Oracle to run your computer?

Oracle has pledged to run your computer. Well, sort of. It's going to be offering support for the RedHat operating system; meaning users can get support from Oracle, rather than the original vendors of the OS.

This is an interesting move for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Microsoft database offering is taking a greater market share, possibly seen by Oracle as a treat to there core database business; Microsoft is locking down the Vista operating system, meaning other vendors cannot access its code or develop applications as easily; and finally, it's another big name supporting open source, 'free' operating systems.

Taking these one at a time, with Microsoft's database first.

Oracle have recently released a free version of its database (limited to 4Gb of data) that can be used for free, anywhere, for anything. One of the historical problems Oracle has had is that users and developers, the geeks of the future, won't touch Oracle, primarily not for any technical reason, there are just other free databases. Microsoft has also released a free version of its database so Oracle couldn't be left behind. The problem is that, although technically superior, coding for Oracle is far from easy to learn due to the lack of graphical interfaces and error messages being beyond useless. Oracle has started to change this and improve its offering, but is still far behind the use ability of the Microsoft offering. And no new geeks means no new company take-up of its (overpriced) database.

Secondly, Microsoft is locking down its next operating system, Vista. How is this related? Well, there will be a decision to be made by users - stick with Windows, an OS they know, but leave all there futures in the Microsoft basket, or switch to the increasingly useable Linux distributions. Will users change? For the majority, no. There are many reasons for this, but primarily Linux, although easier to install than ever before, is a massive mind switch in terms of how files are stored on the computer, how a machine is administered and how programs are installed. Does this different method give a home user any real advantages? Probably not. Will it give them a steep learning curve on backup, restore and the finding of files, undoubtedly. Secondly, the next major problem is finding basic notes on Linux. There aren't any. There is no Microsoft to Linux conversion manual for the uninitiated. There is no list (a high quality, impartial list) of you did it like this on Windows and you need program y to do that on Linux. There out there, but with several different applications performing the same tasks on Linux, which do you need? With Oracle pledging to support the RedHat distribution of Linux things must improve, but with there track record on database usability then the jury is out.

Thirdly, this is another big name pumping cash into open source software. Oracle has millions and millions to spend; and if this is diverted to an operating system then it can only improve, provided it hires the right people and listens to users. I'd suggest hiring some Windows users to take them though what they need to do; probably not many peoples view in the open operating system world, but something they need if there to make any inroads into the operating system market and gain a real user base (i.e. one consisting of the technically deficient as well as the uber geek).

Finally, if Oracle uses some common sense, they will take the open source distribution and use their Oracle database as the 'file system'; similar to the (failed) attempt by Microsoft for Vista. This has numerous (far too many to be listed here!) advantages and really would differentiate a Linux distribution from anything else out there.

The time is now, as the new Vista OS will require a mental shift in philosophy by Windows users making the jump to Linux less of a leap than it would otherwise be.