On August 26, Linux World 2004 was proceed to the last day. But the discussion of the desktop Linux application prospect has just begun.
Although Microsoft did not recognize the advantage of desktop Linux in various occasions, and because of the "open source"
Criticism, it is criticized by industry, but desktop Linux does not stand out as people think, many times, even Linux users have to admit that desktop Linux does not have the ability to challenge Windows.
Application is the main barrier
At the Linux World meeting, Hu Qinghua asked who had usually really applying the desktop Linux at the audience. However, the person who finally gives a sure answer does not exceed 10.
Hu is the deputy director of the Beijing Software Industry Promotion Center, but he is satisfied with this answer, at least he is not a single-footer in the roadside Linux road. The active propeller of this China Linux career knows that desktop Linux application prospects is not optimistic.
In order to let yourself get the desktop Linux, Hu Ben's notebook is the Linux operating system used, including E-mail and office, but he does not deny that the Linux operating system is invented. "The most obvious thing is the compatibility problem of digital products." Hu said. For example, the newly purchased digital cameras will not be identified because there is no driver that does not support the Linux operating system. This must return to the Windows system to install the driver before you can use it. This also makes the so-called "full use of desktop" unable.
In addition, the most popular office in Windows applications cannot be convenient to Linux, and the interconnection is a larger obstacle that Linux system is difficult to popularize. The application software evolution or AbiWord, which is based on Linux platform, has not been able to truly accept the user. It can be said that unable to implement free conversion of the Office function is one of the root causes of Linux on the end of the desktop. For nearly 90% of Windows users around the world, the interchange between platforms will also generate uncomfortable feelings due to different habits. Hu Qinghua feels that not only Office software, the use of IE and printers is changed by Windows users, but it is difficult to enter Linux gaps.
At the same time, due to the popularity of Windows systems, many users require Linux email server solutions to support Microsoft Outlook calendars and public folder features. The Ximian Connector designed for Microsoft Exchange is just a transitional client-side software extension solution, not an alternative to Exchange server-side solutions. Ximian Connector can implement Microsoft Exchange 2000 client features that allow Linux users to manage email, calendar, address book, and task list. With this solution, even if the customer uses Linux, the user is still Microsoft users because the server is still using Exchange.
Open source?
"Open source is worthless!" Before the discussion of desktop Linux application prospects, the President and Technology Director of Surf Platform Software International Co., Ltd. said this sentence.
It is believed that Linux is still in terms of server, and there is no prospect in desktop applications. Linux has achieved unprecedented success in the server market, so Linux suppliers and supporters also hope that they can reproduce miracles on the desktop, but clearly open source Linux no longer support and service advantages, it is difficult to form a global unity. Standard.
The IBM's Yang Zhi mentioned the same problem, "Linux system is not currently technical, but the problem of commercialization and application level," these issues are embodied in who to provide corresponding services, who provides daily support and maintenance ?
Based on Linux open technology and platform, almost all people can use it to do application development, but many applications distributed in Linux world have never been a way to achieve interconnection through a unified standard. Dr. Jia Pengyu, also pointed out that if the "desktop Linux spring" can come, the two necessary conditions for open and network must be met. Opening means that all Linux products must meet certain industry standards, with the same standard to achieve interconnection. As a result, the network sharing this condition can be easily satisfied.
However, Jia Pengyu said that it is still optimistic about opening sources. "Because a good operating system not only has a good office office environment, there is a good network interconnection environment." But if such a good system spends 10,000 yuan. Good system, I am afraid it will lose its value. So, Jia believes that a good operating system should only take 200 yuan to buy, and all this is only open source.
Industry standards are worth looking forward to
Obviously, to solve the desktop Linux application challenge, the primary solution is the standard. There is no unified standard, and applications are only running on the basis of satisfying personal preferences or habits. After all, this is an open source system, anyone has the right to prepare your own application. But this is the biggest problem for the popularity of Linux across the desktop. Therefore, it is possible to form a unified Linux standard to further develop.
During the meeting, Dr. Gaolin, deputy director of the Institute of Standardization, Ministry of Information, Ltd., revealed that Linux national standards will be available at the end of the year, which is undoubtedly a huge push to China's desktop Linux.
Wu Zhigang, deputy director of the Information Research Center of China Electronic Technology Standardization Research Institute, further talked that this standard is a nature of things. With a standard, it can guarantee interoperability between Linux operating systems. Compatibility is the problem of standard primary solution.
Of course, this standard is more important in addition to the operating system interoperability, and is more important to meet the application of desktop Linux. Regardless of whether this standard can bring a substantive leap in the desktop Linux, the new standard is indeed looking forward to it.
From:
Sina
