[RichardFord]

The author (and others who use desktop Linux) can't be happy with his personal choice of desktop. Instead he's bitter and angry that others don't make the same choice that he does. That's way too common in many facets of life these days.

There are many factors why desktop Linux didn't take off. One is the whole Gnome/GTK+/KDE/Qt debacle. Many know the details, but with limited resources and not being radical enough in your designs, then there had to be more collaboration and not division (Gnome vs KDE).

Distros were similar enough to not be very differential, but incompatible enough to make support a nightmare for ISVs.

The other direction that could have been taken is a whole lot more experimentation with radical designs. Trying to be better than Windows was always going to be a losing strategy. Just don't be Windows.

I guess there is some redemption in Android, but I think the diehards will never accept Android as a real desktop Linux.

[hindsightbias]

Interesting that 'desktop' success is relative to android. If you were going to design an OS for phones and pads, would a sane person have come up with android?

Seems like a shoehorned solution, a phyric victory.

[RichardFord]

My comment about Android was all about market share and nothing about the quality.