If there is one Linux myth that must be put to bed, it's that desktop Linux has terrible hardware support out of the box. This is compete nonsense. As a matter of fact, there has been talk that to the degree of mainstream support for hardware, it rivals anything seen with Windows or OS X. Again, this is with mainstream hardware.

Every operating system is fighting to gain users and marketshare, but is becoming "mainstream" a good goal? While "mainsream" obviously means more users and, thus, usually more revenue for the maker of the OS, it also has some disadvantages. For example, it becomes much harder to break compatibility with older applications in order to move forwards or to change the interface too much.

Despite the Linux and Ubuntu netbook craze, I think there is a simple reason why Linux is not a mainstream solution for most users — yet. Let me explain.

Linux is well on it’s way to being a mainstream operating system. The bad news is that this will not happen the way many of us envisioned.

Our esteemed editor, Tim Danton, recently ran a thought piece wondering whether Linux would ever hit the mainstream, his ten cents worth clattering down on the side that says “probably not.” It’s an intruiging point of view, but one predicated on a fallacy.

Linux devs are very good about seeing what techs and admins want. They don't do well at fulfilling the mainstream desktop market, largely because they don't like what they see. It depresses some of them.

The world's largest cellphone maker Nokia said it expected the role of Linux operating software in mobile handsets would grow, but it would take some time to become mainstream.

The art of burying invisible malware deep inside a Linux machine is about to go mainstream, thanks to a new open-source rootkit released Thursday by Immunity Inc., a firm that supplies tools for penetration testers.

If you've been following the current rift in the Linux community between Linus Torvalds and his minions squaring off against Con Kolivas and the mainstream Linux fanatics, you probably know that it's getting quite heated.