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That total number includes mobile users. Where, accidentally, Opera is the #1 browser.

Opera is the #1 mobile web browser worldwide, by website stats (and that despite many of its users certainly being cautious with the number os sites visited, without the luxury of cheap data transfers)

Thing is - a lot of those people don't even have computers (yet?). Opera is already the #1 mobile web browser by website stats... and that's despite how a lot of that share comes from users which are certainly very frugal about the number of sites visited / data transferred (and typically on so called "feature phones" - which is their main and often only means of web access). There's a high chance those people might start using desktop version, if it comes down to choosing - and in many places they do choose rather than settle on what's installed by default, "big" Opera is at the top or very near throughout the whole CIS (but there people have a motivation for choosing - machines last longer, are cheaper, slower; conditions where advantages of Opera become much more readily appreciated)

And as company they are steadily growing anyway, with nicely rising profitability (easily checked, they are publicly traded), even throughout the last 2 years.

Man, I remember when Slashdot use to be a tech and open source news and tech discussion forum. Can't believe it has transformed into an Apple fanblog.

The success stories in the consumer market space this year have been the iOS in mobile devices, OSX and Windows 7 on the desktop. Trend for 'iOS,Android', iOS tops Linux, StatCounter Global Stats

For a "hackable" Linux as a client-side OS the year has really been something of a downer. The "OtherOS" is gone from the PS3 and only the geek seems to have noticed. Ubuntu has its Netbook Edition, but the netbook platform itself seems to be headed South.

Whatever Android and Chrome may become, they are almost certainly going to be more Google than Geek. In mid October of 2010 that may not be quite as cheering a prospect as it looked in 2008. Sony HDTVs To Come With Google TV Interface

Sounds like it's designed to make Linux look better than Windows and Mac OS X by breaking their numbers down.

It scarcely matters one way or the other.

StatCounter Global Stats, iOS tops Linux

I'd be willing to bet that the only reason Windows 7 is any good is because of the competition from Linux.

Linux is scarcely a blib on the radar.

On the monthly Statcounter GLobal Stats, Linux ranks lower than "Other." It is falling off the edge of the world.

What drives Microsoft onward is it's thirty year run with Apple.

Not quite. As your own data shows, what drives Microsoft onward is its ten year run with WinXP. It's proving to be a very hard competitor to unseat.

On the monthly Statcounter GLobal Stats, Linux ranks lower than "Other." It is falling off the edge of the world.

To be fair though, the "Other" catagory includes 35 OSs, the highest ranked is Windows 2003 which at 0.35% is less than half of Linux's 0.77%

I'd be willing to bet that the only reason Windows 7 is any good is because of the competition from Linux.

Linux is scarcely a blib on the radar.

On the monthly Statcounter GLobal Stats, Linux ranks lower than "Other." It is falling off the edge of the world.

What drives Microsoft onward is it's thirty year run with Apple.

It's an uphill battle, and we've still got a ways to go, but Linux in general and Ubuntu specifically has been making great strides here.

Linux is treading water.

In most stats, it is barely visible as also-ran.

Stat Counter Global Stats

I want expecting this.

But the Linux Stat Counter stats for countries like Argentina, Brazil, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal, Venezuela etc., are really quite pathetic. Either these countries have gone off-line or the FOSS geek has spent too much time listening to his own propaganda.

The picture is somewhat less bleak in Uruguay - one of OLPC's great success stories. But in Rwanda - where OLPC had a confirmed, significant, deployment of 100,000 units - Linux is easily outpaced by OSX and Win 7.

Top Operating System Share Trend, iOS Tops Linux

Even when you factor in Android, the numbers don't change all that much.

OS Platform Statistics

24% Win 7: Up from 0% in Jan 09, Linux 4.5%: Up from 2.2% in Mar 03. The W3Schools stats for Linux are as good as it gets.

In Germany, IE dropped below 25%.

The methodology question in the FAQ leads me to believe that all their stats are from sites that use this tool - "the best free web counter in the world." IE may indeed be below 50% market share for this population, but I bet it leans towards recreational rather than business browsing.

The methodology question in the FAQ leads me to believe that all their stats are from sites that use this tool - "the best free web counter in the world." IE may indeed be below 50% market share for this population, but I bet it leans towards recreational rather than business browsing.

IE6 still has 3.47% in the USA and 7.42% worldwide. So maybe 2-3% more before it really will be good riddance. Graphs and raw data are published on http://gs.statcounter.com/ home page, very nice.

There is also this ofcourse:

http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_vs_desktop-ww-monthly-200909-201009

In the former Soviet republics, Opera is #1 in many cases.

