Red Hat's chief executive has said that Linux needs to mature further before home users will get a positive experience from the operating system, saying they should choose Windows instead.
Linux is seen by Microsoft as its most dangerous competitor for desktop operating systems, and after a number of high-profile cases where government departments have switched from Windows to Linux-based systems, the OS has been making some progress. However, Red Hat said that the hype around desktop Linux is still mostly unfounded at the moment.
Matthew Szulik, chief executive of Linux vendor Red Hat, said on Monday that although Linux is capable of exceeding expectations for corporate users, home users should stick with Windows: "I would say that for the consumer market place, Windows probably continues to be the right product line," he said. "I would argue that from the device-driver standpoint and perhaps some of the other traditional functionality, for that classic consumer purchaser, it is my view that (Linux) technology needs to mature a little bit more."
Szulik gave an example of his 90-year-old father going to a local retailer in order to purchase a computer with Linux: "We know painfully well what happens. He will try to get it installed and either doesn't have a positive experience or puts a lot of pressure on your support systems," he said.
However, Szulik expects Linux to be ready in a couple of years after it has had time to mature. In the mean time, he is adamant that corporate users would be surprised by how much the operating system has to offer. "Consumers want USB drivers and digital camera support; but for the enterprise desktop, that is a little bit different -- that area is ripe," he said. "We think that the enterprise desktop market place is much more strategic and has buyers whose needs we can exceed."
Talkback
Red Hat might not feel that their product is ready for the home user because it isn't their current target but that's a bit rich when you know the number other vendors (mandrake, lycoris, libranet,xandros and even Suse) that target home and soho users.
Red Hat should not consider itself as being linux.
I myself run linux at home and have connected an all in one printer/fax/copier/scanner, my ipod and a DV camera. That was almost all handled almost without guess work and with a lot less driver install than on windows
And large variety of software that comes with my perticular distro and some other is a lot better suited to a home user than the meagre software bundles that usually comes with a typical windows PC.
A platform that is a lot better for home users is the Apple offering. Stable, integrated and intuitive.
Well, It looks to me that RedHat is getting sponsorred by Microsoft, if they are recommended Windows.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..Red Hat's chief executive has said that Linux needs to mature further before home users will get a positive experience from the operating system, saying they should choose Windows instead>>>>>>>>>>>
Hey, you forgot to tell us which version !!!
Red Hat's only complaint about Linux in the home is that they don't have a strategy for making money off it. so they say it's not ready for the home desktop, and we should continue to use bugware like MS windows. Someone needs to get a clue!!!!
People like seeing at home what they have at work. M$ knew this and built a server environment out of the desktop. One thing that hurt Netware was no seemless desktop to match it. We all know Netware is superior to Windows and that Linux, in many cases, is superior to Windows. But Windows wins in marketing. RH doesn't want to spend the money pushing a DT Linux. They've dropped it completely (moved it to Fedora). Caldera essentially did the same thing (and where are they?). I hate to see RH going this route. It's basically turning a shoulder to the community. Now the community will have to see if it turns it's whole back. You have to take Linux to the masses, pure and simple. A ripe, robust desktop offering is the only way to do it.
<<JAV>>
I don't agree, but if RedHat really believes that Microsoft Windows is a better choice for home users, perhaps before making the annoucement, Redhat should have waited for Microsoft to announce that Linux is a better choice than Windows for business users.
Personnaly, I am using SuSE 9.0 Pro on my home desktop and
laptop while I type this and this home user is certain that Linux
is a superior product over Windows for this home user.
AN OPEN LETTER TO REDHAT
(I already sent a copy to them)
I read the comments of Matthew Szulik at http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/linuxunix/0,39020390,39117575,00.htm
I have to say, at this point, I am very upset with your CEO and company. I have been using redhat linux since August 1997 on my desktop. I bought a Geforce2/GTS card when they came out, and there is no difference between my computer and anyone else's.
That being said, I will never again use nor recommend your products to anyone again. Your comments that consumers should use windows and not switch to linux for the desktop was a slap in the face for all the people working on desktop linux. MANY strides have been made recently and many more will continue to be made: with xandros, lindows, mandrake, etc.
Your comments show your absolute lack of community feeling/goodwill for the open source community. I will never again use redhat, use fedora, nor recommend either to my employer or anyone else. I will recommend those companies that are committed to seeing open source progress. Your advertisements for the monopoly and against the linux community sicken me.
