News Linux Finally Hits 3% of Desktop PC Share After 30 Years

[Admin]

After 30 years on the market, Linux remains a distant underdog behind Windows and MacOS.

Linux Finally Hits 3% of Desktop PC Share After 30 Years : Read more

 

[RichardtST]

Perfect timing too. Totally my fault. I just installed a linux mint openvpn server yesterday. Using it for remote work even as I'm writing this comment...

 

[cknobman]

Wonder if Steam Deck contributed to this figure.
Also if Windows 12 (or whatever the call it) rumors are accurate of Microsoft moving to a streaming model where we are basically using VM's in the cloud, I bet Linux use will explode.
I know I will ditch Windows in a heartbeat if that happens.

 

[PEnns]

3% after THIRTY years??

At this rate, it will be 10% in 2120!!

 

[Dr3ams]

If Linux could gain the full support of proprietary application and game publishers, then I would seriously consider switching. For now, I'll have to settle for running it in a virtual machine.

 

[ezst036]

This is the Steam effect. Linux has really needed some major/visible OEM to pick up Linux as their first-tier OS. The Steam Deck was just that visible item.

It took 5 years to double the Linux share from 2018. It'll take less than that time to double it again.

Honestly though, the bigger news is that MacOS has now over 20%. At this rate of growth, Apple could begin to start looking like a Windows replacement in a relatively short time.

The big loser, of course, is Microsoft. No wonder they're desperate to take over Activision/Blizzard.

 

[PlaneInTheSky]

This is the typical fake news article I despise, where the article is technically correct, but incredibly manipulative and clickbaitey.

I pulled up the desktop data and added the percentages in an image. (0.04% was rounded down, 0.05% rounded up)

This is what the stats show.

1) Linux usage in the US has DROPPED in the last 6 months, to 1.9%, down from 2.7% at the start of the year. It's a significant drop in 6 months and the lowest it has been in one and a half years.

2) Linux usage has been "STABLE" worldwide. It is now at 3.07% on desktop, about where it was at the start of the year where it hit 2.93%. You can call that a "record", it would be more fair to call that 0.14% change a rounding error.

 

[Friesiansam]

Depending on what direction MS takes Windows over the next few years, I may well be adding to that 3%.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I think it's also important to note how Statcounter gathers its data: https://gs.statcounter.com/faq#methodology. The gist is they use tracking code that web sites can embed. Depending on how the user's browser is set up, if the computer is even connected to the internet at all, or the user somehow avoids those websites, this code may or may not be executed.

For instance, claiming that macOS has a 20% market share is odd considering that a quick Google search tells me that Apple only shipped ~7 million computers last year (https://www.statista.com/statistics/263444/sales-of-apple-mac-computers-since-first-quarter-2006/) , which is near as much as they've ever shipped in a year. Meanwhile about 286 million "Personal computers" were shipped last year (https://www.statista.com/statistics/273495/global-shipments-of-personal-computers-since-2006/)

 

[Zerk2012]

If / when Windows moves to a subscription I will be joining that 3%

 

[hotaru.hino]

If / when Windows moves to a subscription I will be joining that 3%

While I see some services becoming subscription based, I doubt the core OS and updates will become subscription based.

Besides they don't really need to do that. They just need to add some requirement that makes people buy new hardware sooner than they'd like.

 

[Zerk2012]

While I see some services becoming subscription based, I doubt the core OS and updates will become subscription based.

Besides they don't really need to do that. They just need to add some requirement that makes people buy new hardware sooner than they'd like.

I don't know.

windows going to subscription - Google Suche

 

[Grimdari]

Another thing they don't mention is; if you are indeed using Linux on a desktop, you most likely won't be participating or allowing in any data tracking. I've not used Windows as a gaming, development, or productivity desktop OS in years and I block trackers at my DNS server and within my web browser(s), so no stats get gathered on my Linux machines. That 3% is probably much, much higher than what public stats will show. If Adobe ever releases a Linux version of their suite of software, Linux desktop utilization will skyrocket. I'd happily pay for an Adobe subscription if they did that since right now I'm using a Mac Mini for the single purpose of Illustrator/Photoshop. Its a bit slow. 🙁

 

[Asakha]

Wonder if Steam Deck contributed to this figure.
Also if Windows 12 (or whatever the call it) rumors are accurate of Microsoft moving to a streaming model where we are basically using VM's in the cloud, I bet Linux use will explode.
I know I will ditch Windows in a heartbeat if that happens.

At each new version of Windows, at each new bloatware announcement, someone claims Linux use will explode, and yet, it never happens. Why would someone who learned using a computer in school on Windows, most often having only be teach to use MS Office would want to use something else ? Especially if they bought a computer which came with Windows ?

You really need to be aware that something else exist and have a huge problem with Windows to ditch it.
If you really wanted to ditch Windows, you would already have done it.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I don't know.

windows going to subscription - Google Suche

A Google search is not a definitive source, nor are any "rumors" or "leaks". And this idea has been floating around since before Windows 11.