#1 in Uzbekistan
#1 in Ukraine
#1 in Georgia
#1 in Belarus

..and this is just a short sampling of the former Soviet republics. Its #1 in more of them, and where it isn't #1 its often a close #2.

In the former Soviet republics, Opera is #1 in many cases.

#1 in Uzbekistan
#1 in Ukraine
#1 in Georgia
#1 in Belarus

..and this is just a short sampling of the former Soviet republics. Its #1 in more of them, and where it isn't #1 its often a close #2.

In the former Soviet republics, Opera is #1 in many cases.

#1 in Uzbekistan
#1 in Ukraine
#1 in Georgia
#1 in Belarus

..and this is just a short sampling of the former Soviet republics. Its #1 in more of them, and where it isn't #1 its often a close #2.

In the former Soviet republics, Opera is #1 in many cases.

#1 in Uzbekistan
#1 in Ukraine
#1 in Georgia
#1 in Belarus

..and this is just a short sampling of the former Soviet republics. Its #1 in more of them, and where it isn't #1 its often a close #2.

Another way of looking at it is the market share of Linux hasn't changed since Ubuntu first appeared.

That 5% is inflated since it is from w3schools. At statcounter Linux has been around 1% for over 5 years. http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-ww-monthly-200908-201008

http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-ww-daily-20100911-20100912-bar

You're not getting the picture. Next to nobody uses Yahoo or Bing. The rest compete for title of "I thought they went out of business".

Oh, and to the point: Idiots like me who do fantasy sports use Yahoo. I think your question really is aimed at search, not at other internet time wasting, which Yahoo is pretty good at (and popular for).

Shame on me for having to amend my own dumb post. Ah, well.

You're not getting the picture. Next to nobody uses Yahoo or Bing. The rest compete for title of "I thought they went out of business".

I would say that it runs on the current majority of Windows platforms (outside of China). Most windows systems in North America and Europe are currently running either Windows Vista or Windows 7 with Windows XP market share continuing to drop 1-2% each month. Since IE 9 isn't expected to be released until sometime in 2011, XP market share will likely drop another 6-10% before then. Seems Microsoft actually has people that know their market better than slashdot UID #646467. But I understand, your post wasn't about what the market wants, just that you can't afford $50 every 8 years to upgrade your OS. Sorry, but XP isn't supported any more, please stop trying to hold back progress and upgrade.

Market share taken from: http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-na-monthly-200908-201008 and http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-eu-monthly-200908-201008

I would say that it runs on the current majority of Windows platforms (outside of China). Most windows systems in North America and Europe are currently running either Windows Vista or Windows 7 with Windows XP market share continuing to drop 1-2% each month. Since IE 9 isn't expected to be released until sometime in 2011, XP market share will likely drop another 6-10% before then. Seems Microsoft actually has people that know their market better than slashdot UID #646467. But I understand, your post wasn't about what the market wants, just that you can't afford $50 every 8 years to upgrade your OS. Sorry, but XP isn't supported any more, please stop trying to hold back progress and upgrade.

Market share taken from: http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-na-monthly-200908-201008 and http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-eu-monthly-200908-201008

and it's barely above 50% on weekdays. That'll end soon too.

So, in what sense does it bode well for Linux?

I don't think it does bode well for Linux. If you look at statcounter's usage stats, while Linux has finally made it above the "other" category, growth has essentially stalled. Worldwide, linux has gone from about 0.7% in 2009 to 0.8% in 2010. That's going in the right direction, it's still not terribly encouraging, at that rate Linux will never become a mainstream OS.

I actually cannot see how the author made his point based on available browser usage data. TFA uses two sources:

1. Net Applications: "So please take the NetApplications data with a grain of salt, especially as far as the market share of Internet Explorer is concerned."

2. StatCounter: " IE is listed with 40.89%, Firefox with 39.47% (the trend indicates that Firefox may jump past IE next month)..."

As much as I'd like, I cannot find the evidence on StatCounter for FF overtaking IE in Europe this month. Although the usage of FF jumps on weekends and FF may overtake IE for one day soon, it is not closer to that goal than several weeks ago: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-eu-daily-20100701-20100803 . And the longer-term trend without weekends is even less exciting: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-eu-weekly-200827-201031

Now, I didn't mean to disturb, please feel free to resume discussing this historical moment and its profound ramifications :o)

I actually cannot see how the author made his point based on available browser usage data. TFA uses two sources:

1. Net Applications: "So please take the NetApplications data with a grain of salt, especially as far as the market share of Internet Explorer is concerned."

