Would Linux have a larger user base if there was one central distribution

[simonshort]

Would Linux have a larger user base if there was one central distribution instead of hundreds?

This is a paper i am writing and am looking for some opinion, both biased and non biased as part of my research.

what do you think. would it be better to have just one LinuxOS??!

[onlinebacon]

I think linux would be better to have so many as it does now, because choice is good. That's why.

[fingal]

If there was only one distro there would be no distros!

Not as silly as it sounds because you can't separate the GNU/Linux OS from its cultural roots. The whole thing developed out of a shared culture of hackerism and enthusiasm, and the communities of Linux developers are/were geographically dispersed.

There are always alternative models for the evolution or development of *anything*, but it's a bit like asking 'Would trees be more efficient at converting carbon dioxide into oxygen if they had evolved in this way instead of that way?'

Having said that, it's probably a good subject for an academic paper, but what is .... is!

[chopin1810]

I have two points on this.
1.) If there was only one distribution, it would defeat the purpose of Linux. It would become like Microsoft. Say SUSE was the only distro. There would be no competition and SUSE would rot, just like Windows. BECAUSE there is competition though, SUSE has to actually MAKE A GOOD PRODUCT!
2.) Because Linux is open source, having one central distro is impossible.

[fingal]

Because Linux is open source, having one central distro is impossible.

Yeah! You managed to say what I meant in one short sentence.

[techieMoe]

Would Linux have a larger user base if there was one central distribution instead of hundreds?

This is a question most often asked by the Linux-ignorant. Read up on this if you need more information:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/t50...explained.html