Linux users...

[Asherax]

• I have been a Linux OS user for over 25 years now, exclusively! various distro's, and wondered how many others are using Linux as there OS of choice?
  
  
• I ask because I recently had a conversation with OM Systems, in regards their software. They offer, workspace, capture, and webcam-beta, for both Windows and Mac, and because MAC is operationally based on a Linux Kernel derivative, It was suggested that they offer these software packages for Linux users.
  
  
• I know Canonical for instance actively seek corporate partnership with such companies to make their own Linux variant, the extremely popular Ubuntu series of distro's, even more mainstream than they already are, capturing around 10% of the collective global marketplace.
  
  
• Post processing with Linux is no trouble. Darktable, Rawtherapee, GIMP, etc, all offer superb post processing software that is native to Linux, Windows and MAC, and all function flawlessly.
  
  
• OM SYSTEMS then would be the first major camera manufacturer to offer in house software that functions natively with Linux, and thus could steal a march on all other competitors. Capturing a large chunk of the market and helping to resolve a hole that exists in the marketplace at present.
• I wondered therefore how many other photographers here would swap to M43 systems, or stick with them, if OM Systems became a market leader in offering a native Linux software distribution package for it's in house software?

 

[John Bean (UK)]

Just a pedantic correction: MacOS has no connection to Linux; it is FreeBSD based - and that's Unix, not Linux.

Sorry ;-)

 

[Asherax]

Just a pedantic correction: MacOS has no connection to Linux; it is FreeBSD based - and that's Unix, not Linux.

Sorry ;-)

TRUE that! I will correct! thanks John!... ah can't edit original post, but I guess point was they are both Unix based, just one is open-sourced and free, the other, not so much!

Linux vs Unix

--
Photography is poetry made visible; it is the art of painting with light!

 

[John Bean (UK)]

Just a pedantic correction: MacOS has no connection to Linux; it is FreeBSD based - and that's Unix, not Linux.

Sorry ;-)

TRUE that! I will correct! thanks John!... ah can't edit original post, but I guess point was they are both Unix based, just one is open-sourced and free, the other, not so much!
Linux vs Unix

You can't edit if your post has been replied to, but it isn't really needed as most people other than pedants tend to treat all *nix systems as though they were the same - but they do have significant differences for some applications.

That said MacOS is so different from any other Unix other at everything above kernel level that the other differences from Linux are probably moot.

I used FreeBSD for years and in the early days much preferred it to any Linux variant, as in those days Unix was rock-solid (and still is) while Linux was basically beta quality, constantly changing and sometimes introducing as many bugs as it fixed.

Linux is probably as stable as Unix these days, but mud sticks and commercial developers still don't invest resources in Linux.

--
John Bean [GMT]
RIP Elliott Erwitt 26 July 1928 - 29 November 2023

 

[Asherax]

Just a pedantic correction: MacOS has no connection to Linux; it is FreeBSD based - and that's Unix, not Linux.

Sorry ;-)

TRUE that! I will correct! thanks John!... ah can't edit original post, but I guess point was they are both Unix based, just one is open-sourced and free, the other, not so much!
Linux vs Unix

You can't edit if your post has been replied to, but it isn't really needed as most people other than pedants tend to treat all *nix systems as though they were the same - but they do have significant differences for some applications.

That said MacOS is so different from any other Unix other at everything above kernel level that the other differences from Linux are probably moot.

I used FreeBSD for years and in the early days much preferred it to any Linux variant, as in those days Unix was rock-solid (and still is) while Linux was basically beta quality, constantly changing and sometimes introducing as many bugs as it fixed.

Linux is probably as stable as Unix these days, but mud sticks and commercial developers still don't invest resources in Linux.

Too True John!... but if it's good enough for NASA, why is it not good enough for OM Systems?

Linux is so stable and configurable these days, I just love it as an OS... will never go back, something about having complete control of your operating system appeals to me, and of course a lack of viral interference because it doesn't have a registry.

