Linux on the desktop? This year? Next year? Never?

With all of the smartphones, tablets, netbooks, ultralight computers, chrome books, etc.. do you think we are going to see any inroads to exposing linux directly the general public? Or will it always be hidden behind something else such as android or chromeOS?

Also how does Ubuntu stack into this equation? I’m concerned that the direction they are going in could eventually create an incompatible system.