Goodbye.
There's a huge amount of people who can use Windows, but can not install it. So the 90-year-old father thing is barely a point.
On the other hand, it's common not to have any hassles installing new devices under Windows. That's something I'd like to see in Linux, at least 80% of the time.
Counterproductive to the LInux movement, and par for the course for the company who is discontinuing all support for affordable Linux distributions.
It seems most of the Linux around are IT people. I use it at home and a little at work. While I like it, I have to agree with Red Hat, it is not ready for prime time. Instyalling software is not point and click yet, devices are not as easy to install, I have a cheap webcam that works fine in WinXP but not in Linux. When I home I like to play Euchre or Literati on yahoo sometimes and it was not easy to get Java working with those browsers. With Windows it worked right off the bat.
Linux has potential and I see it getting very close to the average user, but let all be real here, it is not ready for the non IT People masses.
Poor little dude who wrote the "OpenLetter".
My guess is that you are the kind of person who sees the glass of water as alf empty...we don't need your kind in the community anyways. It looks like you missed something. Linux is a professionals tool, built for professionals who put their time and efforts to put an end to the monopoly of Microsoft in the desktop market.
I believe that most people don't have the skills required to code their own drivers, I'm sure that his 90 years old grand father dosen't anyways. So lets give the home market for microsoft. Anybody knows that right now, Linux in all its forms and wonders is not ready for the average 8 years old sister who just wants to play. Meanwhile, we will continue to use the open source projects within our Universitys and research centers. I would even suggest that we should try to keep it that way.
For the most part, I think he's right. Microsoft has had a head start in the marketplace, and with getting to know the consumer and what the consumer wants. Regardless of software quality, it is easier for low-skilled or no-skilled users to use a Windows PC compared to Linux. However, in time, that will change. Microsoft sees this change coming, and that's why they are threatened.
The bad news is that Microsoft will probably plaster his quote all over the place in order to scare people away from Linux. Although I agree with what he said, someone like him at a CEO level should have been more careful choosing his wording and phrasing.
This is a very sad comment on the integrity of Red Hat's management. My family has been on Linux for three or more years. My nine-year-old seems to have no trouble with the infamous Linux desktop and my 13-year-old is able to find software compatible with anything her friends are using. My wife and I use Linux full time as writers. Linux has completely solved the virus and email contamination problems. We used to mess with Star Office so we could be Word-compatible but have found that unnecessary. And if I decide I really miss my Windows games, which I don't, I know people playing them in Linux using Wine. I think Red Hat is mistaken.
Anybody who doesn't believe Linux is ready for the desktop hasn't used the right distro. I am a newbie to the Linux world. I tried Redhat 9 and it was certainly good enough if the system was setup right for anybody to use. Remember, most systems are setup for people before they get them. With recent developments at Redhat I decided to find a different distro. I just loaded SuSe 9.0 and boy is it ready for the desktop. It saw my old winmodem, it loaded all the drivers, its a beautiful desktop and has all of the GUI you could ever want while maintaining the power of the command line. My sister wants a computer and I will build her a SuSe machine. I would build my grandfather a SuSE machine, and there are other CHOICES for other tastes. Windows will get no more money from me or my family!
This guy obviously doesn't know what he is talking about. I am somewhat of a newbie in this game. I recently installed Xandros Linux and find it quite suitable for my needs. It loaded easily, detectred all my hardware, all within about 10 minutes. It took me more than a half hour to load w98. Even my wife finds it easy to use. I am 60 years of age so I take great offence to this guys remarks regarding older people not being able to use linux. I love this OS!!
Matthew Szulik just tries to encourages the Linux/Open Source community to develop what the home user needs/wants. Since this is an even larger task than developing the linux Kernel itself.
MS's GUI(windowing system) is straight-forward and understood by everyone (little kid's...grandpa). Because MS only has one GUI called Windows Linux has Gnome, ICEwm, Afterstep, KDE, XIMIAN...
The community should (like MS) concentrate on one GUI...without loosing the supporters of the other....Get it stable...make it easy...for everyone....MS makes the best GUI, they will be the winner until there's something better...
Is this guy nuts? Ok, I now there is a lot an ordinary user doesn't understand about how to operate a linux system - as a former Windows user, I know how many problems have to be solved for linux to be really user friendly. But this statement clearly is wind in the sails of Microsoft, and will do a lot of harm to the linux community.
