"The company is fighting back hard with Windows 7. The new operating system, due for release later this year, could spell the end for Linux on the desktop -- before the free system, developed by enthusiast programmers around the world, has had a chance to establish a meaningful place for itself.
"The problems for desktop Linux go beyond Windows 7, though. Ubuntu, the most popular version of Linux -- its development is funded by SA-born billionaire Mark Shuttleworth -- is looking increasingly dated.
"Next to Windows 7 and Apple's Mac OS X, Ubuntu and other Linuxes are looking old fashioned. Other than some nifty 3D effects, Ubuntu has not had a significant refresh of its graphical user interface since it was launched more than four years ago."
