ZDNet: Linux 'Takes The World' While Windows Dominates The Desktop (zdnet.com)

ZDNet editor-in-chief Steve Ranger writes that desktop dominance is less important with today's cloud-based apps running independent of operating system, arguing that the desktop is now "just one computing platform among many." An anonymous reader quotes his report: Linux on the desktop has about a 2% market share today and is viewed by many as complicated and obscure. Meanwhile, Windows sails on serenely, currently running on 90% of PCs in use... That's probably OK because Linux won the smartphone war and is doing pretty well on the cloud and Internet of Things battlefields too.

There's a four-in-five chance that there's a Linux-powered smartphone in your pocket (Android is based on the Linux kernel) and plenty of IoT devices are Linux-powered too, even if you don't necessarily notice it. Devices like the Raspberry Pi, running a vast array of different flavours of Linux, are creating an enthusiastic community of makers and giving startups a low-cost way to power new types of devices. Much of the public cloud is running on Linux in one form or another, too; even Microsoft has warmed up to open-source software.

Comments

Re:"Windows sails on serenely"

[PopeRatzo]

Wow. Way to go presenting a calm, clear and coherent argument against the entrenched install base of Windows and showing people that Linux is a viable alternative.

He only just made his Slashdot account on Monday. He hasn't yet learned the value of calm, objective commentary the way you and I have.

Re: Android is Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought Android is *not* Linux?

That's right. Android is *not* Linux. Linux is for neckbeards, and Android is for girls. Neckbeards and girls don't mix.