Linux market share passes 4% for first time; macOS dominance declines
arstechnica.com
Report: Linux was on 6.34 percent of computers last month if you count ChromeOS.

We see the nearly 33-year-old OS’s market share growing 31.3 percent from June 2023, when we last reported on Linux market share, to February. Since June, Linux usage has mostly increased gradually. Overall, there’s been a big leap in usage compared to five years ago. In February 2019, Linux was reportedly on 1.58 percent of desktops globally.

  • mindlight@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    I’ve been a regular user of Debian and Ubuntu for the last 20 years and even though I love the idea of Linux taking market share from Windows the article doesn’t in any way analyze the reliability of the statistics.

    Statcounter says it gets its desktop operating system (OS) usage stats from tracking code installed on over 1.5 million global websites generating over 5 billion monthly page views.

    So… How reliable is this actually? There are a millions reasons for me to fake which is and web browser in using. Some sites actively sabotage the user experience and usability if the OS is not identified as Windows or the web browser is not Chrome/Edge.

    I’ve been working IT since the 90’s and there’s not a 4% market share of Linux when I look at my friends and colleagues that works IT. The ones I know that doesn’t work IT definitively don’t use Linux. Att least not in other things than Steam Deck and Android (Linux as in “modified kernel”) and maybe some premade img for RPi

    • RainfallSonata@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      Idk, I’m a woman approaching my senior years who had to have someone else install it. My whole household is on Linux. None of us are in IT.

  • ARk@lemm.eeEnglish
    03·
    4 months ago

    why is this such a big deal when it’s still such a small number? I get that it’s “increasing” but still

    • uis@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      4 months ago

      It’s not that small. One more percent and Linux Party gets into federal parlament.

      • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        Add in ChromeOS, which is essentially Linux with a proprietary Desktop Environment installed and it’s already there.

    • kescusay@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      4 months ago

      Because it means Linux is gaining enough credibility as a desktop operating system for PC and parts manufacturers to work harder to ensure compatibility.

      Everyone seems to want off the Microsoft upgrade train. Consumers don’t want to constantly fear that the OS will stop getting security updates because Microsoft doesn’t want to make them anymore. Manufacturers of PCs don’t want to pay the Microsoft tax. Parts manufacturers know it’s actually easier to write drivers for Linux than it is for Windows.

      But until Linux shows signs of being a credible and attractive alternative, it’s not going to break Microsoft’s stranglehold on all three.

    • orangeboats@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      It’s just a notable milestone. For as long as I can remember Linux marketshare never went above the 3.something% mark.