Just wished OM System made the leap and offered native linux based software, it really isn't demanding and the beauty of open source is that you have an overabundance of technical assistance, especially with Canonical pushing corporate cooperative ventures. It just seemed to me as though the first camera manufacturer who switched on to the opportunity would reinvigorate an entire sector in the community, and M43 is the perfect platform for such innovation.

Other reputable post processing programs have no issue whatsoever in offering native Linux options, so it is peculiar to me that OM Systems haven't taken the bull by the horns and simply innovated in that direction already. In my conversations with them, I know it is a possibility, perhaps it is simply a matter of cost analysis, but it really shouldn't be that difficult to implement, making Olympus, OM SYSTEMS, ground breaking once again and opening up an entire segment of the market that is as yet untapped.

 

[James Stirling]

• I have been a Linux OS user for over 25 years now, exclusively! various distro's, and wondered how many others are using Linux as there OS of choice?
• I ask because I recently had a conversation with OM Systems, in regards their software. They offer, workspace, capture, and webcam-beta, for both Windows and Mac, and because MAC is operationally based on a Linux Kernel derivative, It was suggested that they offer these software packages for Linux users.
• I know Canonical for instance actively seek corporate partnership with such companies to make their own Linux variant, the extremely popular Ubuntu series of distro's, even more mainstream than they already are, capturing around 10% of the collective global marketplace.
• Post processing with Linux is no trouble. Darktable, Rawtherapee, GIMP, etc, all offer superb post processing software that is native to Linux, Windows and MAC, and all function flawlessly.
• OM SYSTEMS then would be the first major camera manufacturer to offer in house software that functions natively with Linux, and thus could steal a march on all other competitors. Capturing a large chunk of the market and helping to resolve a hole that exists in the marketplace at present.
• I wondered therefore how many other photographers here would swap to M43 systems, or stick with them, if OM Systems became a market leader in offering a native Linux software distribution package for it's in house software?

I think the answer is simple OM systems has 3-4% share of the ILC market . Based on the newest data I could find Linux makes up just 4% of the desktop operating system market share. So assuming a similar share of m43 users . That is an awfully small potential user base to justify the time and expense to make a Linux version. And a lot of us who own OM gear don't even like workspace, I personally actively dislike it , I only use it for occasional pixel shift images where it does do a better job

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide/

Very popular software used by many folk here such as DXO Photolab , Pureraw , Topaz AI etc are not available on Linux. Which would be a deal breaker for a lot of users

Though with the latest mischief from Microsoft , Adobe and Apple there may ne more folk looking elsewhere than I think. I have only dabbled into Linux and well out of touch with what is going on. Has wine advanced enough to be a viable way to use windows programs

--
Jim Stirling:
“It is one thing to show a man that he is in error, and another to put him in possession of truth.” Locke
Feel free to tinker with any photos I post

 

[1000DTL]

I don't think any major software developers will port their software to Linux because of the Open Source License. IIRC, if you port your app to Linux, you have to make your source code available to the public. There is no way to protect your IP. Plus trying to support all the Linux distros would be a nightmare.

I use Mac, Windows and Linux.

 

[Woody Meristem]

I've thought of switching to Linux, but a number of the software programs that I use only operate on Windows so ... Other than the OS I don't use any Microsoft products and can't see ever using them.

 

[John Bean (UK)]

I don't think any major software developers will port their software to Linux because of the Open Source License. IIRC, if you port your app to Linux, you have to make your source code available to the public.

That's not actually true; there is lots of software running on Linux - even some at driver level - that isn't open source. It's usually known as "restricted". Its use is optional.

Over the years there have been several commercial (ie "paid for") full-blown apps for Linux but they were few and far between. I can't think of any that were really successful.

Plus trying to support all the Linux distros would be a nightmare.

That is usually glossed over by Linux proponents of commercial software but it's a big hurdle. Windows and MacOS have defined GUI frameworks while Linux GUIs are like the Wild West and an absolute nightmare to support at user level.

It would probably be possible to support one distro - Ubuntu, say - as its development strategy is more organised than most and its user base more user than nerd, so the distro is more likely to stay in a more or less standard configuration. But that would also make the use case vanishingly small and commercially not viable.

