Linux Breaks 3% PC Desktop Market Share After 30 Years

[AleksandarK]

The PC market is dominated by the Windows operating system. There are alternatives, but most commercial applications run Windows OS, and the usage for the average user makes sense. However, Linux users often dream of the "year of Linux on desktop," where Linux starts dominating the PC market and mass adoption starts. In reality, this isn't the case as most people use the default or install the Windows OS. Today, we learn that Linux broke the 3% market share number after 30 years of presence. Being the highest market share it ever recorded, the OSes based on the Linux kernel now represent 3.07% of the entire market.

The survey data conducted by StatCounter shows that Windows holds 68.23%, OS X for macOS holds 21.32, ChromeOS has a 4.13% share, while unknown OSes hold 3.24%. This includes BSD-based alternatives and others. It is worth noting that Linux adoption could be a part of Steam Deck, which runs on a SteamOS 3.0 distribution based on Arch Linux. It also includes a Proton compatibility layer, which helps Windows games run on Linux, so users have an easier time running their favorite applications.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[GeorgeMan]

Well, I don't know if Steam Deck helped with that, but Proton development has gone a long way and honestly I didn't expect it to work so well, it's like magic to me!
I remember around 15 years ago when I fiddled a little bit with Wine to game under Linux, it was a huge disappointment to me.

I really hope it gets even better so that we don't rely on Microsoft for games and other commercial stuff.

I was sad that I couldn't get used to Steam Deck layout as a device, so I had to sell it eventually, because otherwise it was pretty solid.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I guess if you want to count ChromeOS, that puts it at 7.13%.

 

[R0H1T]

Maybe they'll get the next 3% within our lifetimes, or maybe not

 

[jardows]

I'm curious about that sudden spike then sharp decline in "other" and what could have caused that.

Since the data is compiled based on OS advertisement from the web browser, at least some of the Linux share is not Linux. As a FreeBSD user, there are a number of websites that do not work if the advertised OS is not Windows, MacOS, or Linux, so we have to "spoof" our OS and advertise as Linux. Once that setting is made, I'm not going to toggle it on and off. I doubt that makes up a significant amount of the Linux share, but something to keep in mind.

 

[Daven]

While the PC desktop/laptop/handheld market is most relevant to this site, I think it is also a good idea to look at all the internet connected personal devices.

The above stats are in stark contrast to our beloved tech market from early 2000s and before. Windows no longer dominates and app developers have a diverse array of programming environments to choose from.

As an aside, 100% of the top 500 supercomputers have been running Linux for a few years now. Unix and an ill-fated attempt by MS to develop an HPC version of windows are long gone.

 

[mb194dc]

The main Linux distros are still so unintuitive and annoying to use. We've seen with phone and other OS built on Linux that is's very possible to have a decent user interface on top of the Linux kernel...

Windows has massively regressed in the last 14 years or so and frankly it should be ripe for the picking. Once games widely work on Linux I wouldn't be surprised if it's ultimately game over for Windows, with browser based apps replacing legacy windows installed ones.

That would be the natural evolution.

 

[Kinestron]

I will be curious if that increases significantly when Microsoft fully implements Windows as a service or will people choose the least plan of resistance because adopting a new OS for the common user would be a huge shock. Though I think the immediate plans will only affect the corporate world.

I for one do not care to rent anything I could previously buy once and use in perpetuity as long as the hardware lasted.

 

[R0H1T]

The main Linux distros are still so unintuitive and annoying to use. We've seen with phone and other OS built on Linux that is's very possible to have a decent user interface on top of the Linux kernel...

Windows has massively regressed in the last 14 years or so and frankly it should be ripe for the picking. Once games widely work on Linux I wouldn't be surprised if it's ultimately game over for Windows, with browser based apps replacing legacy windows installed ones.

That would be the natural evolution.

I seriously doubt that, OEM's have massive incentives selling Windows. Unless Linus starts paying these same guys out of Linux foundation Windows would be the predominant desktop OS for decades to come.

