One of the major benefits of Linux and unices in general is its openness which allows for massive customization. The downside is that much of this customization is required. So far the solution to this has been for distribution developers to design for a particular type of user, create installers, hardware detection, package managers, etc. The result of this is distributions that are easy to get started with and provide an easy to use subset of what a Linux system is capable of. What these distributions don't do is provide a means for managing the complexity of deeply configuring a Linux system for a users unique needs and tastes. I think that there is a potential market for customization services for home and personal Linux systems. Perhaps such services exist in certain areas(SF Bay area?). If anyone would like to share ideas on providing services for home/personal/soho Linux users, please join the thread.

I cannot imagine myself offering services to people to setup or customize Linux installations for small-scale users. People using Linux (so far) are much more into setting things up themselves.

Shooting from the hip here--I have not researched the market. It seems that the opportunities include:

• support in the IT department of a medium to large enterprise
• assemble and support turn-key systems customized to a business's need
• perhaps doing seminars and consulting for people/organizations considering migrating.