It's presently on version 2.2, and a new version is expected this fall. By far the most successful in synonimizing itself with Linux is Red Hat, according to a Linux World poll in which 73.75 percent of respondents equated the company name with the operating system. The next most-recognizable distribution was Slackware, with a 7.82 percent mind share. And although the range of software isn't as wide as that of Microsoft and other vendors, there's still a wide range of capabilities, including office suites, file server software, and graphics programs. Notable lacking areas include more desktop-oriented tools such as desktop banking and wysiwyg Web authoring tools, says Donnie Barnes, director of technical programs at Red Hat.
Open source needs more software to gain wider acceptance.
And Barnes and McLagan agree that additional functionality is crucial. It's a strategic attempt to attract regular users, not just hard core UNIX junkies. These visual environments, graduating from infancy to toddlerhood, haven't yet reached full functionality, missing niceties such as helper programs and wizards.