 

[mechtech]

Linux has come a long way. I think once it reaches the point of just double clicking everything and it just working it will get more adoption. Hopefully sooner than later…..

 

[TheDeeGee]

10 years ago people said that 10 years from now Linux will dominate... well...?

 

[Zareek]

Windows has massively regressed in the last 14 years or so and frankly it should be ripe for the picking. Once games widely work on Linux I wouldn't be surprised if it's ultimately game over for Windows, with browser based apps replacing legacy windows installed ones.

That would be the natural evolution.

I agree 100%. I personally bought a Steam Deck to support this evolution.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

The main Linux distros are still so unintuitive and annoying to use. We've seen with phone and other OS built on Linux that is's very possible to have a decent user interface on top of the Linux kernel...

Cinnamon, MATE, Plasma? All those are intuitive for end users.

Once games widely work on Linux I wouldn't be surprised if it's ultimately game over for Windows, with browser based apps replacing legacy windows installed ones.

That would be the natural evolution.

Games do widely work on Linux now. Proton compatibility covers 2/3rds of steams library.

 

[KrazyT]

Cinnamon, MATE, Plasma? All those are intuitive for end users.

Games do widely work on Linux now. Proton compatibility covers 2/3rds of steams library.

Oh, oh, i need to check this !
It could be interresting !

 

[Squared]

Linux 10 years ago had several major problems preventing widespread adoption:

• Downloading and installing programs was difficult.
  • This was pretty easy in some cases, like installing .deb file on Ubuntu. But a .rpm file wouldn't work in that case.
  • Today Flatpak has very widespread support and is a popular way to distribute apps.
• Most apps didn't work on Linux.
  • In the past, there were alternatives and sometimes Wine would work.
  • Today a lot of apps work on Linux and most games can work pretty easily thanks to Proton, just as long as you have AMD graphics since Proton is targeting the Steam Deck.
• "Linux" didn't refer to a single operating system.
  • Want to try Linux? Download Fedora. No! Ubuntu. Not that one, Linux Mint.
  • Today Pop_OS! and Manjaro are also in the runnings. Once you've chosen one, do you want Gnome or KDE?
• Some hardware doesn't work on Linux.
  • In the past a lot of hardware had no Linux support.
  • Today most hardware does, but rather than installing drivers the preferred approach is to get a newer Linux kernel, which is more involved if your older kernel doesn't work. On the flip side, what works just works out of the box; when my printer doesn't work on Windows and I'm in a hurry, I connect it to Linux.
• Linux only offered a small subset of features on Windows.
  • Want to change graphics switching settings? Install an older graphics driver? Change your DNS? And you want a GUI for these things? Good luck.
  • Today this hasn't changed much.
• Apps only received upgrades when the OS did.
  • Want Firefox 3.5 with a new tab button? It'll be available in 6-18 months.
  • Ubuntu does upgrade some apps like Firefox much more often now. Valve chose Arch as the base for SteamOS 3 because it receives upgrades frequently. And if the OS is still too slow, you can get rid of the package manager app and download a Flatpack.

 

[HD64G]

Great news. And steam deck might have something to do with that increase eh?

 

[R0H1T]

Yeah no if you were tired of getting spied on then you'd quit the internet, they can still snoop on your pr0n stash even if you're on Linux.

 

[trparky]

No wondering here,Windows has fucked the patience of millions of users with all it's crapware at such point,that all those poor souls run away to escape on linux.
- Pretty logic,also because i'm on the same boat too,i got tired from all the windows spying crap and bloatware at such high degree that i just switched on Linux.

Speak for yourself dude. I have no problems Windows and much like @R0H1T said, if you're tired of being spied on... disconnect from the Internet and go live off the grid. Go build yourself a nice cabin in the woods or find a cave (just make sure there's no bear in it first).

 

[JohH]

The only devices running GNU/Linux in my house are headless and I've never used anything but ssh as interface.

