Linux and Main: Notes from LinuxWorld Conference and Expo

“One of the problems in trying to characterize this year’s
LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in New York City is figuring out
which trends are unique to Linux and which ones apply to computing
in general. The ‘wow factor’ was definitely absent from the 2003
LWCE, but is it present anywhere else in the industry?

“As numerous commentators have noted, this year’s LWCE was small
and suit-centric, a continuation of a trend very evident at last
year’s event. While everything there was sure to be of interest to
someone, the overall sense of cutting-edge excitement was gone. And
there was something more–or, rather, there wasn’t–in that the
conference seemed devoid of a center, for lack of a better word.
The thole thing seemed peripheral to some unspecified big show.

“The business-centric nature of the proceedings was entirelty
understandable, for the same reason that Willie Sutton chose banks
to rob: That’s where the money is. The traditional Linux community
is notorious for its insistence that everything be free as in free
of cost, and Linux-related companies have decided to turn their
attention to those who are accustomed to paying for things. Makes
perfect sense, too: Linux offers businesses much more reliability,
security, and power for much less money…”

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