The Desktop Linux Consortium last week announced its founding membership, which includes several Linux distributors as well as organisations producing supporting applications and tools. Its goal is to shape the future of Linux as an office desktop environment, the consortium said.

Linux developer Bruce Perens said, "The consortium will assure that there is fairness in all desktop-related issues and events. All vendors will be fully represented and the open-source ethos will be respected."

Linux is widely used as a server platform, where its low cost and reliability have attracted many large firms, particularly for operating Web sites. Because of its open-source nature, the software has also been touted as an alternative to Windows on the desktop, especially as many firms object to Microsoft's recent licensing and pricing changes.

However, Linux is still seen as lacking the ease of use and choice of productivity applications that Windows boasts. These are issues that the Desktop Linux Consortium hopes to address.

Consortium members include Linux vendors Suse, MandrakeSoft, Debian, Xandros, Ximian and ArkLinux, plus OpenOffice.org, which develops an open-source productivity suite, and the KDE Project, developer of a desktop environment for Linux.

The consortium said its goals include raising awareness of the role that Linux can play on the desktop and facilitating communications between users and developers.

Have your say: reply to IT Week