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IBM VP urges open source devs to make Linux less like Windows

By Jacqueline Emigh, BetaNews

August 7, 2008, 5:25 PM

If Linux is going to make bigger inroads on the desktop, developers need to stop cloning Microsoft Windows and instead produce more unique user interface designs, according to Bob Sutor, IBM's VP of open source and standards.

Sutor made these remarks today at the Black Hat Conference in Las Vegas, a day after IBM issued the latest in an eight-year series of Linux announcements, joining at LinuxWorld with Linux distributors Red Hat, Novell, and Canonical in an initiative to build "Microsoft-free PCs for business."

The VP delivered his recommendations around more creative Linux user interfaces as part of a series of predictions about the future of Linux in the next decade. If developers are building applications for the traditional PC desktop, they are better off copying Apple Macintosh concepts about design and usability, Sutor maintained.

Over the next ten years, he said, Linux will become less focused on x86 PCs, anyway, with more opportunities emerging in cloud computing and software-as-a-service (SaaS). PCs will become less significant as devices, and user interfaces will also be needed for mobile phones and other smaller machines used for accessing the Web.

Sutor also predicted today, for example, that "green" initiatives will help drive greater Linux adoption, and that Linux could see greater acceptance in the future among SMBs, which tend to be more interested in purchasing "solutions" as a whole than OS, applications, and hardware separately.

On the other hand, he said, if Linux hasn't been adopted within any specific vertical industry over the next decade, it's likely that Linux will never experience much use within that specific industry.

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By preinterpost

posted Aug 8, 2008 - 8:52 AM

This is just a heap of contradictions - Jaq, did you sneak up and listen in on him after he had a couple of drinks with his buddies?

Who cares what OS you use if things are moving to the Cloud. AFAIK FF looks the same on Win/Linux/Mac/Whatever. Running a Linux derivative on cloud servers makes a lot of sense unless MSFT can make HPC and Server Core competitive - but looks a little late at this time.
Otherwise the guy needs to get out more often. Has he ever spoken to your average office drone. They will never get over switching to another UI within this generation - sure not while they keep panicking why the network is off when they kicked out the cable once again...

Score: 0

By Professor Arkham

edited Aug 7, 2008 - 11:57 PM

"...if Linux hasn't been adopted within any specific vertical industry over the next decade, it's likely that Linux will never experience much use within that specific industry."

The last paragraph really sums it all up--nothing more to be said.

However, I would like to add a parting shot. We're all dealing with Draconian companies--ALL of them (IBM, Red Hat, Novell, the list goes on). And think about this; Microsoft and Apple aren't really that much different. Don't blast until you research.

Each and every one of them is trying to smash the other and dominate the market. Just keep that in mind. Linux is merely a very reliable and cheap vehicle that is used to achieve that end.

Score: 0

By Joco

posted Aug 8, 2008 - 12:59 AM

Not necessarily. The resistance to change is an incredible force. I see very often people refusing to learn a new thing even when they are convinced that it is better and not necessarily more complex to use.

For example: outside of their dev tools. Most of my fellows developers use NotePad as text editor. I have suggested much better text editors (free, easier to use, color syntax, and I am ready to train, etc.). No! they prefer to to Start / Run / NotePad and open one file at a time.

Most only know zip format, they got confused with other compression formats. On some machines, the eval version of Winzip is installed since several years. And yet, they prefer to wait for the very long count down of the nag screen rather than trying 7Zip that I have already installed on the machine.

With these people, even if you pay them to use Linux, they will still prefer to continue to buy Windows.

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Aug 7, 2008 - 11:33 PM

Bob Sutor isn't saying what you think he is; that is advocating a new OS. Effectively, he means that Linux should not try to follow or copy Windows. Windows is running third place in the excitement category these days -- anyone seen KDE 4.1 this summer? -- as both Mac and Linux have moved beyond "Microsoft on the desktop."

By the way, Bob Sutor's Open blog is really good:
http://www.sutor.com/newsite/blog-open/index.php

Score: 0

By Ghuron

posted Aug 8, 2008 - 4:54 AM

What is so new about KDE 4.1? Still frontend for command line. They have to learn a lot from Apple team of how to make really good UI for Unix

Score: 0

By poundsmack

edited Aug 7, 2008 - 6:20 PM

IBM has no idea what they are talking about. Their track record for desktop operating systems explains everything. OS/2, i loved and use it still (as eComStation) from time to time. interface wize it looked pretty much like windows and under the hood acted pretty much like windows (over genrelizations of course) but it was different enough to still be usable by anyone who knew windows and had enough cool inovations under the hood to make it unique.

users don't want new and radical change, see Vista. Vista wasn't what i would consider radical change and yet 50% of my ChrisComputing bussiness calls and questions have to do with finding things people used to be able to easily find or do in XP.

if you throw people a whole new thing they usualy get either overwhelmed, they find a way to break it, the want to go back to what they know, or they actualy like it and are fine (the last being the least common).

if you really want to base linux on an existing OS use QNX. microkernel, super light weight, excelent under the hood design, Photon interface is just enough (though for desktop use it would need a bit more on the general usablity front), and the the os is wonderfully secure and the kernel makes EXCELENT use of multi core and multi processors. QNX is a shining example of how things could idealy be (used as a base line). even microsoft is switching to microkernel.

anyways i put in my $0.02

Score: 0

By bousozoku

posted Aug 11, 2008 - 3:54 PM

Ummm, if you replace the kernel, it's not Linux any more. The kernel is Linux. The rest of the pieces are just add-ons to make the distribution whole.

Score: 0

By GhoS

posted Aug 7, 2008 - 5:51 PM

I think overall Linux is similar to Windows but also different. I think that is the right direction, but out of necessity if it isn't close enough users are less likely to migrate to it.
Linux needs to make it easier to use with no command or terminals if it wants to read a broader audience. I do agree it needs advancements that go beyond what Windows can do as well.

Score: 0

By Hellcat_M

posted Aug 7, 2008 - 6:46 PM

Mac OS is based on FreeBSD which is similar to Linux. Maybe someone should just make a FreeBSD OS that acts more like Mac OS which then will get more Mac and possible to be Mac users. Plus it would piss of Apple and they wouldn't be able to which might make them flinch.

We just need a good secure easy to use OS that will get between Mac OS and Windows and make them both a little scared.

Score: 0

By Hellcat_M

posted Aug 7, 2008 - 5:40 PM

I agree, I think a Linux distro should try and make their desktop more like Mac OS. I think it would be easier to make an OS more like Mac OS (and run Mac software), than it would to make an OS that is more like Windows. The first distro to do this might get some Mac users and people who are thinking of going to Mac. Right now their are some that look kind of like Mac but they still act like Linux and Linux is difficult to do certain things that won't get many new home and business desktop users. Linux has to be made as easy to use and do things as Mac OS is and has to be easy enough for grandpa and grandma to use.

Score: 0

By zridling

edited Aug 7, 2008 - 11:37 PM

Good points, Hellcat, but you could argue the grandma angle has been taken care of with various distros like gOS, Zenwalk, or perhaps even Mepis. For that matter, FreeBSD is pretty amazing.

I say let the Mac people have their OS. As you say, at least it's *ix-based.

Score: 0

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