Open Source Weblog

I have to say, SLED is an impressive looking operating system and Novell has clearly put a lot of work into interoperability and usability. If anything is going to persuade IT managers that Linux is now a capable desktop operating system, then SLED is probably it.

My concern, as noted in my recent posting, is that potential users simply won't get a look at the product, however, as a lack of OEMs and IT department resistance to change will block the opportunities for serious consideration.

Perhaps I underestimated the IT department, however. It is the CIO's job, after all, to consider the best alternatives in terms of functionality and cost, and with that in mind if any CIOs are looking at the potential for Vista without considering Linux on the desktop then they are frankly not doing their job properly.

With that in mind, the forthcoming release of Vista must present an opportunity for Linux on the desktop, as many many businesses consider their desktop options for the first time in a long time, and for the first time in an even longer time find that it's not just a case of which Microsoft license they choose from.

"One of the mantras of corporate IT departments for decades has been 'no vendor lock-in', said Novell's CTO Jeff Jaffe. "I think if IT is true to itself before they make their next decision on desktop upgrades it needs to seriously take a look at the alternatives," he added.

"We need to let them see how it solves the problem at a fraction of the cost," he added. "As IT recognizes that advantage in 2006 that will cause the groundswell for broad adoption in 2007. I think 2007 will be the year of mass implementation."

The latter point is arguable of course, especially given that the one thing I did not underestimate in my recent blog is Microsoft. "There's an increasing market pressure that they [Microsoft] are inflicting on our partners' marketing dollars that are perceived to be at risk if they begin to work with other vendors," Novell's president and COO, Ron Hovsepian, told me.

With that in mind the company will have to work hard to persuade PC vendors to get SLED in front of potential customers. The difference could be crucial. While there is a wider opportunity for Linux on the desktop than I gave it credit for, the window of opportunity is small, and as Hovsepian added: "We are only going to get one shot at this.