Open-source OS
As Google is expediting the performance improvement of its open-source operating system (OS), the related market is likely to grow this year.
According to industry sources on Feb. 17, open-source operating systems such as Google Chrome and Linux’s Ubuntu are getting more sophisticated, and thus a growing number of people are using these systems. In the server area, Red Hat recently announced that it will absorb and improve the Community Enterprise Operating System (CentOS). Hence, the industry is pay attention to whether or not the stronghold of Microsoft’s Windows OS, representing 30 to 40 percent of PC prices, will be shaken. Microsoft has never lowered the licensing fees for Windows OS, even with a continuous decline in PC prices.
Since open-source OSs used to be inferior to the Windows OS or Apple’s Mac OSX platform, it was inconvenient for general users to use any open-source OS. However, that is no longer the case. With the recent IT environment shifted to a web-oriented one, anyone able to use web browsers can work on documents provided via Web services, and access online content. Moreover, the importance of hardware has decreased, helped by established standards and modulation. In the past, it was necessary for each computer component such as the CPU, graphic chipset, memory chips, and LAN card to be separately recognized and operated by the computer.
An increase in the number of mobile devices with a built-in open-source OS also adds to the popularity of open-source OSs. HP, Samsung, and Taiwanese PC makers ASUS and Acer have released laptops that run Chrome OS. At the end of last year, Google Chromebooks were hugely popular in North America, occupying 22 percent of total laptop sales.
This year, Google is planning to apply Chrome OS to the Chromebox, which is aimed at replacing traditional desktops. Experts are saying that open-source operating systems will not entirely take the place of Windows OS or Mac OSX, given that they do not comprise a large proportion of total operating systems. Nevertheless, open-source operating systems are projected to be widely used in the future. It is attributable to the high likelihood that PC makers will choose open-source operating systems instead of a Windows OS that comes with licensing fees, once the open-source OS market grows a little more. ASUS already rolled out its Chromebox featuring Chrome OS, and HP is also going to introduce its own version.
A source in the PC industry said, “When Samsung released its Chromebook in 2011, there was nothing that users could do except web browsing, owing to functional defects and a lack of operable apps.” The source added, “But it is now possible to use social networking sites (SNS) and Dropbox. People also can do simple tasks such as web-based documentation.” Above all, Chromebooks in the price range of US$300 are cheaper than conventional PCs.
Nonetheless, it seems that it will take time for open-source operating systems to become mainstream. This prediction can be ascribed to still insufficient applications, limited system functions, and nonexistent solutions for corporations.