Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin recently wrote on his blog that
"Apple's consistent user experience is far closer to magical than most things currently running Linux... The Linux ecosystem needs to do better competing on 'magic.'"

"It is a sobering but honest point that he makes regarding one of the iPad's indisputable advantages," writes Amin at NetbookBoards.com.

"Zemlin goes on to defend Linux projects and products that exemplify the platform at is most innovative, among them Android-based smartphones like the Droid and the Nexus One, Moblin-based netbooks and tablets currently in development, and Nokia's Maemo effort," writes FierceDeveloper's Jason Ankeny. "'The issue is that while all of these are incredible efforts, Steve Jobs is hardly standing still,' Zemlin writes. 'We have to do better.'"

"As mobile Linux continues to gain broad traction, competition from Apple will force open source software developers to think hard about usability and how to deliver a comparable user experience," writes Ars Technica's Ryan Paul.

More here from LWN.net.