First we hear that Red Hat is going to stop supporting its distro and start using Fedora as a sponge to soak up all the best the GNU/Linux developer community has to offer for its Enterprise Linux and now Tiemann recommends that home computer users choose Windows. Yeah, why disrupt your tiny little brain and let Redmond take care of all the details, backdoors and holes.
Gosh, and all this time I thought I was using USB and gphoto
on my Debian boxes too. Must have been a figment of my over active imagination but I like it and I'll just stay where I am in la la land.
****DO NOT SUPPORT FEDORA****
Well well well, after several weeks of RedHat demanding that I fill out surveys and then just cutting me off all together, true colors have been revealed. I saw this one coming. I think Redhat stock is going to tank at this point.
What's next for me? Let's see I could try SUSE, Mandrake, Slackware, Lycoris, Lindows, Yellow Dog, Knoppix, Gentoo, etc etc etc etc..
Good ridance RedHat.
He should quit his job then. Clearly his position is favorable to the competition.
Szulik should take his shares, cash out and get out of the country. His comments are akin to the local Ford dealership stating that Fords really aren't at the point of maturity with the imports and you would be better off buying a Honda. Regardless of the truth of that statement, for a company executive responsible for the profitablity of the company to recommend a competitor's product is nothing short of egregious.
It feels like some individual at Redhat was/is highly sponsored by Microsoft.
I like Linux as it's getting more and more matured and reliable. I chosed Redhat because I think it's a good one. After this stupid announcement, I proberbly will change to Mandrake or SuSE.
Is the CEO purposely trying to devalue my Redhat stock? He may be right, but those words shouldn't come out of the mouth of the CEO of the company. Here's what he should have said: "Linux for the desktop is progressing rapidly, and I believe within about two years it may be a serious alternative to Windows, even for home users. In fact, many companies are already finding it to be a viable alternative for the enterprise desktop space.
I believe that that Red Hat person either moonlights for Microsoft or knows nothing about business. What would it be if years ago, when Windows was still a baby, Bill Gates came to public and said, "If you really want to have a pleasant experience, go Mac."
The success of Windows is due to Bill Gates confidence that his crashy, obnoxious and noisy Windows 95 was going to be the leader some day. As much as I hate Gates' business practices and involvements, I have to admire his faith in what he does.
Shame on you, Red Hat!
The majority of comments here seem to be the typical knee-jerk reactions based on personal experience.
Perhaps these reactionist could pay more attention to the article.
Szulik's stance will be that of making Red Hat financially viable and what he is implying in the article, undoubtably based on information from his support team is that the average home user who requires assistance is placing a considerable burden on the support operation.
In a market where the profitability of Linux is mediocre at best it would seem that Red Hat just can't afford to offer the support necessary for the home user market.
As a long-time Linux user I think this article is just stating a fact. I love using Linux (I run both Red Hat 9 and Mandrake 9.2), but it is not user friendly enough for the average consumer. On the application side I have no complaints. OpenOffice, Evolution and Mozilla are great products that easily rival their Windows counter-parts. The big draw back to a user migrating to Linux is hardware, gaming and multimedia. I persistant user can get most hardware to work and some games to work (with the help of WineX), but the average user doesn't want to devote the time. Additionally, there is so much software available for Windows. It is a hard sell to the average Windows user to tell them to switch to a new operating system where all their previous software is useless. As soon as projects like Wine and WineX develop to a reliable and easy to use solution, I see Linux being competitive on the desktop.
I totally agree with the Red Hat CEO. Linux on the desktop sucks big time. Wether its Suse, Madrake, Red Hat whatever none of them work properly, always some little niggly error or it just doesnt work as good as Windows or Mac, all you Linux idiots really should have a go at Windows XP and do some work and contribute back to society rather than trying to force youre self righteous my OS is better than yours on everyone else....
hey these bull ... cant he comment to use distro like lindows, mandrake .... & knoppix.
i guess he only got the gut to say these when Alan is not around. Dont tell me that the mp3 not support in RH8++ is also his idea.
these guy is another SCO alike guy ...
It looks strange that RedHat CEO said that. Specialy after introducing the horrible BlueCuve (which does not even have an xterm icon in the toolbar nor the desktop in default setup).
Anyway... I agree Linux is not ready (yet) for desktops... It is just too complex for people that don't like computer more than a tool.
I like Linux, I was sys admin for 5 years, Linux servers works excelent, I olso use it as desktop system... but the truth is that KDE nor Gnome are half stable as Windows 2000.
