The 'year of the Linux desktop' has passed

"For those still waiting for the year of the Linux "desktop," I regret to inform you that it has already come and gone.

"Through the efforts of the open-source community, in conjunction with independent hardware and software vendors, as well as Web developers, Linux is well beyond its toddler years and is almost past its rebellious teenage years. Did you notice?

"For many people, the answer is "no." I, for example, have been a Mac user since 2002 and haven't touched Windows for more than five minutes at a time since then. I've also not necessarily been the biggest advocate for desktop Linux over the years, with RedMonk analyst Stephen O'Grady pummeling me for my ignorance.

"But in my new role at Canonical, I've switched to using Ubuntu on my Lenovo ThinkPad X200s and have found Linux comfortably routine. Like my Mac, it just works--no drama with day-to-day Internet activities like e-mail, Web browsing, IM, Twitter. It lets me do all the things I used to do, and still largely with the same applications I used on my Mac."

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