Our project to develop Linux on the desktop at work has taken a big step forward. I now have a green light to put something together, with a view to having something tangible by Christmas. The list of requirements is fairly small and specific. I don’t think we’ll have too many problems hitting those marks, I expect the problems to come later when we try to do things we take for granted with Windows, such as Dynamic Local User etc. Nothing that’s a showstopper, but requires some lateral thinking.

I’m excited about it because it’s something so different. I’m bored with Windows, to be truthful. It seems like a technology space where nothing much is going on. In years gone by, I used to look forward to new versions of Windows, but I don’t give a toss about Vista, and I’m sure I’m not alone. I think the two biggest cockups from Microsoft’s perspective are taking 5 years to bring a new version out and also having six different versions of Vista. For God’s sake, why?

It’s going to be good for us to develop Linux as I think it’s really getting there on the desktop now. It’s also excellent publicity for us, and I just hope that the financial investment is there if and when we need it.