While Windows accounts for a lot of Microsoft's revenue, it's nowhere near the top. Heck, it's not even close to second place as of 2022:

Not to mention every pre-built Windows PC sold has a purchased license. Now the license fee may be much cheaper for system builders of a certain volume, but it's still a lot steady revenue when you consider how many PCs are shipped in a given year.

So the idea that Microsoft is going to turn Windows into a subscription based OS to even use would firmly put Microsoft in the same territory as Musk managing Twitter.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Linux is capable but far from being useful to the average person. Even user-friendly distros require too much tinkering for the occasional device or program.

I know how to use Linux, I like Linux. I don't like it enough to daily drive.

 

[bit_user]

I think it's also important to note how Statcounter gathers its data: https://gs.statcounter.com/faq#methodology. The gist is they use tracking code that web sites can embed. Depending on how the user's browser is set up, if the computer is even connected to the internet at all, or the user somehow avoids those websites, this code may or may not be executed.

This.

I was going to say the same thing. You need to account for their methodology, when considering their data.

 

[bit_user]

3% after THIRTY years??

ChromeOS is basically just another desktop Linux distro, which would make it 7.15%. I get why they split it out, but the distinction is almost arbitrary.

At this rate, it will be 10% in 2120!!

Or like 100% in the 2990's. Because, all trends are of course linear. Wait'll you see what happens in the 3990's!

 

[bit_user]

Linux is capable but far from being useful to the average person. Even user-friendly distros require too much tinkering for the occasional device or program.

ChromeOS says otherwise.

And how many kids do you think are using a Raspberry Pi?

Speaking of which, I'm sure Raspberry Pi and its ilk comprise a nontrivial amount of that 3% figure.

 

[eye4bear]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the other Windows elephant in the room, the upcoming 2025 end of updates coming up for Windows 10. Recently I saw statistics showing that Windows 11 adoption is fairly weak, something around 30%. I also was going to mention that ChromeOS is just a proprietary Linux distro, but I see that has already been mentioned.

 

[wyattb]

Been using Kubuntu for couple of years as a test on Mac virtual box. Finally went all in and bought an LG laptop, erased Windows from it and installed fresh Kubuntu. dumped my expensive Mac too. Everything works. Could not be happier. Disclosure. I don't use Office. I just use Libre.

 

[Dr3ams]

I don't use Office. I just use Libre.

Good choice. I've been using Libre Office on Windows for a couple of years now. I won't go back to paying Microsoft's sub fees.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

ChromeOS says otherwise.

And how many kids do you think are using a Raspberry Pi?

Speaking of which, I'm sure Raspberry Pi and its ilk comprise a nontrivial amount of that 3% figure.

ChromeOS is barely Linux, it's as Linux as Android is. It's a front end built on Linux. Yes you can sideload Linux apps now (only took 4 years).

Raspberry Pi... Reread what I said, AVERAGE USER. A Pi I already a niche, project decide, so a fraction of a fraction of Linux users are PI users making that statement irrelevant to it's ease of use. And if you want to go down that rabbit hole with me, a Pi is the perfect example of where plug-n-play is rarely the case.

Early days you had to get specific sd cards. Then specific wifi cards. To this day input devices can require a lot of finagling if you can get them working correctly/at all.

 

[bit_user]

ChromeOS is barely Linux, it's as Linux as Android is.

That's not true at all. ChromeOS is a full-blown Debian distro, whereas Android basically just uses the kernel and none of the standard userspace.

People mistakenly assume ChromeOS is just dressed-up Android, but it's not.

Raspberry Pi... Reread what I said, AVERAGE USER.

Okay, so I guess you don't count school kids as average users. Good to know.

A Pi I already a niche, project decide, so a fraction of a fraction of Linux users are PI users

As of last year, a total of 40 million Pi's have been sold, and you know they'd have probably sold at least 50M+, if not for pandemic-era supply chain restrictions. Compare that to the number of Macs @hotaru.hino cited and you can't possibly dismiss them.

Sure, a lot of them have gone into projects, but the Pi was originally created with the mission of teaching more kids to code, which means using them as development machines. The Pi Foundation has stayed true to that mission, and you can bet that quite a lot of them are used in that way.

And if you want to go down that rabbit hole with me, a Pi is the perfect example of where plug-n-play is rarely the case.

Early days you had to get specific sd cards. Then specific wifi cards. To this day input devices can require a lot of finagling if you can get them working correctly/at all.

It's come a long ways, as they've moved closer to Debian. Sure, the 32-bit build is limited because they have to support devices with as little as 256 MiB of RAM, but the 64-bit build can assume at least 512 MiB. Even then, it's still not going to ship with a lot of drivers compiled in. That's a pretty small price to pay for being able to run a mostly desktop Linux experience on such a traditionally low-cost device.

 

[TerryLaze]

A Google search is not a definitive source, nor are any "rumors" or "leaks". And this idea has been floating around since before Windows 11.

Since it's already a thing in windows 10 it's hard to call it a rumor, enterprise is a subscription model.
The part that is a rumor is that a home user should care, did anybody got asked to pay a subscription for windows 10 home?!

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