Linux Desktop vs. Micro$oft Windows question?
 

can someone tell me where i can find out the latest statistics on the Linux vs. Windows Desktop share.... as in how many people or what percentage of users are switching to Linux (not just server) for daily desktop use vs. staying with Windows. even how many that have tried Linux and either want to go back to Windows or maintain a dual boot relationship?

i'm sure there must be plenty of websites out there keeping statistics like that, anybody know of the most uptodate ones...?

cheers

- perry

I don't know how anyone could possibly keep an accurate count. If you're talking about market "shares" you can't really compare....most Linux distros are downloaded for free.
Many people try numerous OSs, many have multi-boots, many have offline systems. The only way to get an accurate count is if everyone with a computer responded, honestly, to a poll.

Hi.

Google keeps track of what OS types hit its servers. The results can be skewed, as browsers like Opera are set to claim to be Internet Explorer by default.

However, I don't think there's really any other real stats.

http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeis...ist-jan03.html

Linux doesn't seem to be making much inroads according to that, though.

Dave

Cool google statistic. Funny that more users hit google with Windows 95 then Linux. Heck, even "other" OS hit more google then Linux. I thought it was much more then that, but oh well... But it's quite understandable, peoples around the globe think that windows is the only operating system around. Once in a literature class, a teacher of mine asked how to fix a little windows problem with the computer in our class (that the teachers use to write the ones present at the class). She know me very well and she knows that the only thing I do in my life is playing with my computer. I said to her:" I'm not sure, it has been a long time since I used windows". Then she asked "If you don't use Windows, then what do you use?". She is a very intelligent person (unconnected, but also sexy...lol), but do you see what I mean?.

I work in an office with about 20 UNIX technical people. I think 2 people use Macs at home, I am the only Linux user and the rest use Windows. Most of them aren't even aware of Linux as a viable alternative on the desktop and quite a few have only the vaguest conception of what Open Source is.

If these are technical UNIX people and the Linux usage rate is 5% or less, it shows that there's a long long way to go before Linux becomes something that would even enter most people's heads as an option to consider on the desktop.

Evans Data recently conducted a survey of 400 developers and found over 50% of them switched from Windows to Linux. What drives desktop sales are 'killer apps" and there's every indication you'll need to run Linux to use them. The fact that so many google users are still surfing the web with old versions of Windows should tell you something. Microsoft has to constantly reinvent the wheel to maintain their growth rate, and many people no longer see any benefit to the upgrade merry-go-round. So sure, Windows still rules the desktop market, but it really has nowhere to go but down. Linux, on the other hand, still has lots of room to grow. In the server market, even the most fervent Windows zealots, like the BBC guy who wrote that MyDoom article, have to admit 50% growth is nothing short of phenomenal. First comes the servers, then developers start switching over, next stop: total desktop domination. Muhahaha ;) JK

Its pretty clear that the toy "stats" from Google aren't an accurate representation of the situation....... how many people worldwide are using Linux in some capacity, but are unable (or have temporarily gave up) to get on the internet with it due to Win-modem driver/config problems etc etc - (worldwide, there could be millions) - dual boot scenarios etc etc? - further, Desktop Linux has only recently become a viable platform for a range of typical consumer tasks/uses - we're only really at the start.........

Thats funny because its the same here. All the unix support people have windows desktops at work and home. I support windows servers and run Linux at home :)

My hunch is that if you look at desktop users of Linux today, you will find that nearly all actively want to run Linux for one reason or another. There will be relatively few people who just want to do something (e.g. browse web, write letters) and chose Linux as being the best tool for their job.

With Windows it's different. Not many people think that they have to go out and get a Windows computer because Windows is so great. They want something that does various tasks and Windows does that. Since it is the default, is well known and requires no extra effort, that's what people get.

Elsewhere it's different of course. With servers, mobile phones and embedded software devices Linux has less of a hurdle to get over.

I don't think Linux is going to make it much beyond the fringe "geek" community on the desktop (at least in the West) until people use it widely at work. Once organisations start using Linux on the desktop, several effects kick in
- normal users become more familiar with Linux
- vendors start providing Linux drivers as standard
- more apps come out on Linux as standard
- PC vendors make Linux an option, maybe as easy to choose as Windows for a pre-installed PC.

Therefore, in the West, I think that business needs and requirements should be the number one focus for those who wish to see Linux being used more widely. If the likes of Sun and IBM can put marketing muscle behind desktop Linux, that will make a big difference too.

i think you got a good point. also, if i'm not mistaken, i believe a few vendors like Dell have tried to come out touting Linux only to go silent aftera short while. something about their "special" relationship with Micr$oft.

at the University, i noticed that they have Windows by default but I'm thinking, "you know, with a little bit of elbo grease", they could easily have Linux desktops and the students would not be none the wiser.... and they could certainly use them too as they are basically using Windows 98 and that thing sucks on 64 MB of ram which is what most of their machines are carrying. correction, Win98 sucks anyway, it's just all the more worse with limited memory.

also, the fellow that has the "real sexy teacher" in class, you ought to make a move on her man! what have you got to loose!

- perry

Some say server and desktop Linux sales are symbiotic.

--- quote from http://www.linuxinsider.com/perl/story/32259.html ---
Aberdeen Group research director Bill Claybrook said he expects even more traction for Linux servers as the operating system makes inroads onto the desktop because customers are looking for consistency in both ends of computing.

"When Linux on the desktop starts becoming similarly popular, we'll see a hefty spike in the sales of Linux servers," Claybrook said.

Slashdot's covering this sort of thing right now.

http://slashdot.org/articles/04/02/1...id=185&tid=187

Dave

I'm trying to think of any reason at all why a non-technical user would want to install Linux on their PC (from their point of view). For Windows (or Mac) they can walk into a computer shop, buy a computer,take it home, turn it on and it works. Things will make sense ; if not to them then to someone they know.

What's the alternative? Most users wouldn't dream of installing their own OS in a hundred years. And if they did, why risk Linux? There are lots of reasons that we could list; but it comes down to familiarity. They are not familiar with Linux as a desktop OS (NB familiarity could come through experience or advertising). The people they buy computers from are not familiar with Linux. The people they get support from (tech-savvy friends and family) are not familiar with Linux.

I can't see anyone running a Windows '95 style marketing campaign for Linux, so that leaves two routes. Linux could grow on the desktop via a sort of stealth take-up : growing bit by bit and one day reaching a critical mass where people are familiar with it because most people know someone who is running Linux. The other is through business take-up of Linux on the desktop so people become familiar with it at work.

I install linux for friends that gets there first computer.

Reasons for this is.

- The language problem. I live in Spain but I and my friends want English, German or Swedish and its trouble to get it here for the other system.

- Faster installation. I have to save my time. Mandrake takes less than one hour to install and this with all programs needed.

- Support, since I'm a nice guy I will help my friends and with all problems with the other system I just do not have time for it.

- Saving more than 500 euros (OS + office) and more counting the other programs is not a shame when some earn 800 euros a month or are unemployed.

- And of course the satisfaction to hit bill on his fingers since he hit mine so many times with "syntax error", "illegal operation" etc

A lot of people keep Windows because it's all they know and, let's face it, video games. If developers would port games to Linux, more people may switch. Blackbox doesn't use a lot of RAM and is perfect for high graphic games. Until people see it with thier own eyes, they won't believe it can work better than Windows.

MS is planning on using a subscription fee per year for Windows licenses. That also may help Linux or Mac.