But Microsoft is really trying hard to get people to stop using Windows. So maybe it will continue to grow. But personally I've switched to using my MacBook Pro for most things except gaming. Gnome just isn't my cup of tea and it is too opinionated. And KDE was buggy.

 

[trparky]

But Microsoft is really trying hard to us to stop using Windows.

I don't see it that way. Windows still works quite well for what I need it for.

 

[JohH]

I don't see it that way. Windows still works quite well for what I need it for.

Here's how it goes for me. I can't move my taskbar where I want it anymore, the new default mail application is worse than their own unmaintained application from 2012, they continually add useless bloat to the operating system like Teams, web content in the task bar. Windows 7 search is still better. The context menu requires more clicks to access commonly used applications e.g. 7zip.
Then after an update they reinstall all sorts of ads for applications no one uses because some spyware company (Meta, etc) paid Microsoft to put it there. At least I can disable seeing the out-of-box experience multiple times a year.

It's getting worse with time which is unfortunate because the core of Windows - the hardware and backward compatibility - hasn't been ruined but the idiotic Bing managers running the user experience is ruining Windows as a whole.

 

[trparky]

I can't move my taskbar where I want it anymore

I've always kept it at the bottom.

the new default mail application is worse than their own unmaintained application from 2012

I use Outlook anyways, so that doesn't apply to me either.

they continually ad useless bloat to the operating system like Teams, web content in the task bar, Windows 7 search is still better

Yeah. That I can agree with you on that.

The context menu requires more clicks to access commonly used applications e.g. 7zip.

There's a tweak that you can add that will make the old more useful context menu the default.

Then after an update they reinstall all sorts of ads for applications no one uses because some spyware company (Meta, etc) paid Microsoft to put it there.

I've never seen that happen on any of my systems.

 

[Solaris17]

• Change your DNS? And you want a GUI for these things? Good luck.
• Today this hasn't changed much.

What?? Some of this post was right 10 years ago, the rest was meh or wrong. But no GUI settings for network is where I couldn’t read this crap anymore.

listen gui settings to change network config won’t change Linux adoption rates but it does exist, it’s been included for over a decade and is probably easier to access then windows.

 

[JohH]

I've never seen that happen on any of my systems.

It's default behavior after a large upgrade on Windows 11 Home. How long have you been running Windows 11?

But even if it doesn't apply to you it does apply to others. Windows didn't have to make these changes which reduce user experience compared to even Windows 10. But they chose to do so anyway. Because of ad money. Disgusting.

 

[john_]

I think Linux is still equivalent to searching for problems and spending more time trying to fix things with your PC than just running your PC. And what @Squared posted above I translate it as a "it's still a challenge", not as a "it's fine now".

Of course I should consider me a noob today, so the above opinion is probably wrong. Having played with Linux from probably 1999, I abandoned it a few years latter, only occasionally throwing a look at it from time to time, but without the patience to insist with it.

But what I was saying for many many many MANY years is that Linux needs to become just that. LINUX. A simple alternative to Windows. ONE DISTRO. Not in general, but just EVERYONE to push that ONE DISTRO to the public and every other distro to be there, for everyone getting familiar with Linux and thinking to try something more customized to it's needs, go the next step.

Linux" didn't refer to a single operating system.

• Want to try Linux? Download Fedora. No! Ubuntu. Not that one, Linux Mint.
• Today Pop_OS! and Manjaro are also in the runnings. Once you've chosen one, do you want Gnome or KDE?

This is the BIGGEST negative of Linux. It's greatest power and at the same time it's curse.

A gazillion of distros would NEVER work and 20 years latter this seems to be true and in 20 years from now it will remain true if nothing changes.

Above I read that

10 years ago people said that 10 years from now Linux will dominate... well...?

Well, no. 20 years ago they where saying it. Vista having a negative responce from the public, was seen as a good opportunity for people to swap to Linux. Didn't happened. Windows 8 an even bigger one. Didn't happened. Windows 10, again. Didn't happened.