Phil Thompson wrote (quoting the BBC):
Alternative analysis that we have run off which performs the
measurement in different ways suggests that the potential number of
Linux users could range from 0.3 per cent to 0.8 per cent (which, from
a total UK bbc.co.uk userbase of 12.2m weekly users [source: TNS]
could imply a user base between 36,600 and 97,600)."
It would be interesting to see this broken down.
For example, the minimum requirements for iPlayer are XP (SP2), Media
Player 10, IE6+, and I would guess that a lot of Windows users do not
meet them. Just the IE6 requirement would exclude all FF users.
I'd be interested to see the relative growth figures for Linux and
Windows too (not because I'd dare prejudge what the results would be, I
have no idea). It's difficult to accurately gauge either, of-course;
most Linux users had to buy their PC with Windows on it, but on the
other hand they probably also downloaded more than one distro to try. If
the BBC can give an accurate figure for the growth in users both from
Windows and Linux over the past few years I'd love to see it.
And of-course there's the point that measuring the number of visitors
when a site gives a preference to one set always gives misleading
results. If the BBC isn't Linux friendly then it'll get fewer Linux
visitors.
The only sensible thought I can come up with on this subject is that
Microsoft needs competition, so we can argue until we're blue in the
face whether Linux is an effective competitor right now, but Windows
will be better (and is already better from a security perspective) when
it has viable competition, so embracing open standards so anyone can
provide an alternative "player" which can compete fairly is in the
interests of everybody. There's be an outcry if BBC broadcasts could
only be received on Philips TV sets. The point isn't that the BBC should
embrace Linux, it's that it should embrace open standards than anyone
can use. If Microsoft makes a better player then it deserves to "win",
but there is simply no need to design something which only works on one
platform or with software from only one manufacturer.
--
Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555
Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG
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