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Ask Nicholas Petreley About Linux Usage Statistics

Posted by Roblimo on from the lies-damned-lies-and-statistics dept.

This Slashdot discusssion, about a story Nick wrote, is already going (and heated). I did a NewsForge interview with a SuSE rep who quotes an IDC study that says Linux desktop use will double by 2004. Sounds nice, but how reliable are all these statistics? Nick's been studying Linux use in depth lately, so let's ask him directly what all of these numbers mean, if anything, and how IDC, Evans Data, and other analysts get and massage them. We'll post Nick's answers to 10 of the highest-moderated questions as soon as he gets them back to us.

2 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. The real questions are by intermodal · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Will microsoft lose share, and where

    Where will linux gain share

    is this just counting paying users or just estimates for desktop users

    does this anticipate growth in bsd and osx use as well

    Will this kill Palladium's potential integration into hardware

    can they foresee an end to the Microsoft Tax

    --
    In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
  2. Your Legacy by Black-Man · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I remember you - years ago and I mean *years*... you wrote for Infoworld. Back then, you were a big OS/2 zealot and anti-Windows. Funny... now you are a big Linux zealot. Take one uniform off... there's always another underneath.

    But, please explain your allegiance... or are you just the consumate troll?