Friday, July 29, 2005
eHomeUpdate's Open Letter to SnapStream's CEO
Posted by Jason Dunn in "ARTICLE" @ 01:00 PM
"I'm still thinking SnapStream is missing an opportunity with Linux. My suggestion would be to create a cross-platform version of SnapStream that can be installed on Windows, Mac, or Linux -- similar to what Mozilla is doing with Firefox and Thunderbird. I know that there will be limitations with TV tuner card compatibility, but if SnapStream goes through with this, they would have the largest PVR market share of any developer. What do you think? The other reason I'm pushing for SnapStream to come to Linux is because many consumers are getting fed up with Apple and Microsoft's upgrade path (especially since the next version of Windows Vista requires a locked down PC platform) -- personally, I'm moving full-time to Debian Linux, but keeping the PC as a dual-boot system with Windows XP."
Alexander Grundner from eHomeUpgrade has a published a short letter to the CEO of SnapStream, expressing his desire to see SnapStream go to the Linux platform. He has some interesting points, but ultimately I have to disagree with his assessment that any significant number of Windows users are migrating to Linux. I have a fairly mixed group of colleagues and friends, and not a single person I know has ever switched to Linux. Some have switched to Mac, but none to Linux. Granted, I have no hard numbers to back up my opinion, but I continue to believe that Linux as a desktop OS for home users is a fantasy that will never come true. Linux will continue to do well in the server environment, and even on embedded devices (My Roku M2000 runs Linux) but as a home desktop OS? Not going to happen anytime soon.
Alexander Grundner from eHomeUpgrade has a published a short letter to the CEO of SnapStream, expressing his desire to see SnapStream go to the Linux platform. He has some interesting points, but ultimately I have to disagree with his assessment that any significant number of Windows users are migrating to Linux. I have a fairly mixed group of colleagues and friends, and not a single person I know has ever switched to Linux. Some have switched to Mac, but none to Linux. Granted, I have no hard numbers to back up my opinion, but I continue to believe that Linux as a desktop OS for home users is a fantasy that will never come true. Linux will continue to do well in the server environment, and even on embedded devices (My Roku M2000 runs Linux) but as a home desktop OS? Not going to happen anytime soon.
