It appears from almost two years of IDC data that the Unix/Linux share of the market is stabilizing in the 40-45% range. The major question is how quickly Linux systems will displace Unix. That’s the market chunk that Red Hat (RHT) is aiming at with its recent announcement that it plans to “own” 50% of the server market by 2015.

In China, the world's largest mobile phone market, smartphone sales for Q3 grew 11.3 percent quarter-over-quarter, reports CCID Consulting. However, Linux's share of the market declined, largely due to weakening volumes for Motorola smartphones, the Hong Kong-based market research firm reported.

CCID Consulting, China's leading research, consulting and IT outsourcing service provider, and the first Chinese consulting firm listed in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Stock Exchange: HK08235), recently released its article on China's Linux market, which grew by 29.2% and has great prospects for its new Linux Desktop.

As many of us who watch the Linux market know, the past week has seen the announcement of two markedly different plug-and-play Linux computers. I was excited by one and not the other. To my surprise, the one that didn't interest me has taken off like a rocket to the moon while it is still too early say how the other will do.

There needs to be a reform in how software purchases are counted.

Claims made by Microsoft that Linux violates its software patent have not affected sales of Linux-based hardware, according to Dell's CEO Michael Dell.

The competition for market share between the leading desktop OSes, Windows, Mac and Linux, has seen no major revolution this year. But based on data from Net Applications, there have been subtle changes that suggest major shifts in the years ahead.