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39 Comments
- coztopia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Exactly. Most people have never heard of linux, and for most people, they're not "loyal" to Microsoft, it's just that to them, a Computer has a thing called 'Windows' on it. that's it.
- DrBob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13What hype? I'm a die-hard Linux user, but as far as I can tell, in the mainstream world of PCs, there is no Linux hype. Even on digg, if you think realistically, there is no hype.
- aroedl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Linux has 2 per cent market share? Where does this number come from? On the other hand, 2 per cent is huge! By definition, market share means "sold copies per year". You know that Linux is basically free? Ubuntu sends out CDs to you for free. I'd like to know the Linux installed base.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Installed_base - schestowitz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11You conveniently left out (omitted) the words "scared of" (OEM's scared of Microsoft) in the quote above. But why?
As Novell's CEO recently said:
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Corp is using scare tactics to exert pressure on PC vendors
| not to explore the potential of desktop Linux, according to Novell
| Inc president and COO, Ron Hovsepian
`----
http://www.commentwire.com/article_news.asp?guid=2044AB5A-59CA-4EC3-AD3F-73DF7BC4F8E0
(link now broken)
Figure out why it broke... - SimonC, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11Once again, this is a totally American view of the matter. In Europe, most people know about GNU/Linux. I know more people using a GNU/Linux distribution than using MS Windows or OS X. Almost everybody at least *knows* about GNU/Linux here, even if some still run Windows. Even my mom has been running GNU/Linux for almost 2 years now. And this isn't only Western Europe, I was chatting with a Croatian girl on ICQ a few monthes ago and I told her I wasn't running Windows, she replied "do you run Linux?". Now, I won't say that more people do run GNU/Linux (it's false), but mainly because businesses are still running Windows, PCs are sold with Windows, and games won't run anything else (plus all the MS commercials and the PC = Windows marketing scheme). But it's sure that GNU/Linux is "making a dent" in the Windows market share over here. I know it's hard for people whose geography skills are such that they'd place Europe in Asia (not kidding, there were tests! and not everyone, yet again), but, the US aren't the only market, and what happens on the other side of the Atlantic ocean matters, at least to Microsoft (and if you happen to use Free Software, there is more development in Europe even if all the fuss is in the US). Have a look at where the searches take place from: http://www.google.com/trends?q=linux (and look for other Free Software projects).
PS: I'm just trying to show that F/OSS *is* making a dent, only maybe not in the US, I don't know. But over here, it does. Now, this is Digg, so I don't expect understanding. - PeterMeh, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Good point. There are probably quite a few people that buy a new machine, and immediately blow away the preinstalled Windows and install Linux, or at least dual boot linux.
But on a related note, the link provided contains the words "free_forbes" and this must define a new definition of "free" with the amount of advertising on the page. The content text is a single column, that is half a page... Linux 2%? Forbes content 2%. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Well, then, perhaps you can hire a user from Romania to show mom and sis how it's done. See SimonC's post above - I was blown away just now to discover that the top ten countries to search for the keyword "Linux" are India, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Italy, Germany, Finland, Poland and Taiwan.
Makes me wonder what *other* news isn't getting in here behind the Microsoft curtain. - zatara, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6A lot of people doesn't even know there are alternatives (free ones as well ;)) to MS Windows.
- trigeek, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Excellent point aroedl. Plus I very much doubt that somewhere there is a person crossing PCs off the "installed" list every time someone formats an old system and installs Linux. I have three systems running Linux (Geexbox, VectorLinux, DevilLinux) and one XP laptop which dual boots yet when the numbers are crunched only the XP machine will be counted.
Oh well - ordminute, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It's no wonder Linux has only 2% of __The Market__, the OS is downloaded thousands of times more than it is purchased. For this reason the only reliable statistics about the real install base of Linux is something like the long since missing Google Zeitgeist, which even back then had Linux at more than 2%, based on OS signatures recovered by Google Servers when users accessed their page.
- SimonC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@Footstick: I didn't say they cared, but that they have heard of it. And I mean, people with a *very little bit* of interest in computers. Just enough to buy basic magazines (most people read magazines over here, and all "IT" magazines talk about GNU/Linux - even the lame ones). Libraries always have an IT bookshelf with *a lot* of GNU/Linux books (and I mean *a lot*) and there's always tons of people there. I very rarely go over there (I order books via Amazon or go to specialized libraries) but the few times I did, I chatted with (1) retreated people, (2) young (13-18) people or (3) dad/moms interested in GNU/Linux (who had run it on their own previously, either with a CD in a magazine or buying a distribution from a store [while some, the younger, had downloaded it]). Now I don't think I live in a particularly tech-savvy environment (Paris / Paris suburbs), and I've traveled in East and North Europe and got the same feeling that there was a good GNU/Linux recognition and that people happened to know "Linux". I don't know where you live in Europe, but at least here in France, every kid in high school with at least some interest for computers (and even others) know about "Linux" (a live CD is in fact given to every student in some regions). Now, maybe I shouldn't have spoken about "Europe", but more about "Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia, ...".
- cyberrigger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2
People don't realize how simple it is.
You open synaptic and mark the appications you want.
Click apply.
http://www.nongnu.org/synaptic/action.html - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I am suprised no one is talking about this article within it:
The Problem With St. Ignucius
Which is the most interesting one.
http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/31/stallman-linux-opensource_cz_dl_0831stallman.html?boxes=custom - cyberrigger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2These scare tactics don't always work.
http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/23168/ - tech42er, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was about to digg you down but I reralized a joke. Dugg.
