Ubuntu: Fastest-growing Linux Distribution

The Ubuntu wave seems to be growing by the day. Cnet has a great blog entry describing how Ubuntu and Red Hat Linux are pulling away from the pack. Here’s the scoop from Cnet.

Linux Fans Embrace Apple MacBooks

Whether you attended this weekend’s Southern California Linux Expo (SCALE) or another recent open source event, one trend is clear: Linux advocates certainly love their Apple MacBooks.

Live Keynote: Linux on the Desktop

The VAR Guy, our mystery guest blogger from www.thevarguy.com, will be all ears when Canonical’s Jono Bacon (pictured) delivers his keynote today at the Southern California Linux Expo here in Los Angeles. Bacon will discuss the future of Linux on the desktop.

If you’re not here at the event, you can watch his 10 a.m. Pacific keynote online. The keynote is being streamed online, and is available at this link. His keynote is appropriately titled, “Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants: The Coming Of The Linux Desktop.” The VAR Guy, however, would make one subtle change: The Linux Desktop is already here.

Other coverage from the SCALE event:

• Five Trends at the Southern California Linux Expo
• More coverage coming Sunday, February 10

Five Trends at Southern California Linux Expo

The VAR Guy, our guest blogger from www.thevarguy.com, is skipping Disneyland this weekend and keeping a close eye on the Southern California Linux Expo (SCALE), which runs February 8-10 at the Westin Los Angeles. Here are five trends and themes The VAR Guy will be tracking at the event.

Back to the Future With Ubuntu

Ok, folks. I’ve been a little sidetracked (very sidetracked…) in recent weeks building a business and two other blog sites (MSPmentor.net and TheVARguy.com). Both are doing well.

Now, it’s time to rediscover Ubuntu. As you’ll recall, I purchased an Ubuntu PC from Dell back in July 2007. It was a great investment. And a great alternative to having the Geek Squad teach me how to troubleshoot Windows Vista.

Initially, I though Ubuntu’s main chance for success was on the desktop. I was wrong. I’m beginning to see how Canonical will likely succeed on desktops … plus servers and mobile devices with Ubuntu.

So, what can you expect from this site going forward? Lots of desktop, mobile and server coverage. On the one hand, we want to help consumers make the leap from Windows to Ubuntu. But on the other, we suspect a lot of IT departments will read us as they consider corporate migrations to Ubuntu for specific business departments.

We’ll need to tread carefully as we write for multiple target audiences. But ultimately, our readers will decide what we write about.

Either way, it’s good to be home — blogging again on AllAboutUbuntu.

To get a feel for what else I’ve been up to, visit Nine Lives Media Inc., The VAR Guy and MSPmentor.

Technorati Profile

Ubuntu: Three Things to Watch for In 2008

It has been quite some time since I updated this blog. Frankly, I’ve been swamped at my day job. But I’m still using Ubuntu on my Dell PC at home. And I expect big things from Ubuntu and Canonical’s backers in 2008. Here are three Ubuntu trends worth watching in 2008.

3. Dell Servers: Rumors continue that Dell plans to certify its servers to run Ubuntu. Watch for an announcement in the first quarter of 2008 or so. The announcement will likely involve a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, etc.) small business suite.

2. Managed Services: Back in July, Canonical employees hinted to me that the company would aggressively promote remote administration services for Ubuntu. The services will allow hardware partners, integrators and Canonical to more easily manage Ubuntu servers from afar.

1. Internet Handhelds: Intel and Canonical are working on a mobile Ubuntu edition. I expect it to land on Internet handhelds that support WiFi. However, Google Android — a Linux-based mobile environment that will run across numerous handhelds and smart phones — has largely stolen the spotlight from the Intel-Canonical work.

Google Going Mobile With Ubuntu?

Lots of folks expect Google to announce a mobile software/phone strategy on November 5. Now for the rather interesting twist: I suspect Ubuntu Linux could be Google’s preferred platform for a range of forthcoming mobile devices and services. Here’s why.