Having just read this article at Techrepublic, I can’t help but feel the need to comment on a few things…

Chrome is far from being the only Linux-based OS out there, indeed, if you have a mobile device other than a laptop, the chances are you’re using a Linux – or UNIX – based OS right now:

Everything Apple creates is built on a UNIX platform, including the OS in those damn iPhones
Moblin, Intel’s highly regarded entry into the OS market – Linux-based
Android, Google’s mobile phone OS – Linux based

In fact, unless you have a Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung or Panasonic mobile phone, it’s pretty hard to find a mobile OS that’s NOT Linux based.

The section of the article I found most funny was this:

So is 2010 going to be the year of Linux on the desktop since Chrome OS is based on Linux? Every year for the past decade was supposed to be “The Year of Linux on the Desktop.” It hasn’t happened and it’s not because it was an idea ahead of its time or it needed a stronger champion. The mass market has rejected Linux on the desktop. Linux is nothing more (or less) than a niche OS loved by a loyal group of highly-technical users. Even Google can’t change that, unless it’s prepared to write Linux device drivers for all of the world’s printers, digital cameras, keyboards, and mice.

There are a number of reasons this point of view is WAYY off…

Firstly, hardware support in Linux, while frayed at the edges, is pretty damned good right now. The glaring exception would be ATI, with the company not bothering to open-source their Graphics Card drivers. Hopefully, though, now they’ve been bought by AMD, that might change.

Not only is hardware support not as much of an issue as it used to be, support for non-linux software is improving all the time: I’ve been trying out quite a number of Windows applications and games on Linux lately, using the WINE Windows Emulator and have been impressed by the amount of software that runs just fine. Even if it doesn’t run through WINE, there’s always the option to install a VIRTUAL copy of Windows on top of your Linux installation – and well, if it’s good enough for Microsoft, it’s good enough for Linux, right?

“The mass market has rejected Linux on the desktop” – Hell, looking at sales numbers, you’d be hard pressed to say the mass market hadn’t rejected the Mac, also. Given that only Dell sells desktop PC’s that come with Linux pre-installed, and given Microsoft’s well known belligerence towards those who DON’T bundle Windows with their new PC’s, it’s hardly a surprise, is it? And while you might never be asked if you want your new PC with Windows or Linux pre-installed, when it comes to mobile devices – specifically the iPhone – Linux already rules!

I’ve always said that once all the games our kids love to play run nicely under Linux, I’d ditch Windows for good. Going on the evidence of recent experience – and the advent of 3D graphics support in Virtualbox, I’d say that day is rapidly approaching.

I don’t think Chrome OS stands a chance in hell of setting the world on fire, but is this the year of Linux in your pocket? Hell yeah!