Timeline Chart or Graph of GNU/Linux Adoption?

DNAman asks: "I'm preparing a presentation for the use of GNU/Linux in the biological sciences. One recurring comment that comes up is 'Linux is not mainstream, why should we be interested in it?' While we could debate the definition of mainstream, I think it would be more productive to illustrate the trend in use / adoption of GNU/Linux as a platform. Do any of you have decent data sources for this type of trend?"

Comments

Linux is not mainstream.

[asterism]

Linux is not the most popular operating system in the world, why should we be interested.

Science is not the most popular way of looking at the world, why should we be interested.

I'm not sure that numbers are what you need.

This one's easy...

[Kevin Burtch]

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All you have to do if you want to show the scientific community's interest in Linux, is to show the scientific community's use of Linux: The 500 most powerful computer installations in the world... many of which run Linux, including the the 2nd fastest system in the world (and all of which are used by members of the scientific community).

You could also use these simple searches on slashdot (here is another) and google to collect some very interesting data.

For example, here's a nice tidbit that may be the exact community you're looking to impress.

Granted, these do not give you a timeline, but it should be enough data for you to be able to ask them "Why are we not using Linux?".