--
John Bean [GMT]
RIP Elliott Erwitt 26 July 1928 - 29 November 2023

 

[jeffharris]

• I have been a Linux OS user for over 25 years now, exclusively! various distro's, and wondered how many others are using Linux as there OS of choice?
• I ask because I recently had a conversation with OM Systems, in regards their software. They offer, workspace, capture, and webcam-beta, for both Windows and Mac, and because MAC is operationally based on a Linux Kernel derivative, It was suggested that they offer these software packages for Linux users.

Mac OS X uses OpenBSD UNIX. It’s not Linux. Linux probably wishes it were Mac OS X.

MAC, in all caps, is an acronym for media access control address.

Mac is short for Macintosh.

 

[John Bean (UK)]

Mac OS X uses OpenBSD

It uses FreeBSD.

 

[jeffharris]

Mac OS X uses OpenBSD

It uses FreeBSD.

Ooops.

Still, it’s been full-bore UNIX for nearly 25 years. I even ran the betas back then.

 

[John Bean (UK)]

Mac OS X uses OpenBSD

It uses FreeBSD.

Ooops.

Still, it’s been full-bore UNIX for nearly 25 years. I even ran the betas back then.

Sometimes it seems there are as many BSD variants as there are Linux variants. I used FreeBSD for years - almost from day one - so I get a bit pedantic about it ;-)

 

[SterlingBjorndahl]

Playing devil's advocate

something about having complete control of your operating system appeals to me,

I can understand that on a theoretical level, but in practice, the OS is just a means to an end, not the end in itself. I want to get stuff done, not fiddle with the OS all the time. I'm not saying Windows is better. My favourite was VMS, but I doubt I'll be running Photoshop on a Vax or Alpha any time soon.

and of course a lack of viral interference because it doesn't have a registry.

*cough* systemd *cough*

Other reputable post processing programs have no issue whatsoever in offering native Linux options,

If Adobe did it, that would be the game changer. And they are big enough to be able to afford it. If they're not willing to invest in it, few of the smaller ones will have the courage to try. But give it time, the land of the Linux desktop is (perpetually) just a few years away.

Sterling
--
Lens Grit

 

[Asherax]

Interesting read guys... Thanks

I used macs and apple back in the early 80's, oh those wolfenstein days LOL

Windoze strangled the life out of the marketplace and after using Suse in the late 90's, I never really looked back. Ubuntu streamlined everything for me, and now I don't even duel boot, and haven't for over 26 years. Linux just works, yes, there are compromises, when it comes to using the latest AI oriented photo-processing programs like Topaz etc, but I have always found Shotwell, Krita, GIMP, Inkscape, Blender, Rawtherapee, Darktable, Da Vinci Resolve studio, to name just a few, to be seriously powerful and far beyond the necessary requirements of most photographers or film makers.

These days, aside from AI generative photographics, Linux is not hampered.... what is hampered though is the likelihood of M43'rd surviving without innovative strategy in expansive marketshare... as any good marketing guru will tell you it's a game of inches, and in order to catch a march on your competition, anything that both expands your market share and attracts new users to the marketplace with products only you offer can manifest monopolies that lift your capacity to survive amongst the competition.

I can't see it being a bad thing for OM Systems to offer their software to a sector of the market, and youthful sector at that, that is growing into the marketplace by offering an alternative and expansion into photographic imaging and film-making, vlogging and tethered gaming through their software in conjunction with programs like OBS studio, Proton and Steam driven communities like twitch.

The kids are already at it man!!! and on mass!... catch the wave or sink with the tide would be how I see it, and open source opportunities certainly offer that. Especially as was mentioned a company like Canonical are likely to do most of the heavy lifting for you already.

Interesting to read your thoughts though guys thank you for your input. My belief is that OM Systems will continue to sell raman and sushi rolls, and M43'rds will slowly slip into the desert of forgotten formats... consigned to it's inevitable fate with old mens feet stuck in the sand as the waves roll in.