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sandra_henrystocker
Unix Dweeb

Linux hits 4% desktop user share

News
Mar 11, 20242 mins
Linux

While the desktop is not Linux's claim to fame, Linux still offers a huge number of distributions that can make your desktop computer work just like you'd want.

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Windows clearly dominates our desktops, but Linux just managed to cross a milestone of its own. According to StatCounter, Linux has a little over 4% (actually 4.03%) of the desktop OS market. Check out StatCounter’s graph, and you’ll notice a slowly rising line near the bottom of the graph that represents Linux.

StatCounter desktop OS market share

StatCounter

StatCounter’s data suggests that more people are using Linux on their desktop systems. Maybe because it’s free (most distributions anyway). Or maybe because there are several hundred distributions to choose from, one is bound to suit your fancy. In any case, this is good news for Linux.

At the same time, as most everyone understands, the desktop is not Linux’s claim to fame and likely never will be. Linux runs on network servers, as well as devices that are so small that they don’t seem to fall into the “computer” category (running “Android,” the Linux-based mobile OS). And, of course, Linux is dominant among the world’s fastest supercomputers. (Linux powers all but one of the supercomputers on the most recent Top500 supercomputer ranking).

sandra_henrystocker
Unix Dweeb

Sandra Henry-Stocker has been administering Unix systems for more than 30 years. She describes herself as "USL" (Unix as a second language) but remembers enough English to write books and buy groceries. She lives in the mountains in Virginia where, when not working with or writing about Unix, she's chasing the bears away from her bird feeders.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Sandra Henry-Stocker and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications, Inc., its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.

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