Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Gartner Says Linux PCs Just Used To Pirate Windows

Posted by michael on from the ho-hum dept.

LostCluster writes "CNET is reporting results from a Gartner Group report that claims 40% of desktop machines sold with Linux on them are being used to run pirate copies of Windows! The report goes on to say that this stat reaches as high in 80% in 'emerging markets', the same places that the stripped down lite version of Windows is being aimed at. Gartner's making a bold prediction that the number of machines sold as Linux desktops may eclipse the number of machines actually running Linux."

2 of 815 comments (clear)

  1. Re:That's preposterous! by RLiegh · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    WTF would I want to run ANY version of Windows at home, if I'm running Linux?

    That's just pure, unmitigated flamebait, but I'll bite.

    No-one cares if YOU want to run Linux, Windows or OS/2. YOU are not the average consumer; this is evidenced by the fact that you are running linux.

    The average windows user probably wants to use windows because only windows will allow you to reliably open and modify MS-Word documents (since office only runs reliably on Windows). Or perhaps they want to play games, most of which will not run on Linux -even with WINE. Or maybe they have windows-specific sound or other software that -again- will not function on Linux, and for which a linux counter-part either doesn't exist, or is of questionably quality.

    Again, just because YOU are so blinded by Linux fundamentalism that you cannot imagine any reason to run windows, does not mean that the rest of us have no reason to.

  2. Re:That's preposterous! by RLiegh · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    If you define the average computer user as someone who uses Windows, then of course, you will find that 100% of average users use Windows.

    That's either sloppy or selective reading comprehension right there. I never wrote that "the average computer user" ran windows; what I wrote was the average windows user.

    And no, for a proffessional enviroment, OOo does not work well enough to replace office. Not by a long shot.

    Again, you make the mistake of assuming anyone gives two shits what you run.

    We don't.

    I'm explaining why people who run windows probably run it.

    No-one gives two shits about the rambling of fundamentalist linux users, other than other linux extremists (a group I'm proud to not be a member of).