[ILUG] Is Linux Dying?

[david jamison]

Maybe this should read Is Linux becomming a victim of its own success? 
Or perhaps how is Linux maturing?

When the Open source movement was concieved like so many other things 
did anyone expect software development to proceed down a route where 
software would be essentially FREE?  In terms of corporate America this 
has to be like Turkeys voting for christmas.  Invent a world beating 
product - the next big thing - AND GIVE IT AWAY?

The product is so good that everyone wants to use it and develop it so 
surely the thing the corporates have to  grapple with is the question 
how do we embrace this concept and keep our shareholders happy.  In 
other words make a profit. 

To contrast with Microsoft.  Develop the product shroud it in secrecy 
and defend it at every turn. Making a huge profit on the way as there is 
really no oppostion (and if per chance some appears crush it or buy it).

The delemma for Sun et al is that if the company invests resources in 
development that it then has to give away essentially to the opposition 
where does the leverage, and thus profit, come from.  An entirely new 
business model I think.

D