The article “Google Chrome OS. Or, how KDE and GNOME managed to shoot each other dead” is intentionally outspoken and controversial. It invites comment and criticism - one can hardly declare two of the best known and most widely used Free Software projects to be “dead” without causing uproar.

A key part of the author’s argument is that Google Chrome OS is likely to be both valuable to the public, and also very widely used. I’d like to contest the first part of this assumption.

Some of the ideas of Google Chrome OS interest me too.

I just read Terry Hancock’s artilce on Is free software major league or minor?. Great article, and I’m very glad to see articulate discussion about these core subjects. Not enough is said about these matters.

However, I disagree strongly on several points that your article raises. I’ll take it point by point in an effort to not misrepresent your views and keep focussed on the statements that you have made.