A quick response to operating system surveys which are predominantly US-oriented

For those still waiting for the year of the Linux "desktop," I regret to inform you that it has already come and gone.

Homing in on the right Linux distro for you can be tricky. In addition to hardware considerations, there are compatibility issues, support requirements and even the culture of the community to take into account.

There are some people who do not believe that the Linux desktop will ever be a major force in the global IT market. Mark Shuttleworth isn't one of them. Speaking at the LinuxCon conference late Wednesday, the Canonical founder pitched his approach for expanding Linux to provide a better user experience and broadening its appeal.

Does Linux desktop even need to be popular? There are, shall we say, differing options among the open source cognoscenti gathered in Portland, Oregon this week for the annual LinuxCon.

Sometimes, you have to respect someone for sticking to an opinion and a vision. Other times, you have to wonder if a consistent vision becomes a fatal flaw. A case in point: In a New York Times article, Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst (pictured, right) once again dismisses speculation that Red Hat will pursue the consumer Linux desktop and smart phone markets. Here's why.

What do Linux users want from their desktop? The Linux Foundation's survey has the answers.

The Year of the Linux desktop may never come. Instead, there will continue to be significant encroachment into the territory that Microsoft believes to be its own. This will happen for all the reasons you might expect. Linux is cheaper and more versatile and secure than the alternatives, and most of the arguments for not installing Linux don't hold much water.