This might not be an immediate big deal for most of you. In fact, statistically speaking it probably isn't. That is probably because most people reading this blog are using a recent version Microsoft Windows and have never really thought about using anything else. You may have thought about using an Apple, but have you ever considered using GNU/Linux?

Probably not.

Lots of people have though, and lots of people do. In the main, they are fairly thoughtful, clever people who have strong views on monopolies, freedom and being able to communicate their ideas without the fetters and chains of commercially imposed limits. They are people who pay their TV licence fees (grumblingly) and actually pay attention to what is happening around them, from the political arena to the technological.

They support open source software, because they can look at exactly what is going to go onto their computer and they know what it does. They rarely, if ever have spyware, viruses or any of the other internet nasties which get so many other computer users. They have a lot in common with Apple users, if for slightly different reasons.

On the whole though, they sound like the kind of people you would really like to have on your side if you are introducing an innovative piece of software which will undoubtedly become wildly popular, such as the BBCs iPlayer.

The BBC doesn't think so. The BBCs iPlayer has so far been released only to Windows users and would probably have remained a Windows only package, if there wasn't a petition on the PMs website which demanded an iPlayer to be released for all platforms.

Even then, the BBC has only gone so far and no more. I personally can't find any plans to release a version of the iPlayer for GNU/Linux anywhere, although there are plans to launch something for the Apple sometime in Autumn.

To be fair though, the BBC Trust has instructed the BBC to ensure that a version of the iPlayer be available for Mac and Linux within the next two years, or they must stop persuing the project. There are rumours however that the version available for Linux users will be something along the lines of YouTube - nothing installable, tiny video size and rubbish quality flash based videos.

Well I'm glad I pay my licence fees.

I'm a GNU/Linux user you see.

The iPlayer has been in development for FOUR YEARS now, with some immense development costs touted (£2 billion is one figure thrown around) and the best we have got is a pathetic Windows only media player which is crippled by Microsoft's Digital Rights Management.

Ashleigh Highfield, the Future Technology director at the BBC says he is 'fundamentally committed' to providing a service to non-Windows users. Thats great. I'm fundamentally opposed to watching Anthea Turner clean her house, or watching fat kids on forced diets, but I have to accept that some people are interested.

Fundamentally, I think the BBC has lost its way and is screwing the licence payer by not performing to its remit. If the BBC is going to produce crap like 'Singing with the Enemy' or 'Dog Borstal', then I should be able to hate it on my GNU/Linux computer. Similarly, if they are going to produce incredible drama like 'Life on Mars' or shows like 'Michael Palin's New Europe', then I should be able to do it on my GNU/Linux box.