Linux’ iPod Generation Gap

Iria · Aug 21, 2006, 02:29 AM

Source: Red Herring
________
A panel discussion at LinuxWorld urged developers on Wednesday to “get religion” about Linux on the desktop and consider the generation of users who expect music and video at their fingertips.

“The question I get asked most about Linux by people under 30 is ‘will it work with my iPod?’” said Eric Raymond, a celebrated figure in the open-source movement who penned the popular book The Cathedral and the Bazaar.

For Windows and OS X fans, such questions don’t enter the discussion. But the runaway popularity of iPods, iTunes, and digital media on PCs and devices has forced the open-source community to consider the wave of expectations for multimedia.

“We need to make compromises to do full multimedia capabilities like running on iPod so that nontechnical users don’t dismiss us out of hand,” Mr. Raymond said.

Aug 21, 2006, 02:29 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Linux’ iPod Generation Gap Source: Red Herring ________ A panel discussion at LinuxWorld urged developers on Wednesday to “get religion” about Linux on the desktop and consider the generation of users who expect music and video at their fingertips. “The question I get asked most about Linux by people under 30 is ‘will it work with my iPod?’” said Eric Raymond, a celebrated figure in the open-source movement who penned the popular book The Cathedral and the Bazaar. For Windows and OS X fans, such questions don’t enter the discussion. But the runaway popularity of iPods, iTunes, and digital media on PCs and devices has forced the open-source community to consider the wave of expectations for multimedia. “We need to make compromises to do full multimedia capabilities like running on iPod so that nontechnical users don’t dismiss us out of hand,” Mr. Raymond said.