Linux Desktop Share Tops 6% In 15 Million-System Analysis (zdnet.com)
- Reference: 0178606788
- News link: https://linux.slashdot.org/story/25/08/07/2018225/linux-desktop-share-tops-6-in-15-million-system-analysis
- Source link: https://www.zdnet.com/article/think-linux-desktop-market-share-isnt-over-6-this-15-million-system-scan-says-otherwise/
> In an interview, [1]Lansweeper , an IT asset discovery and inventory company, revealed to ZDNET that, in [2]its analysis of over 15 million identified consumer desktop operating systems, it found that Linux desktops [3]currently account for just over 6% of PC market share . This news comes after several other studies have shown the Linux desktop is right around the 6% mark. Indeed, according to the [4]US Federal Government Website and App Analytics count, the Linux desktop market share over the last 90 days has reached 6.3%, a new high. In July, according to StatCounter, the Linux desktop also set a record high by its metrics [5]with 5.24% .
[1] https://www.lansweeper.com/
[2] https://www.lansweeper.com/resources/lansweeper-scanning-guide/
[3] https://www.zdnet.com/article/think-linux-desktop-market-share-isnt-over-6-this-15-million-system-scan-says-otherwise/
[4] https://analytics.usa.gov/
[5] https://linux.slashdot.org/story/25/07/16/2048246/linux-reaches-5-on-desktop
The "business desktop/laptop" part is interesting (Score:2)
The Register ( [1]https://www.theregister.com/20... [theregister.com] ) has an article on this, which highlights the interesting aspect that there is significant growth in the number of _business_ desktop/laptop hardware running under Linux. Meanwhile, Windows disciples around the world still try to wage their computer holy wars on anyone who dares to use not-Windows for work.
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/06/lansweeper_finds_linux_growth_on/
It doesn't have to surpass Windows to be big (Score:3)
It's already night and day using a Linux desktop with regard to how vendors support it from a few years ago. Not that long ago, expecting things like Netflix and Spotify to work was out of the question, now you can pretty much assume they are all aware of and support Linux.
More and more hardware vendors, peripheral makers, are contributing their own support, directly to the kernel. I bought a PS5 controller a few years ago but no PS5, because I saw Sony had contributed the drivers directly to the kernel, and they work great. It seems extremely likely that in another 2-3 years, it will surpass 10%. At that point, you'll really be able to expect to go and say, buy a mouse or a monitor or some USB speakers, and have the hardware manufacturer be paying attention to Linux. At that point, I don't really care what the market share is, but normal people can have a big tech alternative without a lot of hoops to jump through, and that's a good thing.
If it becomes too big it might be bad (Score:2)
That's when the commercial interest co-opting and enshittification tries to creep in. I know independent forks could always be maintained of the software we use but there could be commercial software that tries to get software to become reliant on it like Play Services does for Android.
Re: (Score:2)
I can't see that happening. The Linux ecosystem is too unruly for it to succumb to corporate enshittification. There will always be Debian, Slackware, and other non-corporate distros, and if commercial software becomes too onerous, we'll do what we do now... not use it.
Re: (Score:2)
Actually the native Linux Spotify client has been a bit flake recently. However the web version works fine.
That actually reflects a key advantage of Linux on the desktop for non-power users, it makes a better base for all the web based programs that have taken over from native programs you had to install. The Linux desktop is quite happy for you to ignore it and run a web browser without being an attention whore that demands installs, reboots, subscriptions and pushing ads.
Still I don't expect the p
Thanks Microsoft (Score:4, Funny)
Windows 11 was the best thing to ever happen for Linux.
2025 (Score:2)
The Year of Linux on the Desktop!
Microsoft Quakes in it's money vaults. (Score:2)
I've been using Linux of one stripe or another since the mid nineties. Debian came on a CD with, was it BOOT or MaximumPC? I tried it and was hooked. I root for Linux all the time. That said, I don't think we need to celebrate ever tenth of a percent of climb in its interest.
Having said that? It'll be interesting to see what happens as the Windows 10 EOL comes. I don't know if the public is informed enough to kick the Microsoft habit or not, but it will be interesting to watch what plays out.