Desktop platforms Toolkit

Story: Linux lovers hit hard times as home users

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The problem with the statistics in this article are that they aren't reperesentative of the actual number of users (on the desktop) of these operating systems. Probably a better way to judge these would be to look at web browser statistics.

Last month Linux has 3.3% of all desktop web browsering users, whereas the Mac has 3.2% and Windows 98 and Windows NT together had 3.2%.

Two years ago (in October) Linux had 2.5%, Mac had 2.1% and Windows 98 and Windows NT together had 15.5%.

So as you can see Linux is gaining users (and so is the Mac). The problem is the lack of choice avaibable from vendors. This isn't really their fault, because unless they're very big their buisness depends on Windos PC sales and Microsoft won't give them cheap unit prices unless they recommend Windows XP Pro.

The licensing practices used by Microsoft are of dubious legality. But the fact of the matter is, in the west at least, Microsoft has OEMs and Corporations arms twisted up behind their backs.

The greatest hope for Desktop Linux is in the east where there isn't market inertial and low cost is critical. In the west it is only companies (like the one I work for, and others such as Google) that are sick of being held hostage to Windows licensing terms and sick of the poor reliability and performance of Windows and are prepared to stand up to a bully.

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