Linux on Desktop, China, and Dell

A recent WSJ article discusses the growth of Linux on Desktop PCs. Some points:
- "IDC said licenses of both free and purchased versions of Linux software going into PCs world-wide rose 20.8% in 2006 over the previous year and forecast that licenses will increase 30% this year over last."
- CIOs using Linux as a server operating system (eg. financial industry) are more comfortable with adopting desktop Linux especially in "PCs for workers who don't require most of the features offered by Windows and other Microsoft software, such as the Office suite of programs."
- Desktop Linux adoption surged in China in the past year, partially because of the governments fight against piracy of Windows (which shows once more the complex unintended impact of piracy fighting strategies)

Meanwhile Dell asks for user feedback on devising a Linux PC strategy [besides a promise for Linux, this is another brilliant example of openness as a strategy: let your users/customers participate in the design of your strategy]