Adobe and AIR: Linux desktop users please apply

Adobe has traditionally been strong on Windows and the Mac and turned a relatively deaf ear to Linux. That's about to change, however, with Adobe AIR, a cross-platform runtime for delivering Rich Internet Applications to the desktop, set to move beyond its Windows and Mac OS X roots to Linux.

Better yet, Adobe is looking for Linux desktop users to serve as pre-beta testers of AIR on Linux.

I've been running a few AIR applications on my Macs and love the blend of fat client with cloud client. If we assume that this is the future of the desktop - a blend of fat and thin - then there's no reason the Linux desktop can't mount a serious competition to Mac OS X and Windows. Here's your chance to help out. Inquire within.

[mfriedenberg]

You probably mean "Adobe has traditionally been strong on *Windows* and the Mac and turned a relatively deaf ear to Linux."

[jlward4th]

Thanks Matt for the link. I think you are right-on with regard to this helping Desktop Linux. I did a talk last year about this at Ubuntu Live: http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/ubuntu/view/e_sess/13465

The more technologies we have that make OS choice irrelevant the better chance Linux has on the Desktop.

On another note... I wish I could think of a good term to describe the "blend of fat and thin" and "blend of fat client with cloud client". Maybe RIA - Rich Internet Application - is the best term for now but I want a term that better describes the blend you are referring to. What is fat and thin at the same time? :)

-James

[sohrob76]

Does Cnet have an editing department? I see more typos in their columns than I can keep track of. Not very professional for what is supposed to be an authoritative technology website.

[Matt Asay]

CNET does, but they aren't always as fast at reading my posts as you are. Thanks for catching the typos. I've fixed them above.

[adoberob]

Thanks for posting. Per James' post, in your email, please answer the following questions:

1. Are you comfortable working with prerelease software that is not yet feature complete?
2. Will you be able to submit bug reports on issues that you find back to our development team?
3. How many hours a week can you spend testing on Linux?
4. What is the primary distribution of Linux that you?re using? If you are using more than one distribution, please list.
5. Will you be developing applications on your Linux machine (as opposed to writing on Windows and testing the applications on Linux)?
6. What other operating system are you using, if any (Mac, Windows)? Can you compare the behavior of AIR for Linux with AIR for Windows and AIR for Mac OS?
7. Are you working on an AIR application today? If so, please describe.
8. Are you primarily a Flash, Flex or JavaScript developer?
9. What is your name, company name and email address?

Thank you,
- Rob
Sr. Product Manager, Adobe AIR

[dhirajsree]

hello my raj kumar and iam doing sys administrator in one of the company and ihave getting a big problum i have proches a one fedore linux os and i have one AMD SYSTEM RECENTLY PURCHED when iam instarting a fedorde cd boot the cd open the menu press enter key thits the system is hang can system AMD support LINUX BASSED SYSTEMS PLEASE CLEARIFY THE PROBLUM