Linux to overtake Windows, says Jim Zemlin

Linux could be loaded onto more desktops than Windows next year, according to the head of the Linux Foundation.

While acknowledging previous "year of the Linux desktop" predictions have proved false dawn, Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation, says next year may be different.

He says consumer demand for fast desktop boot-ups may mean Linux OS will find its way onto users' machines, whether they have Windows installed or not.

This is because Linux-based fast start-up technology is seeing growing interest among the major PC manufacturers, fuelled by consumer demand.

Some users have said Windows Vista offers the slowest boot-up times ever offered by Microsoft.

Zemlin said Linux was now satisfying this demand with technology that can offer boot-ups in as little as five seconds.

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