Thanks...
REDHAT !!! You had dissappointed me.
I introduce you to my friend (who is ms pro) ... yet when they had started to love you .... these happens.I burn cds to give out free to my friends.
I support them via yahoo messenger ... which make you worked better.You exist in my workplace & home.
Your CEO comments are inappropiate & unacceptable to me ... had greatly dissappoint me as an OpenSource follower.
I will have to erase you ... for other distro.
Dont you remember, some of your ppl use to/still is main contributor to linux community ... like Alan Cox who had being look very highly.
These comments should not be from u. Yet it is invalid. If you meants home user then dont you think mozilla, evolutions ,openoffice & xmms had covered that area. Dont your installation wizard & up2date tool are meant to help that "grandfather" ... aint you slapping your own face.
I thought a linux distro mission use to make installation of linux easier ... propably you had grown out of it.
Your CEO are spitting into the wind. Hope you still exist next year.
Good Luck to you !!!!
ex-Redhat fan
Funny, Apple makes a consumer ready variant of Unix. And they only have 3% of the market. Why didn't the CEO recommend Apple's OS X instead of their direct competitor's product? Apple also supports digital cameras and USB without issue.
These comments might hold true for Red Hat Linux, but they are certainly untrue for several other distributions (most notably Mandrake 9.2).
I use several USB devices, including a printer, and have had absolutely no problems with detection or configuration. "Drivers" are available for so many different products, even very new ones. Digital Imaging is well supported, and I have a scanner on one machine which can be accessed from any of the other machines on the network (so far I've not heard of any Windows system being able to do that, but then I haven't fiddled with XP/2k...).
I suspect Red Hat's view is distorted by their concentration on the server and enterprise markets. Mandrake (among other distributions) seems aimed squarely at the desktop segment, and in my experience they are succeeding admirably.
That'e exactly the point(RH says it puts too much burden on their support stuff, i.e.
RH cannot make money out of it). Of course that is not true:
First you can get highest quality FREE support
in the newsgroups and linux forums by people wha've been there, done that
Things may be `problematic if you cannot set up an internet connection using linux, but surely one can get even then anothetr PC
to connect to th einterneyt
Second, I use linux exclusively, also at the desktop. Windows users who ask me about it
have usually worries like this:
-Will I be able to read/write word/excel files?
Sure, and noe that you will not be able to read
/write them with the new MS office
-Can I use this application?
in all cases the answer is yes-there is a nice
Linux replacement for all windows utilitis.
The only place I advise against migrating is if the main use of the PC is playing games,
since there is a vast number of Windows-games and WIne is not there yet, while VMware is a good solution, but if all one really uses the computer for is to play ganmes, why bother?
In lieu of the latest news that Novell purchases SuSE with IBM backing (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo&guid=%7BA9C79FB7%2D9893%2D4985%2DAFF0%2DB7DFF0126FE6%7D), I think RedHat is in trouble.
If the Linux community stops supporting RH and the Big Businesses turn towards a Linux release that has IBM backing, RH is sure to disappear or the stock value is sure to drop.
I have supported RH and subscribed to their Network Support but not anymore. SuSE, here I come!
Thanks RH for the support ... to bad I won't need it anymore.
These comments are baseless. The examples used to justify windoze as being a good Home OS sucks!
From a device driver standpoint the fact that the linux kernel supports so many devices without needing to install additional software is far amazing.
My digital camera works out of the box with linux but on Windoze i need to install drivers provided by the verndor (Kodak). This example really sucks
but in anycase the only reason linux wouldnt support a device is not its fault but the fault of greedy hardware vendors who close up their architechture or develop "designed for windoze" hardware (e.g. winmodems)
IMHO installing windows not only takes longer (considering all those reboots and driver installation plus additional software to be productive), it's also
much more painful than some Linux distros. The only difference is most of the time you are pushed a win OS down your throat when you purchase a new pc and
so dont need to install it.
I think RedHat has no right to speak on behalf of all of Linux and say it's not suitable for the home user. I use both Mandrake and Debian as my home/office desktop and find it much more productive and entertaining!
I am using Redhat linux as my desktop since 1998 but I have no
any problem as a desktop os.
It is funny to here Matthew Szulik ( chief executive of Linux vendor Red Hat ) saying like this.
Mmmm I think time to quit from Redhat
This proves that RedHat is the Microsoft of Linux. Something that I have told people who were pro-RedHat before. Here is the proof.
