The Linux Foundation recently announced the second annual Linux Foundation End User Summit, to be held this November.  At face value, it might sound like a conference dedicated to assessing and addressing the needs of the type of people who use Ubuntu and other distributions for day-to-day computing.  Unfortunately, it’s not quite that.

More >

Sometimes, you have to respect someone for sticking to an opinion and a vision. Other times, you have to wonder if a consistent vision becomes a fatal flaw. I’m still undecided about whether Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst has the correct — or flawed — long term vision: In a New York Times article, Whitehurst (pictured, right) once again dismisses speculation that Red Hat will pursue the consumer Linux desktop and smart phone markets. Here’s why.

More >

Red Hat’s CEO, Jim Whitehurst, spoke out strongly recently against the possibility of Linux ever taking over the desktop computers of the world.  His comments may reflect Red Hat’s increasing distance from reality, but I don’t think they’re grounded in facts.  Here’s why.

More >

Instead of waging a desktop Linux war, Red Hat continues to focus mainly on the server and open source middleware markets. I’ve always wondered why Red Hat isn’t competing more aggressively against Canonical/Ubuntu and Novell SuSE Linux for desktop and laptop OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreements. I finally got my answer on Friday, when Red Hat explained its financial motivations, particularly when it comes to JBoss middleware. Here’s a look.

More >

Red Hat today released Enterprise Linux 5.2 — and the company claims the new release includes several desktop-centric enhancements. No, this is not the long-delayed Red Hat Global Desktop. Nor have I tested Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2. But a press announcement highlights several desktop-focused improvements.

More >

The VAR Guy, our contributing blogger, is stirring up controversy again. His latest blog entry over on www.thevarguy.com examines five reasons why Red Hat should ignore the consumer Linux desktop market. Check out the complete blog entry here.

More >