After 30 Years, Linux Finally Hits 3% Market Share
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Linux enthusiasts rejoice! After a long journey, according to StatCounter's data, by June 2023, Linux has achieved a 3% desktop market share.
  • Akari@lemmy.ml
    6·
    1 year ago

    The true year of linux is not any specific year or a userbase percentage but when linux is widely preinstalled on consumer hardware without nerds needing to recommend to people to install it themselves

    The steamdeck is the first step to that future

    • ForbiddenRoot@lemmy.ml
      2·
      1 year ago

      In my region (India), for a while, there seemed to be plenty of laptops available with Linux installed as an option. Then again in the last few years that seems to have withered down to almost none, sometimes even if the same model is available with Linux in some other regions. I am not sure what changed. Perhaps some deal with Microsoft. The good part is that the fact that they do support Linux elsewhere on the same laptop configuration generally means its easy to get it up and running yourself even if it does not come pre-installed.

      In any case, as an old-timer, it’s very impressive to me how much hardware Linux supports nowadays without any drama at all. Not to mention all the progress made in software especially in supporting Windows-only games, which is truly magical work by the Wine / Proton teams. As far as I am concerned the “Year of Linux Desktop” is here already since I can use it daily without missing absolutely anything at all from Windows.

    • BaumGeist@lemmy.ml
      0·
      1 year ago

      The steamdeck is the first step to that future

      I’m sure people said the same about android

      I get that SteamOS is an actual desktop distro, and that’s closer to a daily driver than any android or bespoke *nix compatible SOC OS, but I doubt we’ll see this spread from steamdeck to daily drivers, unless…

      Unless linux can offer some feature windows/mac/ios do not, or at least market itself as doing so the way that Apple does, and get the overwhelming majority of tech consumers—who want nothing more than to keep up with the joneses and see the hardware specs numbers get bigger—to FOMO into it

      Unfortunately that would conflict with the most enticing features it does have that no one else does: a code of ethics that are inherently anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian. And honestly, who wants every Linux community, online or off, flooded with consumers who only care about the newest Feature™ and have no care about maintaining software freedom?

      • vd1n@lemmy.ml
        0·
        1 year ago

        The only thing I see holding people back is software availability. If it could run adobe and games natively I don’t see why anyone would want to pay for windows.

        • BaumGeist@lemmy.ml
          0·
          1 year ago

          True, but Apple has already pivoted to being the “privacy-friendly” OS/devices. Whether or not that’s true–I don’t know for certain (I have a hunch, though)–they have much more visibility and influence and marketing, and therefore will cement themselves in people’s minds that way.

          Besides, I like the idea of Linux existing outside the capitalist paradigm; instead of competing with the big names in the market, it’s on the outskirts playing its own game and absolutely crushing it. It has survived decades based almost entirely on word of mouth between computer nerds instead of vying for attention in the mainstream. As a technology it has achieved the platonic ideal: it is so good at what it does that it doesn’t need marketing, it survives solely on reputation and quality and user upkeep.

  • wiggles@programming.dev
    2·
    1 year ago

    The reddit API debacle sent me down a Lemmy, FOSS, Linux, privacy, hacker rabbit hole that I will hopefully and happily never have to leave. My eyes are opened to a better future. I’ll probably be duel booting windows for awhile still to keep up for my job, but I have been able to start transitioning away pretty easily thanks to the hard work of linux desktop devs. I am so grateful for the FOSS community and hope to contribute myself someday.

  • wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    1 year ago

    I decided years ago to switch next time I change OS. I’m not ever getting Windows 11, but I’m still too much of a lazy bastard to move off Windows 10 til it stops getting support.

    Maybe a wild hair up my ass to do it early will hit, but at the latest I’ll switch when 10 is dead. Or if I decide to finally build a new machine to update my poor dinosaur it’ll have Linux day 1.

    In the meantime I’ll have to do some homework on proton and such to learn what I’m getting into with games so I can hit the ground running.

    • Dubious_Fart@lemmy.ml
      1·
      1 year ago

      Check out protondb.

      Pretty much the only thing you cant play are games with really nasty AntiCheat/DRM.

      Everything else, if its not good now? It’ll probably be good in a update or two from proton/GE

    • Andrenikous@lemm.ee
      1·
      1 year ago

      I’ve dabbled in linux for years but could never break my reliance on windows. I got a Steam deck and realized there was enough compatibility to justify moving to linux. So I just recently gave a flavor of linux called Nobara a shot. It’s by a Red Hat engineer that contributes heavily to getting games working in linux through Proton. My experience has been way better but I wouldn’t say perfect. I think it’s worth checking out to see if it works for you.

  • ShustOne@lemmy.one
    0·
    1 year ago

    I love Linux but I’ve been hearing this song since 2002. I’d love for it to grow bigger but we should stop framing it as the year of Linux.

  • Ziro@lemmy.world
    0·
    1 year ago

    I know it’s not a very Linuxy distro, but Linux Mint (Cinnamon) is so easy to use, especially for Windows users. I’ve completely replaced Windows (and with better software), aside from using Windows for a few games that require it. I used Ubuntu, Suse, and Fedora long ago, but for me, Mint takes the proverbial cake.

    • pruneaue@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      1·
      1 year ago

      Being a beginner distro doesnt make mint any less linuxy. Its probably the gest recommendation to convert people over from windows