The reviewer really doesn't tell us anything about SuSE Linux
7.2; instead, he takes the occasion to offer his punditry on how
Linux can succeed on the desktop. He doesn't think that Linux will
succeed on its own merits: instead, he writes that Linux's only
shot is attracting disaffected Windows users.
"Is it ready for the consumer desktop? Well, unfortunately it's
difficult to see where the demand would come from. Its geeky image
will still be off-putting for consumers, despite the price
advantage, and vendors will probably prefer the markup they get
from bundling Windows with their systems, rather than Linux."
"But Microsoft may change things with its Enterprise Agreement
Subscription. As we reported, this program seeks to make it
financially unfriendly for corporate customers not to upgrade to
every new release of Windows by introducing this subscription
model. However, the subscription model is more price-sensitive, and
business customers are likely to see the Linux alternative, coupled
with its technical support, in a more favourable light. It's then
that users might feel they want the same OS at home as they use at
work and choose Linux."
"Similarly, we might see a move to Linux with ASP services
supplied to set-top boxes, where users download applications, say
StarOffice, on demand, storing their documents with the ASP. Again,
the price-sensitive subscription model may mean the cheapest
triumphs."
