Significant Linux growth in this stagnant market is unlikely.
Whilst I happily use Linux desktops for IT systems (*nix backend), the heavy day-to-day lifting is done on a Mac. The Linux desktop is nowhere near as polished as Mac OS X or Win7, nor are the application available on it.
For computer science student, server development and the developing world (at least those worried about IP) the Linux desktops are good enough. But they remain a long way off the best in class desktop OSes.
My guess is Linux will have to settle with embedded, HPC and servers;-)
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
