StatCounter reported that desktop Linux reached over 4% market share for the first time. I've used Linux for years. Here's why I think it's finally catching on with more people.
That’s not the segment I am talking about. I’m talking about “regular folks”, who know nothing about IT, but need a laptop for whatever reason. Checking their bank, mail… That’s the majority of Windows users. Not the PC builder. They probably don’t even know what “Windows” is, if you asked them.
If Linux were pre-installed on PC’s, most people wouldn’t even notice a difference, because all they need is a browser and maybe an office suite, for very simple work.
I’ve said this before, but if there was a basic distro that named programs things like Internet Browser and Letter Writer, a massive amount of normal computer users could be switched fairly easily.
The vast majority of people use their computer to launch a browser and maybe use a word processor every now and then. It’s why the Chromebook type laptops are so popular - they do everything that most people want.
Linux actually tends to support more hardware do to ridiculously long term support, stable systems requirements and high flexibility.
Windows on the other hand, tends to support newer hardware very well while forcing millions of older hardware to the junkyard because of EOL and ever increasing system requirements. However it’s also to be noted that Linux support for newer hardware has been getting much much better in recent years thanks to increased interest from Intel, AMD, Nvdia, etc.
software
Depends by what way you mean, but in general sure, Windows can have more “software compatibility”, but it’s also to be noted that it’s a monopoly forcing Linux and other OSs into a chicken egg scenario. Linux software compatibility has been increasing exponentially over last few years, and increasing market share helps massively; that’s why Linux going from 3% to 4% in just 8 months is such a big deal.
Anyone building a new pc, is going to use modern hardware not EOL hardware. Yes it is great that linux can revive old laptops making it perfectly capable for browsing and word processing, but for a new gaming pc with modern hardware that i build to play modern games i will choose windows over linux anyday.
Linux going 3 to 4 is because govt office pc. Also why linux have a 25 percent market share in india according to the same stats. Because all these pcs need is a chrome browser and word processing. If you look at recent steam hardware survey linux only have 2 percent market share in which half of them are steam deck users.
Why should i waste time troubleshooting on linux, when windows have 100 percent game compatibility and i don’t have to worry about any future games and proton incompatibility. Also popular games like valorant, league, eft, warzone and services like gamepass, netflix 4k doesnt outright work on linux.
Actually, modern hardware in general tends to work perfectly fine on Linux with the exception of a few (mostly Nvidia) problem cards, sure, sometimes support isn’t immediately there at launch, but that’s becoming less and less of an issue with growing market and company interest.
Linux going 3 to 4 is because govt office pc.
Nope, that may play a factor but that’s a significantly tiny factor. The stat is based on global desktop market share, there’s a fuck ton of other factors you’re not taking into account. Govt office PCs doesn’t account for the 12+ million increase in users.
Also why linux have a 25 percent market share in india according to the same stats.
Because it’s localized to the India desktop market in that particular stat, and Linux being extremely popular in India, more so than MacOS and increasingly growing in popularity… Literally just ask Muta(someordinarygamers), lol.
Because all these pcs need is a chrome browser and word processing.
Nope, if that was the case they’d just use a Chromebook.
If you look at recent steam hardware survey linux only have 2 percent market share in which half of them are steam deck users.
Ok and? That’s based on Steams users base and taken at random, I’ve been on steam + Linux for years and never once was I prompted to participate in the survey. And ofc the several million SteamDecks they sold globally would be a significant part of that.
Why should i waste time troubleshooting on linux, when windows have 100 percent game compatibility and i don’t have to worry about any future games and proton incompatibility.
You’re looking at it far too black and white, Linux has a number of pro-consumer advantages. Just because it’s not ready for you’re specific use case doesn’t mean it’s not ready for others.
Also popular games like valorant, league, eft, warzone
That’s on the game devs for not cooperating with Valve and the Linux community.
What’s important is that there are steps you can take to get them working if you happen to play them all thanks to community efforts.
services like gamepass
Microsoft is in direct competition with Linux, common sense…
netflix 4k doesnt outright work on linux.
Netflix 4k does work on Linux out of the box, the hell you on about?
You seem to be experiencing a bug, have you tried reporting it?
You are here agreeing with me on why linux is a inferior experience on software and hardware front. You are softening the blow by blaming developers and capitalism. You dont have to ask muta, I work in the govt health sector in india and here every pc runs ubuntu. This is same for other sectors. Everything is done on the browser. Also gaming here is dominated by Mobile so these numbers are surely overinflated.
You realize that India in itself only counts for a small part of the global % as well, right?
I’m not agreeing with you, you’re perspective is filled with fallacies, over simplifications, and massively unsupported assumptions as well as unsupported claims, in addition to a lack of understanding of how percentages work. Your perspective is extremely narrow and flawed.
Also gaming here is dominated by Mobile so these numbers are surely overinflated.
The global desktop market percentage and Steam user survey do not include the mobile OS market share. First off, Steam is purely desktop, they do not provide mobile apps.
Second off, if the entire OS global market was used then Android would be on top, trumping everything as it’s the #1 OS in the entire world by a huge margin, Windows doesn’t even compare in this regard.
Please use some fucking common sense, GODDAMN.
I am using statcounter for india numbers not steam. Steam numbers are not overinflated by these office pcs. Also india have 1.5billion people so any gain here have a significant impact on stat counter worldwide numbers.
