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No, the Linux Desktop Hasn't Jumped in Popularity (zdnet.com)

An anonymous reader quotes ZDNet: Stories have been circulating that the Linux desktop had jumped in popularity and was used more than macOS. Alas, it's not so... These reports have been based on NetMarketShare's desktop operating system analysis, which showed Linux leaping from 2.5 percent in July, to almost 5 percent in September. But unfortunately for Linux fans, it's not true... It seems to be merely a mistake. Vince Vizzaccaro, NetMarketShare's executive marketing share of marketing told me, "The Linux share being reported is not correct. We are aware of the issue and are currently looking into it"...

For the most accurate, albeit US-centric operating system and browser numbers, I prefer to use data from the federal government's Digital Analytics Program (DAP). Unlike the others, DAP's numbers come from billions of visits over the past 90 days to over 400 US executive branch government domains... DAP gets its raw data from a Google Analytics account. DAP has open-sourced the code, which displays the data on the web and its data-collection code... In the US Analytics site, which summarizes DAP's data, you will find desktop Linux, as usual, hanging out in "other" at 1.5 percent. Windows, as always, is on top with 45.9 percent, followed by Apple iOS, at 25.5 percent, Android at 18.6 percent, and macOS at 8.5 percent.

The article does, however, acknowledge that Linux's real market share is probably a little higher simply because "no one, not even DAP, seems to do a good job of pulling out the Linux-based Chrome OS data."

5 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Linux by fluffernutter · · Score: 3, Insightful

    After trying to use linux for a nice 10-foot viewing environment for years, and dealing with codec issues, and screen tearing, hardware compatibility, third party launcher glitches, and most recently inability to view Netflix and no HEVC acceleration I bought a couple android boxes for $200 and they do exactly what I want. So, yeah, I can understand how linux has fizzled. I still use linux for some tasks/development but not nearly as much as I used to.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  2. Drivers suck by cheesyweasel · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I love linux, but when my friends try it out they have no idea what to do when a driver doesn't work properly, so they go back to using Windows. While it works most of the time, the times it doesn't makes it difficult for the non-technical person. Maybe that will change in the future, maybe it never will.

  3. Re: BlueTooth by zmooc · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Probably a conspiracy involving the Debian maintainers, pulseaudio and bluez or whatever it is called. They managed to introduce a 1 second delay by default and forgot to implement an Alsa driver as well as any sort of an attempt to remember my settings while switing between headphones and speakers.

    Anyway, if "who configured the system" is the answer to my BlueTooth headphones not working properly out of the box on a rather mint Debian install, Linux clearly still isn't ready for the desktop. And it's not like in the old days, when that was because of proprietary hardware crap. No, they managed to badly fuck up regular open standard BlueTooth audio. Applause!

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    0x or or snor perron?!
  4. Re:Chrome OS? by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The question is what is Linux for the desktop means.
    Is it just a consumer device based on the Linux kernel. Or does the device need a keyboard... then it come down to how much ok the kernel needs to be pure. And how much of the OS needs to follow the GNU standard.

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    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  5. Re:Interesting surfing == desktop by perpenso · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I've got probably 8 machines, all running Linux. This box is the only one that ever surfs.

    The headless Linux boxes in the closet don't count as desktop Linux. Nor do the Raspberry Pi's doing appliance'y things. :-)