Linux research

Resellers respond to questions on the open-source operating system

Linux PCs p-p-pick up

Information gathered by Context Research's SalesWatch survey indicates that the percentage of PCs sold with the Linux operating system (OS) already installed is gradually rising. Over the past four quarters the figure has grown from a low of 0.13 per cent to 1.04 per cent in the second quarter of this year.

As Context points out, although the number of Linux OSs installed as standard is quite low compared with the dominating position of Windows XP Home and Professional versions, these figures do not include those systems that will have had Linux installed over the PC's original OS.

Systems addicts

Resellers are delivering more and more Linux-based systems, according to Context's Channel Facts research. In August 2003, eight per cent of respondents said that 20 per cent or fewer of the systems they delivered went out with Linux already installed.

By this August, that had risen to 23 per cent of resellers. The open source operating system is advancing across Europe, with 35 per cent of resellers selling Linux systems this August, compared with 30 per cent in the same month last year.

Sitting on the desktops

How the future of Linux on the desktop is set to develop will be one of the key questions for the channel over the next few years. Context's Channel Facts survey, which regularly looks at the opinions of a panel of resellers, suggests the demand for clients based on the open-source operating system will increase.

In fact, more than half claimed that demand is already on the rise, compared with a third who are seeing no change.

Make space for storage

Channel optimism in August fell slightly compared with the previous month. Context's Channel Facts survey showed that in July, overall sales were expected to rise by more than 19 per cent in August, compared with the same month in 2003.

But a month later the estimated increase in sales for the following month was down to 14.4 per cent compared with the previous year, although a slow holiday period could be to blame. Storage was in the lead as mobile expectations dropped, which could indicate over-supply in the notebook market, Context suggests.

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CONTACTS

To join Context's reseller panel go to www.contextworld.com/channelfacts/join or call (020) 8394 7700.