Gaming PC means video games, video games have historically been Windows or maybe Mac compatible. Only in the past couple years have game makers started making Linux compatibility a priority, and even then its a small percentage.
Until all systems align, Windows will continue to dominate. But things like HTML5 over Flash are helping those efforts!
When people build new gaming pc they still choose to install windows, because everything just works.
That’s not the segment I am talking about. I’m talking about “regular folks”, who know nothing about IT, but need a laptop for whatever reason. Checking their bank, mail… That’s the majority of Windows users. Not the PC builder. They probably don’t even know what “Windows” is, if you asked them.
If Linux were pre-installed on PC’s, most people wouldn’t even notice a difference, because all they need is a browser and maybe an office suite, for very simple work.
I’ve said this before, but if there was a basic distro that named programs things like Internet Browser and Letter Writer, a massive amount of normal computer users could be switched fairly easily.
The vast majority of people use their computer to launch a browser and maybe use a word processor every now and then. It’s why the Chromebook type laptops are so popular - they do everything that most people want.
No, it’s because they believe everything will just work.
You can hate microsoft telemetry and bloatware all you want but Hardware and software compatibility is better on windows. It is a fact.
LOL
That’s an extremely debatable statement.
Linux actually tends to support more hardware do to ridiculously long term support, stable systems requirements and high flexibility.
Windows on the other hand, tends to support newer hardware very well while forcing millions of older hardware to the junkyard because of EOL and ever increasing system requirements. However it’s also to be noted that Linux support for newer hardware has been getting much much better in recent years thanks to increased interest from Intel, AMD, Nvdia, etc.
Depends by what way you mean, but in general sure, Windows can have more “software compatibility”, but it’s also to be noted that it’s a monopoly forcing Linux and other OSs into a chicken egg scenario. Linux software compatibility has been increasing exponentially over last few years, and increasing market share helps massively; that’s why Linux going from 3% to 4% in just 8 months is such a big deal.
Anyone building a new pc, is going to use modern hardware not EOL hardware. Yes it is great that linux can revive old laptops making it perfectly capable for browsing and word processing, but for a new gaming pc with modern hardware that i build to play modern games i will choose windows over linux anyday.
Linux going 3 to 4 is because govt office pc. Also why linux have a 25 percent market share in india according to the same stats. Because all these pcs need is a chrome browser and word processing. If you look at recent steam hardware survey linux only have 2 percent market share in which half of them are steam deck users.
Why should i waste time troubleshooting on linux, when windows have 100 percent game compatibility and i don’t have to worry about any future games and proton incompatibility. Also popular games like valorant, league, eft, warzone and services like gamepass, netflix 4k doesnt outright work on linux.
Actually, modern hardware in general tends to work perfectly fine on Linux with the exception of a few (mostly Nvidia) problem cards, sure, sometimes support isn’t immediately there at launch, but that’s becoming less and less of an issue with growing market and company interest.
Nope, that may play a factor but that’s a significantly tiny factor. The stat is based on global desktop market share, there’s a fuck ton of other factors you’re not taking into account. Govt office PCs doesn’t account for the 12+ million increase in users.
Because it’s localized to the India desktop market in that particular stat, and Linux being extremely popular in India, more so than MacOS and increasingly growing in popularity… Literally just ask Muta(someordinarygamers), lol.
Nope, if that was the case they’d just use a Chromebook.
Ok and? That’s based on Steams users base and taken at random, I’ve been on steam + Linux for years and never once was I prompted to participate in the survey. And ofc the several million SteamDecks they sold globally would be a significant part of that.
You’re looking at it far too black and white, Linux has a number of pro-consumer advantages. Just because it’s not ready for you’re specific use case doesn’t mean it’s not ready for others.
That’s on the game devs for not cooperating with Valve and the Linux community.
What’s important is that there are steps you can take to get them working if you happen to play them all thanks to community efforts.
Microsoft is in direct competition with Linux, common sense…
Netflix 4k does work on Linux out of the box, the hell you on about?
You seem to be experiencing a bug, have you tried reporting it?
You are here agreeing with me on why linux is a inferior experience on software and hardware front. You are softening the blow by blaming developers and capitalism. You dont have to ask muta, I work in the govt health sector in india and here every pc runs ubuntu. This is same for other sectors. Everything is done on the browser. Also gaming here is dominated by Mobile so these numbers are surely overinflated.
You realize that India in itself only counts for a small part of the global % as well, right?
I’m not agreeing with you, you’re perspective is filled with fallacies, over simplifications, and massively unsupported assumptions as well as unsupported claims, in addition to a lack of understanding of how percentages work. Your perspective is extremely narrow and flawed.
The global desktop market percentage and Steam user survey do not include the mobile OS market share. First off, Steam is purely desktop, they do not provide mobile apps.
Second off, if the entire OS global market was used then Android would be on top, trumping everything as it’s the #1 OS in the entire world by a huge margin, Windows doesn’t even compare in this regard.
Please use some fucking common sense, GODDAMN.
I am using statcounter for india numbers not steam. Steam numbers are not overinflated by these office pcs. Also india have 1.5billion people so any gain here have a significant impact on stat counter worldwide numbers.
Gaming PC means video games, video games have historically been Windows or maybe Mac compatible. Only in the past couple years have game makers started making Linux compatibility a priority, and even then its a small percentage.
Until all systems align, Windows will continue to dominate. But things like HTML5 over Flash are helping those efforts!
Most things*
Definitely not everything.