2. StatCounter: " IE is listed with 40.89%, Firefox with 39.47% (the trend indicates that Firefox may jump past IE next month)..."

As much as I'd like, I cannot find the evidence on StatCounter for FF overtaking IE in Europe this month. Although the usage of FF jumps on weekends and FF may overtake IE for one day soon, it is not closer to that goal than several weeks ago: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-eu-daily-20100701-20100803 . And the longer-term trend without weekends is even less exciting: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-eu-weekly-200827-201031

Now, I didn't mean to disturb, please feel free to resume discussing this historical moment and its profound ramifications :o)

Fortunately, according to http://gs.statcounter.com/ Firefox is the most widely browser for some time now in countries like for example Finland http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-FI-monthly-200907-201008 and Estonia http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-EE-monthly-200907-201008 .

Fortunately, according to http://gs.statcounter.com/ Firefox is the most widely browser for some time now in countries like for example Finland http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-FI-monthly-200907-201008 and Estonia http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-EE-monthly-200907-201008 .

Fortunately, according to http://gs.statcounter.com/ Firefox is the most widely browser for some time now in countries like for example Finland http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-FI-monthly-200907-201008 and Estonia http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-EE-monthly-200907-201008 .

IE increasing at the cost of Firefox? Really? My sources show that the slow march down for IE is still continuing.

In Europe, IE usage is just over 40%. In Russia, IE usage is below 30%. IE usage varies widely from site to site, country to country.

In Europe, IE usage is just over 40%. In Russia, IE usage is below 30%. IE usage varies widely from site to site, country to country.

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

But globally, you're right. Unfortunately. I guess most of us want to go "North Korea" on IE: http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-KP-monthly-200906-201007 (Kim Jong-il must have stopped using the web in septembre 2009 :)

IE 6 is definitely not the most used browser version by any stats site I've seen.

IE8 is. Depending on which stats site you look at, either FF 3.6 or IE 6 is second.

http://gs.statcounter.com/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#browser_version-ww-monthly-201005-201005-bar
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=2

There is one place IE 6 is still king: Corporate networks. They no longer make up the largest share of web browsing though, which is why the other browsers have higher market share.

go here, select China:
http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser_version-CN-monthly-200904-201005-bar

64% of china use ie6. in the USA it's 7%.
So "most used browser in the world" really means: a shit load of Chinese are using it and no one else.

I had hard time believing those stats as FireFox had only about 25% market share and IE appears to be used by over half the people. Both of these figures sounded very odd compared to what I've seen. But I guess that is true for the world, then. Anyways, I googled browser share by country and Firefox has about 55% share in Finland and has stayed constant for at least a year. IE on the other hand is used by one third of the population and has been in slow but steady decline for the whole year.

MS may have bigger problems than just the online services division. For example, statcounter is currently showing four straight weeks of flat usage share for windows 7 in north america. If this is really a trend or if statcounter is flubbing their surveys remains to be seen. But if it's true, it means that win7 doesn't even seem to be able to cannibalize old OSes very well. I would say it's depressing for MS, but they're raking in bajillions of dollars every quarter still, which is more than me.

Oh but they generally do have a choice (only some, like more locked down "featurephone" from US carriers, excluded). Most of mobile phones ship with some kind of built-in web browser nowadays - for Nokia S40 (probably the most popular mobile platform in the world) that's today Webkit based one, for Symbian also Webkit one, likewise Android and iPhone OS; Samsung, LG and SE ship with Netfront usually AFAIK, Blackberry has its own browser...and all of those platforms also have a choice of installing Opera Mini. To be fair, the latter also comes sometimes preinstalled on feature phones - but this doesn't explain why it has a dominating 28% of global market ( http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_browser-ww-monthly-200903-201004 ), the amount comparable to alternative browsers on desktop.

Seems mobile phone users are excercising their existing means of choosing a browser just fine. Flash is a bigger problem of course, though yt does provide (H.263?) stream through mobile version of their site which works on quite large portion of mobile phones.

Its nice that you mentioned Symbian.

Combined, iPhoneOS and SymbianOS make up 67% of the market, and you are at 81% of the market if you add in Android.

..yet Opera's mobile dominance is 25.8% .. this means that a significant portion of iPhone/Symbian/Android owners MUST be browsing with Opera.

webkit does not rule handhelds.

Opera does, by a very very large margin. I guess that Opera Mobile just doesnt exist in your world, eh?

webkit rules the trendy american handheld scene, but does not rule the global handheld scene.

According to 3 different browser stat usage, Safari and Chrome are too tiny a market to consider. Which means its more likely to be a battle between Google/Firefox and Microsoft more then anything.