His conclusion was an interesting one, principally because I haven’t heard it before. To paraphrase Tim, Linux will remain niche because open-source vendors don’t have the inclination to push it that extra mile, to front up for “the hassle-free” experience that users expect in their operating system. Not when they have a devoted, tech-savy user base already to hand.

It’s an intruiging point of view, but one predicated on a fallacy. If anything, Linux works the hardest for the hassle-free experience of any of the operating systems. Each alpha, beta and RC is passed through thousands of hands before it ever gets anywhere near an end user. Each line of code is mulled, every aspect of the operating system considered – by that I mean that unlike the revolutionary three years jumps of Windows or Apple’s OSes, Linux is in a constant state of evolution.

Its DNA is interchangeable. Open-source may be built on cooperation, but that doesn’t equate to a lack of competition. There are dozens of desktop environments such as Gnome and KDE being developed and tested constantly, and yet only one will ever make it into a final Linux release. But that doesn’t mean it will stay there. It’s the same with the bundled utilities, office packages, codecs, audo and display drivers, even the notification system – beneath the bonnet there’s a host of file systems and codec packs to choose from. A component only makes it into the final release if it’s “hassle free” because there’s always something to replace it with.

In effect, putting together a Linux OS is a process of natural selection dedicated to creating the best possible combination of parts. Where this has failed in the past is in “the pretty”. People who spend hundreds of hours typing code aren’t typically known for their aesthetic sense, and while they’re brilliant at coding shiny new effects there’s nobody taking charge of the overall look so that each aspect hangs together in a pleasing way. Linux-based OSes have always been utilitarian packages, with the shiny hidden away like some shameful secret. That has to change. We’re shallow creatures, and like it or not, the average user equates quality with beauty.

Assuming the average end user knows nothing about computers and you lay Snow Leopard, Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.04 before them, they’ll choose the prettiest one. If you explain that with Ubuntu you get a fully featured Office Suite, the fastest OS and essentially an immunuty to viruses out of the box, they’ll probably still pick the prettiest one. Make Ubuntu beautiful and suddenly the landscape shifts.

This may sound ridiculous, but I’m not alone. Canonical supremo Mark Shuttleworth has pencilled in a visual revamp for the Karmic Koala release of Ubuntu, and has drafted in a full design team to make sure it happens. He wants an OS that reflects in its visuals the thousands of hours that go into making it. I think this is smart, and necessary.

Of course, all of this assumes that Linux is actually competing with other operating systems that are hassle free. Untrue. Vista was plagued by compatibility problems and while pundits argue that Apple’s OS X is the operating system Linux wants to grow up to become, they’re missing the point that it’s the most niche of all, and thus the antitheses of what Linux is evolving into. All of the major Linux distros have extensive device support; will work across lots of hardware and are suited for dozens of tasks – unlike OS X.

It’s not this that will hinder Linux’s surge into the mainstream. In the long term it’s the lack of a message that’s going to be the biggest hurdle. Linux thrives on its distributed developer base, but this means there’s a lot of voices rattling about, each with its own agenda. If Linux wants to penetrate it needs once voice explaining the benefits. Linux has many selling points, it needs to pick one or two and hammer them to retailers and PC makers. They want support, they want flair, and they want something they can easily explain to customers. Linux fits just one of these criteria so far.

Canonical’s already has some success with Dell, but there’s more work to be done. The battle for the desktop OS is still being fought and Linux has enough weapons to have its say. It needs a General though, otherwise it’ll be doomed to watch inferior OSes fighting it out amongst themselves. And that really would be a pity.