kaled - 6:40 pm on Feb 14, 2008 (gmt 0)

Linux strength is also its weakness. The fact that it is free (sort of) leads to it being multi-flavored. These combine to mean that there is no real money to fund promotion and developers either have to stay well within O/S boundaries or test on all the popular flavors. And having done all that development and testing, they have to try to sell their software to users that want it for nothing.

If a single, for-profit, Linux foundation (or whatever) were to emerge it would have a chance but it's hard to see Linux going mainstream unless something huge happens. Remember, being better does not lead to success - superior marketing trumps superior quality almost every time. Think VHS v BETAMAX.

My understanding of the licenses that govern Linux is limited but I believe that a single, for-profit organization is effectively ruled out. I suspect Google would like to give it a go but I doubt they will.

Kaled.