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Linux Counter Drops 90.000 Users

Posted by Hemos on from the add-it-up dept.

hta writes "Over the 7 years that the Linux Counter has been operative, a lot of people have registered who can no longer be verified. We do not want to publish false data to the world. So we have to remove the data when it is too old, and have decided to give two grace periods." See below for more information - but go out and get counted!
  • Two years for entries with an email that might be valid
  • One year for entries without a valid email entry
More technical details are available from the Counter.

Since there has not been any routine for this before, there is a backlog of almost 100.000 entries.
We have decided to pull the whole backlog at once on November 1.
After this date, the aged-out entries will not be included in the Linux Counter user count, and will not receive email notifications from the counter.

If you registered with the Linux Counter long ago, go over there and log in in order to make sure your entry stays counted."

5 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Much better numbers... by zpengo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It worked for Microsoft. The world now assumes you use Windows unless you loudly proclaim otherwise.

    --


    Got Rhinos?
  2. Mostly Useless by Kruemelmo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This has really become useless, hasn't it. While many geeks would register some years ago, the big majority of Linux users wouldn't ever today.

    In a way, everyone is a Linux user as soon as they surf the net, using apache installations. If the number of non-geek desktop Linux users grows, they certainly won't register there because they just won't care.

    There are more reliable ways to get estimates for numbers of Linux users.

    Finally, the counter is currently slashdotted.

  3. Re:Much better numbers... by czardonic · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The world now assumes you use Windows unless you loudly proclaim otherwise.

    Probably because of the overwhelming likelihood that you do use Windows.

    --
    Takahashi Rumiko made beats! DON, taku, DON, taku. . .
  4. It was submitted by the owner of the site by Per+Abrahamsen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... so it is hard to fault /. ethically in this case.

    --
    Per Abrahamsen, registered Linux user #367.

  5. Distros Should Add Auto Counters by angry_beaver · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why don't the distro's add a counter module, so that when you install you get the option of anonymously being counted?
    Or, maybe they should release a "counter daemon" that would update the Linux Counter page once a day with a simple "yep, I'm a running linux box" sort of message.

    okay....I'm done ramblin...