What Linux Will Look Like In 2012
Submitted by srlinuxx on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 03:18.
What will desktop Linux be like four years from now?
In the time it takes most college students to earn an undergraduate degree -- or party through their college savings -- Linux will continue to mature and evolve into an operating system that non-technical users can fully embrace.
The single biggest change you'll see is the way Linux evolves to meet the growing market of users who are not themselves Linux-savvy, but are looking for a low-cost alternative to Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) (or even the Mac). That alone will stimulate enormous changes across the board, but there are many other things coming down the pike in the next four years, all well worth looking forward to.
Over the course of the last four years, Linux has taken enormous strides in usability and breadth of adoption. Here's a speculative look forward at what Linux could be like a few years from now -- or, maybe we could say what Linux ought to be like.
For-free Versus For-pay
Expect to see a three-way split among different versions of Linux. Not different distributions per se, but three basic usage models:
Knoppix cheat codes changed Linux ? No going back ? MW ?
When Knoppix used cheat codes, linux was changed forever. It means you have instant-on thru VGA(not even 791/2)? You can install Linux the way you wanted it without further configurations.
Now, 2 second instant-on Linux is on netbooks.
The splash screen will have the apps for you to launch; without installation. Operating system is netbook specific. No need to reconfigure anything, you only have the internet, USB hotplugged devices, and your MiddleWare(hypervisor) to use the data from the internet? Camera and text editor(middleware) can make new student training films?
What else can you have with Linux? Internet websites extended the apps you need for your work and play with cloud computing?
Next step is to put them Linux instant-on OS on the cellphones?