We already have the the MacDonald's of software--Microsoft. That would make RedHat the Burger King or Wendy's of software then.
I wouldn't be surprised if RedHat starts advertising on Kraft Dinner just like Microsoft did before either.
You know that only idiots want to eat Macdonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, or Kraft Dinner on a regular basis.
The thought of RedHat now gives me a sick feeling just like I get when I think of Microsoft or eating crap.
Go away RedHat before I vomit on you.
Report says that, Red hat will not support free bies after March 2004.
So, What are they planning. Marger with Microsoft ( Perhaps microsoft will again play it's dirty game.. purchase Red Hat or give financial aid.... Sorry to say that... )
Look at other products like Lindows....
And say me this thing again....
I can't believe this! I'd have thought that with the multitude of high-profile viruses that are in circulation (Windoze, of course) this would make Linux perfect for the home desktop - as most home users don't have the know-how (and, in all honesty, the common sense) to prevent viruses under Uncle Bill's regime - whereas it would take actual effort for the same users to become infected under Linux..
As for "needing to mature"? I originally used RH 7.1 for my introduction to Linux (I've since switched to SuSE 8.2 Pro) and totally abandoned Windoze on the desktop and, in my opinion, it is ready for the home user.
Open Office (or, in the extreme M$ Office under Wine), Evolution plus the many browsers - Opera, Mozilla, Konqueror etc all have intuitive interfaces that ANY home user could easily pick up. My own mother is considering switching having seen how flexible and easy to use Linux (in this case KDE 3.1 desktop) can be!
Here is my take on this:
It seems that Red Hat is saying that this isn't an operating system for your Grandmother yet. I know I wouldn't want mine on it. She is happy on her Win98SE running whatever incarnation of AOL.
All I think is saying that it isn't ready for prime time yet, though one post her noted that Apple has a commercial version available. I would put Grandma on that, if only I could afford to.
This is exactly why I dont run or recommend RedHat for the home user. That is not to say that other distros are not ready and able to work for the home user. SuSE works really well on the home machine, since about the 7.0 level and even more so since the 8.1 distribution. I loaned my copy of SuSE 7.0 to the local bookstore guy to put on an old machine that was donated to him, and he loves it so much that he is unwilling or afraid to touch it with a newer version. I have almost got him talked into it now that he is using some programs which need wine and I argued that the newer rev may fix some problems for him. I also installed it on my brother in laws machine that he runs a home business on (this time 8.1) and he couldn't be happier or more impressed. He has some new features - some exotic hardware which Yast found all of the software for and the install went so smoothly!, The only wrinkle was that his ISP runs a rural high speed network over spread spectrum radio, which required a wireless modem driver, but I had that working for him in a couple of hours and he is on line and no longer complaining that he has to take 20 minutes every time he turns on his machine to update or download the newest patches and fixes from MS or Snortin' Norton. I spent a couple of hours with him answering questions and he is now on cruise control.
Red Hat has long maintained that linux is not for the desktop, and this is reflected in their attitudes about the desktop - they just don't care. They are geared for the server and the distribution is very much that oriented towards knowledgeable admins, and that is fine, but they are not winning hearts and minds that way. SuSE on the other hand is very much a distribution that is ready to roll on the desktop. They have put a lot of time into YAST, given it plenty of smarts to find hardware and guide the novice through a complex process with hardly a sweat. If you take the recommendations that YAST makes, you don't need to know much of anything and at the end of the hour, you are up and running in an Xwindows environment. Do yourself a favor and try it for yourself.
To "ENLIGHTENED USER" - Your comments about "trying windows XP" - I'm sure most of us have, and in the face of constant security updates, restrictive "you will run what software we tell you to run" practices, unexplained software crashes and the ever-present threat of being shutdown by a virus written by a 14 year old with a grudge, have decided to switch to what we consider to be a more reliable, secure and flexible system - which, just because it requires more thought than the average windows troglodite user is used to (ie "If it's not done for me then it's bad"), is automaticall considered to be inferior.
And Max OS? Don't make me laugh - unavailable drivers for common peripherals, TOTAL system hangs (yes, even in the "wonderful" OSX where, in one instance the battery had to be removed from a Powerbook just to reboot it), the usual corporate "you will run what we tell you to run" philosphy - (Safari v every other browser, anyone?).
