The Linux desktop has matured significantly in the past year, both in technical terms and in the kind of users it attracts. As a journalist, my job requires me to review products and actually work as an open-source consultant. I monitor Linux user forums, interview executives, read analysts' reports, and attend a lot of meetings. I stay current on the technical side by coding and doing a fair share of system administration. When I notice changes, I report on them.

Of late, I have discovered a new kind of Linux user in the community. Call them migrating Linux users. They either just got the word about Linux, found it as an alternative, or finally made the break. They differ greatly from the people I have watched over the past six years.