How is Linux doing in popularity these days versus Windows? Are we any closer to breaking Microsoft's dominance, or is that as quixotic a hope as ever? Some Linux users don't care much, but I say the world needs to be rescued.

Edit: The forum says my thread is a "live topic." What does that mean, exactly?

It means Dr Allcome is watching you. Once you start to shake I'll ask Henry to administer you a shot.

Who's Dr. Allcome? LQ's visiting representative from The Party? Let's test him out by paraphrasing Gabbo. That oughta hold those SOBs! Well, I wouldn't want to offend the little SOBs! All the users on LQ are SOBs!

The last thing I heard was that Linux had hit 1%. The problem is that there is no accurate way to know what everyone is doing. But--for whatever stats people are using, I would be really interested in the 1st and 2nd derivatives---ie the growth RATE and the CHANGE in the growth rate.

"Breaking Microsoft's dominance" probably requires government anti-trust action. Last I checked, the US government appeared to have a few larger issues......

You can't displace Windows.

In what context? I can tell you that there is far greater penetration in the server and enterprise market than just 1%

As for displacing Windows... why? One hegemony is as bad as any other. Choice is a good thing, including the freedom to make the wrong choice.

As close as pigs are to flying.

Sorry, I meant individual desktop.

Yes, I had personal desktops in mind too. Although I just remembered that "new" computer technology penetrates the business world before the home, because business needs technology more than the homeowner does. Which means that personal computers in homes should be the last place Linux becomes very common.
Our opponent is human inertia as much as any allegedly criminal and/or unethical behavior by Microsoft. My dad is interested in switching from Windows to Ubuntu, but at this point has only sampled it; my best friend learned of Linux from her computer-geek ex-husband, though I don't know if she uses it (she told me she used OpenOffice); one of my brother's friends made him a Suse[sp?] CD; and one of my professors told me he used Fedora. And me: I first tried Linux in mid-2003, but didn't switch permanently until January 2008.

Not breaking by any means but ever so slowly pushing the window open to let the fresh air in!

Hello, if linux were a little easier to setup for a user of win' any version, it would be the no 1 system. Sadly for newbies its very hard to setup at first. I know, i've had linux in many versions and have still to get one to work fully. I have been trying for nearly 3 years, I am so close that I will never stop trying. However I am a patient man, others want it to just work. Its a great idea/system with unlimited avenues for experiment and innovation as proven by the geeks who work it all out (bless 'em and good luck be with them) as long as it stays Linux and some heavyweight corp' doesn't hive it off and make it just another m.s. money maker by legislation. Delta Bravo.

You know, not all of the distros are hard to setup. Check out Mepis for example. I really can't imagine an easier setup process than you can see there. It's so much easier than windows setup.
It wouldn't be. MS and Apple spend a ton of money to advertise their products. It's not the case with Linux. Of course, there are some linux commercials (search youtube for some), but they aren't shown in TVs or anywhere and there aren't so many of them.
The second reason it wouldn't be No.1 is that there's too much disinformation and misconception about linux (I face it almost weekly).
3rd reason: people don't like changing their habits, but switching to linux makes it inevitable to change habits.

Or Ubuntu. I don't like Ubuntu myself, because I resent the root account being locked, but it's at least as easy as MEPIS. Unless you're used to KDE. (If so, there is Kubuntu.)

Someone needs to do that for Linux, if only one of the commercial distro makers--Mandriva, for instance.


We can rely on the thrifty and on those who are fed up with Windows. My dad refused to try Vista and kept reading good things about Ubuntu. My best friend uses Openoffice, and is receptive to Linux, because she can't afford Microsoft software.

[Accidental duplicate post. Text removed.]

Because of the advertisements, and compatibility. If wine would be perfect, then it wouldn't really be a problem..

And almost all computers are sold with Windows in them.