Just thought I'd mention it
Red Hat isn't ready for desktop home users, that's true.
Red Hat is the Worst linux distribution.
I installed Slackware at home and my wife who never used a pc before can use it with no problems, also my 3 years old child can play with a lot of nice educational games....
And yes we can use our digital camera (never heard about usb mass storage?), we can watch dvd and divx connecting my Slackware notebook to the television and more.
Some examples:
Mozilla to surf the internet(connected with an usb adsl modem), Kmail to read/send emails,
OpenOffice.org to do everything you can do with M****soft Office, Winex to play non-native games, a lot of very good native games: UT2003, NeverWinterNights, TuxRacer (GPLed versioni 0.61) and if you want more have a look at www.happypenguin.org. I also play my playstation games on my Linux box using a very good emulator ePSXe wich works better in Linux than in W****ws.
I think thats enough.
Red Hat sucks.
Hi from France
Waoow
Is it a declaration from "Red Hat Silly Papers ?"
:)
May be one day MR BILL will create the famous open source WINDUX, a new JOS* (with its famous HOAX XXL version *) and will finally declare in a private conference*** :
"Yeahh that time I did it myself".
* Joke Operating System
** The famous WINDUX shell
*** Bill never talks in Forums, that's not smart enough.
no sense
have you ever tried to use Mandrake? It is the most suitable Linux distribution for desktop.
Red hat chief looks like to be paying from Microsoft
I repeat... no sense
Red hat would think to imporve HIS distribution, difficult for new linux user, difficult to configurate, not compatible with new hardware, no color.
We should boycott RedHat everywhere, because they have just stopped support on free distro and don't want other (eg Mandrake,Suse, debian ...) will take their place on desktop :-||
ce monsieur à 3 ans de retard !!
lorsque j'ai commencé à regarder Linux il y a 3 ans ceic ètait vrai et j'ai essayé la version 5 je crois de redhat qui n'ètait dèja pas à l'èpoque la plus "facile" pour un enduser.
depuis mon PC personnnel foncvtionne avec Linux Suse 8.2 actuellement et je n'utilise plus windows et n'ai aucun probléme pour travaller avec à la maison
vraiment je me demande ce que veux red hat ? faire du tord à Suse qui vient de signer avec Novell et qui pourrait offrir une solution de bout en bout ?
Frankly I believe that RedHat should call it quits and get out of the Market Place. Their product is lack luster and void of real features. An RPM is very poor beside APT.
RedHat Linux is barely a decent Linux when it is all boiled down. All of the Good Desktop Distros (except for Mandrake 9.x and SUSE ) are in fact Debian Linux Based - eg: Xandros, Knoppix and even Lindows. As for ease of installation, I build and manage Desktop Operating System Rollouts for Large Corporates and honestly the best operating system on a Desktop today would have to Knoppix, followed closely by Xandros. 10-15 minutes for a network booted rollout per machine, complete with Managed Desktop Applications and, if you really need it, Microsoft Office compatibility, all for $ 129US per Desktop.
Linux Rocks! On and Off the Desktop.
OS/2 was and still is cool.
Mac will always be around.
Windows - should only be opened to let fresh air in.
p.s. My 6 children grew up using 3 operating systems, their OS of choice, Linux.
There are no major security issues with Linux, this can't be said of windows.
Hardware compatibility is just as much an issue with Windows XP as it is with Linux and Mac OS-X.
The only real criticism I have of Linux is that we still persist in clinging to X-Windows instead of moving on... Even the Old OS/2 Presentation Manager from OS/2 Warp 4 ported to Linux would be a superior desktop to that of Windows XP and Mac OS. KDE 4 looks promising though.
Literally weird speaking. When Microsoft was marketing DOS, it did never recommend consumers to choose Apple's Macintosh.
Did microsoft recommended Apple Macintosh when it was marketing DOS?
This is no surprise from information I have received from magazines in past years. I always said that an operating system business should use its own products (CEO's included) or else bad business decisions result. It looks like RedHat is being led into the MS integration-catchup server product line. It is a shame RedHat has made such a decision, because its brand name in the desktop market gives it a lead in the server enterprise market. With the Novell and Suse buyout, Suse (or UnitedLinux) is probably going to become dominant.
The common person either buys software pre-installed on a new computer or likes to buy affordable shrink-wrapped and boxed software from local retailers. RedHat is now going to need more advertising targeted at business people to assure its brand and enterprise product line is noticed.