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Desperately Seeking Linux Chrome
There was also the debut of Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) Chrome last week, of course -- beginning with a version just forWindows.
"Let's not lament the lack of a Linux build at this time given thepractical expediency that Google have employed to make at leastsomething accessible," wrote David Williams in "A Linux User'sGuide to Google Chrome" on iTWire . "However, it also stands to reason there's many a Linux user whowon't be content with just being told there's no Chrome for them;as sure as day and night follow each other there are brains tickingover around the world trying to make a usable Linux Chrome buildwith what's available now."
With such geeks in mind, Williams outlines how to get and build theLinux source for the software.
Over at Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) , meanwhile, blogger Dan Walsh was speculating how SELinux and Chrome could work together, particularly from asecurity point of view. Rendering OS Choice 'Moot'
"I've used Chrome for three days so far, and find it excellent,especially considering this is their first release," Slashdotblogger yagu told LinuxInsider on Friday."I think one of the mostimportant developments with Chrome and its meaning in the Linuxworld is that it increasingly renders OS choice moot."
Once Chrome is available everywhere -- "I'm assuming Google issincere that they will provide Mac and Linux versions," yagu said-- we'll all be one step closer to "browser-as-a-platformInternet," he explained. "That is, it isn't going to matter whetheryou run XP, Vista, OS/X, or Linux. We're all going to be doing mostof our work in a browser."
That could be a boon for Linux "because Microsoft increasinglyloses leverage with its OS," he added, but it also potentiallyposes a threat to Linux as a PC solution. "I can't imagine thatGoogle won't eventually consider offering Chrome as 'browser onboot up' -- i.e., no intervening OS necessary to support Chrome, you just boot your PC and Chrome becomes the OS," yagusaid. 'Good for Everybody'
"I don't plan on using it except for testing any public-facing Website I make,but the more browsers we have in use the better it isfor everybody," Slashdot blogger Mhall119 pointed out."When acompany can no longer work with just Internet Explorer's quirks,they will start to use, and insist on, standards compatibility."
There is also a benefit in Chrome's different handling of tabs --"something you can't exactly just drop into FF, IE or Opera withoutupsetting a bunch of people," Mhall119 told LinuxInsider. "If theirnew methods prove to be useful, then the others can follow suit,and if they don't, then nobody really gets burned. All browsersborrow ideas from the others, so if Google is going to introducenew ideas into the ecosystem, again, it's good for everybody." Marketing to Schools
Speaking of what's good for everybody -- and especially the Linuxcommunity -- David Lane raised an interesting question in LinuxJournal recently that got picked up last week on the Linux blogs.Specifically, Lane asked, "How do we attract the next generation?"
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has been very good at getting Macs into schools, Lane noted, andcountless schools already use Windows. What, then, could the Linuxcommunity do to compete?
As one might expect, bloggers on the Linux Loop and LXer , among others, had plenty to say on that question. Developer Competition
"I propose a competition, sponsored by individual donations andcontributions from as many Linux distributions as possible," wroteThomas Teisberg on the Linux Loop. "This competition could also bedone in connection with college software development classes."
To compete, "developers would have to create an open-sourceapplication for Linux that targets any segment of education --particularly high school and college students," Teisberg explained."This would spur true innovation and, hopefully, turn out someincredible Linux applications for students."
Whatever the tactic, "Getting schools to switch to GNU/Linux is thesingle most important way to break the M$opoly," added Max on thesite. "Not many people realize how vital this area is. These peoplecould be the future kernel hackers, or the future M$ Executives,depending on how we treat them early on," he wrote. 'Linux Has an Edge'
"I think David Lane raises a good point," Adam Kane, a blogger on Foogazi , told LinuxInsider. "It's very important to attract the nextgeneration to Linux."
Accomplishing that goal, however, "is going to take a lot more thanjust having major distributions packaged and placed on storeshelves," Kane noted. "It takes a well-organized marketing effort in order to educate the masses about Linux. If we reallywant to grab the next generation we definitely should be startingwith the schools."
Indeed, "Linux has an edge that needs to be exploited when it comesto the education market," Mack noted. "Aside from its low price,its open source architecture can provide students with room toexplore the system's inner workings. It's also easier to managelarge numbers of Linux machines than it is to manage Windows/ OSX," he added. Joint Advertising
"What I would like to see is an industry advertising campaign, like we have for dairy and beef, which promotes a commonproduct, not a single company," Mhall119 said. "A cooperationbetween Red Hat, Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) , Canonical as well as hardware vendors like Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) and Asus, to promote generic Linux on the desktop."
Novell has already made some Mac-vs-PC spoofs for YouTube , he pointed out. "Tying it in with popular culture would also begood. I've seen Gnome or KDE desktops several times in movies and TV," including KDE in thefirst season of NBC's "Heroes." "A joint ad starring some Heroescast and Linux, aired during an episode of Heroes, would be a hugewin."
Aside from that, "how about giving free LiveCDs to public schoolsand libraries?" he suggested. "Once you get some kid running Compizon their old PC that won't run Vista, or even new games, and thentheir friends come over and see the eye candy, it'll start tospread on its own."
Not everyone, however, agreed on the relevance of the question. Users 'Don't Really Care'
"The most important demographic is the developer community and,anecdotally at least, my experience is that anyone who is deep inthat universe is well aware and involved in Linux," yagu asserted."Also, savvy companies are deeply vested in Linux solutions. Insome ways, Linux is working its way into the universe from theinside out -- i.e., those who need good technology use Linux fortheir important work. Eventually, Linux shows up in unexpectedplaces."
Users, on the other hand, "don't really care," yagu added. "Howmany times have you heard anyone say, 'I sure am glad my TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO) is running on Linux'?"
Nevertheless, "users are using Linux on a daily basis and don'teven know it," he noted. "Eventually the buzz may push Linux to PCson brick-and-mortar shelves. That will be a great day, and I hopeit does happen."
Meanwhile, "Linux is here, and those who need to know about it,do," he concluded. "Those that will need to know about it, will."