- macjonesnz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Thats because you think windows *is* the computer. Put linux on it and you'll have to try really, really hard to screw it up. To screw up a windows machine, just give it to a 12 year old for 5 minutes, or easier still, surf a few porn sites in Internet Explorer, yeah, that'll kill it.
Then enjoy a refreshing dip in linux where my computer has not rebooted for 14 months, and it's as fast now as it was on day one!, and to screw it up I have to log in as root and do dumb stuff !
Linux just works ! (like computers should) It's a shame most peoples view of computers is Windows...... - Flibbertigibet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The only reason I use Windows is because I am afraid of my computer. If I displease it, it can seriously screw up all of my work. I wouldn't dare try to even do anything more daring than install and use Fire fox without a trained--a TEAM of trained computer technician-commandos handling every step.
- theblackgecko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1With all due offense, your wife and daughter aren't "computer users." Anyone who cannot use Firefox isn't a computer user.
Nothing pisses me off more than people who pretend to know what is going on when they Can't Use New Technology. - SimonC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1(digg down)
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I am suprised no one is talking about this article within it:
The Problem With St. Ignucius
Which is the most interesting one.
http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/31/stallman-linux-opensource_cz_dl_0831stallman.html?boxes=custom - lolwtfhaha, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I am getting so tired getting so tired of the poor grammar in these in these dig articles.
- Bonzodog, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5The desktop market will definately be the last market to be impacted. I don't believe for one second that linux will ever dominate, but get a more equal share - I also think that over time (10 years), Mac will also get a larger share of the desktop.
Ideally, it ought to be evenly split - 35% linux, 35% windows, 30% Apple.
The only way we ever begin to enforce this ideal would to make it illegal for a PC reseller/manufacturer to only offer one OS.
It OUGHT to be that when you say, ring Dell, or go into a PC World shop, to purchase a new PC, you are asked what OS you would like - maybe limit the linux Distros to the big 3 -Ubuntu, Suse, or Fedora.
Apple really ought to offer a generic PC version of OSX but stress that they cannot offer support with that particular release, only with the Apple hardware. - zatara, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1about the Romanian users searching for Linux... maybe it's because the average income is at about 150-200$/month, not because of communist stuff ;)
- V1ncent, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Because it's another Linux zealot (not Linux user) babbling trying to be disguised as an article. Zealots of all kinds are bad. Find the zealot. Thump the zealot like a melon. Repeatedly. With feeling.
- Johnnie, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3I recently tried installing Ubuntu on a new Core2Duo/P695 system and it wouldn't even get past the initial loading screen for the install CD. Albiet I am a linux noob, this experience shows me how windows just seems to work seemlessly while linux needs to play catchup for new things. I tried Fedora Core as well and an error also popped up there too. The 95% is well deserved IMO.
- seanmac, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2The moderation of blackmariah's comment once is furthur evidence that digg users have no sense of humor. or souls.
- estvir, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4Novell president saying something bad about Microsoft ? Say isn't so ! :o
- seanmac, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1misplaced.
- pcharles23, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Get a mac, Don't be like windows dude in a wheel chair. I loved knoppix, it really helped me get more comfortable with linux.
- thomashallock, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2I wake up and see that this 'digitalgopher' user has 4 of the 15 stories on the front page. I'm suspicious.
- Footstick, on 10/12/2007, -8/+6*****. I live in Europe, and most people haven't heard nor care about Linux.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1another lame Linux article
- silverbear, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0I agree with Evildudetx 100%. My wife and daughter consider themselves "computer operators" or at least "computer users" however, neither one of them could install a Linux app if their lives depended on it.
The vast majority of people who make use of computers in the USA are happy in their ignorance partly because they don't want to actually do something with the computer, just the keyboard interface and their mp3 player.
They use Microflacid because it's there and they don't have to fu#k with it, and sometimes, it even works. I suggested to my wife that she'd have better luck with Firefox than IE as her browser and then had to explain what a browser was and what it did. She's very happy to just point and click and doesn't want to be bothered with "that technical stuff".
In her defense, and in part, mine...I use Windows XP. I haven't switched to Linux simply because the applications that I have and need all were designed to be used with Windows. Too much money invested to mess with changing it. If I had a "play" computer just for me and not for me/business I'd be Linux all the way. It's on my wish list, anyway, along with a dedicated line and a static IP...sigh. - holdemcharts, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3"Venture Development Group says Linux will soon hold a 30% share in some parts of the embedded software market."
I find that hard to believe. At least until there are some "easy-to-use" development tools for Embedded Linux. Granted I have not tried for a year or two, but I do remember what a pain it was to develop on the Embedded Linux platform with the current set of tools. The same thing is true for BlackBerries. - blackmariah, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2hosiah: Interesting how most of those countries have been at one time or are currently under Communist or Socialist rule.
More proof Linux is the OS of Commie Bastards the world over! - blackmariah, on 10/12/2007, -12/+6SimonC: Sounds less like a "European" view and more like a "Linux douchebag that happens to live in Europe and is friends with other Linux douchebags" view.
- drakethegreat, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1"is catching on like crazy in other devices ike crazy in other devices"
Apparently proof reading isn't catching on in the Linux world. Maybe people use Windows because when they read about it they actually understand whats being said. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -10/+2come on face it
except server and research applications linux sucks
i have 4 linux servers, windows desktop and mac laptop, i tried linux on my desktop it was a disaster i spend most of the day fiddling in config files and cli
i dont mind doing that on a server but a desktop nah - Evildudetx, on 10/12/2007, -9/+0And this is news how?
Personally, I would not want a PC from say Dell to ship with Linux. Why? Because folks like my mother or my sister would not have a clue what to do with it. Linux is still far from ready for the masses.
With that said, quit whining about it.
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