Proton is a big deal for the change. Think back 5 years ago and switching to Linux was much less approachable because you needed to be an enthusiast to get your games running. Nowadays, you just click download on the Linux Steam client and >90% of the time, it’ll just work.
Linux Reaches 5% Desktop Market Share In USA
Submitted 2 months ago by herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml to technology@lemmy.world
https://ostechnix.com/linux-reaches-5-desktop-market-share-in-usa/
Comments
Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
I have been on Linux for over 15 years and even I don’t want to go back to the old days of manually installing Wine and having to create different prefixes to get different games to launch without sound. or some missing textures.
WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
not manually, yeah, but bottles and such are still really useful. it shows how much good GUI tools help with usability for everyone
AnarchistArtificer@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I ended up wading into the world of WINE prefixes when I tried to mod some older games. I got it working in the end, but it sure made me grateful for how easy I have it with Proton
Zink@programming.dev 1 month ago
Hear, hear!
There is nothing wrong, and in fact there is something good, with FOSS being polished and user friendly out of the box.
Historically that has not been a priority, because FOSS has been by the computer nerds, for the computer nerds. But if that priority shifts to being a bit more “by the computer nerds, for the normies” then that is a good thing as long as the developers don’t prevent the power users from accessing any part of the system they want. Fortunately that completely against the point of the FOSS world.
I first learned Unix in the 90s, I use my Linux desktop more than my phone, I’m an engineer on embedded systems digging through C and C++ code all day, I have terminals open all day, and… I have Linux Mint Cinnamon installed on all my machines and love it. Change My Mind, lol.
rottingleaf@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I, on the contrary, prefer it when everyone uses mainstream Wine with winetricks and prefixes so if something doesn’t work, you can at least fix it using someone’s advice posted on winehq. With Proton it seems that everyone expects stuff to either just work or doesn’t bother. The Proton advice is usually as valuable as Windows problems advice.
gizmonicus@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
100% this. I’ve been on Linux for 27 years now (ffs I’m getting old), and until proton, I just wrote off gaming as a hit or miss experience, usually not worth the trouble. Now I’ll buy Windows only games without even checking compatibility in most cases. Unless it’s a full price AAA game, I’ll risk the off chance that it doesn’t work.
caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
Clair Obscur worked out of the box and it took a while for me to realize that I didn’t even check before buying.
underscores@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Gaming on Mac was also more or less the same when it came to running windows games, had to use wine
And I’m sorry y’all I know wine is awesome but using it manually is a pain in the ass and I hated it and I consider myself more of an enthusiast
FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Crossover isn’t cheap, but it can save so much time compared to WINE that I think it does pay for itself.
moody@lemmings.world 2 months ago
Honestly, 5 years ago Proton was already in pretty good shape. 2018 is when I switched to Linux, and already had very little trouble gaming.
Patches@ttrpg.network 2 months ago
Yes but nobody knew about it. SteamOs brought that to the surface.
herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml 1 month ago
I think it’s less Proton, more Vulkan/DXVK. Proton is just wrapping these amazing things. Before DXVK, games in Linux used to suck big time.
BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 2 months ago
If we can get close to that kind of support for productivity software, I think Linux usage would explode. One of the problems with business adoption is that specialized software almost always skips Linux. The Affinity suite, for example. I’m hoping we see some snowballing now that Linux is growing so quickly, but getting Wine/Proton working with more non-game software would also be an enormous win.
aliser@lemmy.world 2 months ago
now is a good time to switch. Im so glad im off windows and their bullshit. a lot of games just work, including many online games, which is super cool. often there’s no difference between launching a game on Linux vs windows.
Univ3rse@lemmynsfw.com 2 months ago
Absolutely. Linux in general has become very approachable. I recently came back to Linux after 15 years away and I have been very impressed with how well everything just works. I’ve only experienced very minor issues with peripherals that were solved with a simple Google search or update.
passepartout@feddit.org 2 months ago
inb4 Linux users sweepingly get declared as criminals for some flimsy reason. There was some news of Facebook filtering out Linux content because it seemed harmful to them.
Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 2 months ago
You wouldn’t download an operating system, would you?
ook@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
a_person@lemmy.world 2 months ago
All my operating systems are hand written in assembly
passepartout@feddit.org 2 months ago
Of course not! I will only get organic / grass fed computers with a OS preinstalled by the vendor. They only do this to protect the users and not for the fuckton of money MS shoves into their throats.
unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
Reminds me of the thing in Spain where they just immediately suspect anyone of drug trafficking for using pixel devices because thats what grapheneos runs on.
verdigris@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
I’m less worried about any specific targeting of Linux than I am about some random tech bro whispering in Trump’s ear and suddenly he bans Open Source or something similarly unenforceable and insane.
kescusay@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Banning open source would basically destroy the entire Internet in the United States. No tech bro is going to want that.
swelter_spark@reddthat.com 2 months ago
With the current political climate, my bf worries about exactly this.
aim_at_me@lemmy.nz 1 month ago
The irony of Facebook running entirely on Linux is not lost on me.
muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
My understanding of that was Facebook just gave up on human moderation and let an AI do whatever it wanted. Still unacceptable but totally foreseeable.
mrodri89@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Thank you Pewdiepie!!
voodooattack@lemmy.world 2 months ago
He single-handedly changed a lot of people’s impression of Linux with a single video, and he did it gently enough to not intimidate and scare them away like many others did. I respect that.
HeyJoe@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Is he really the reason? I just started trying a bunch over the past month through vm’s to see which one I like the best because I want to take the leap soon. I am doing it mostly due to the video game performance and compatibility reaching high enough levels that I don’t think it will be a big issue anymore. I also listed out all my current Windows apps and looked up what the alternative is, and from what I see, there is nothing left that won’t run on Linux anymore. The next step is seeing how some compare to what I am used to.
I can’t be the only one who is noticing its current state and just wanting to try something different. I don’t hate windows like everyone talks about it online, but I am at the point where I am noticing they are only going to get worse with privacy and continue to make awful built in features that do more to benefit themselves over you. So the 2 lines have crossed paths, and I think it’s the perfect storm for Linux soon.
18107@aussie.zone 2 months ago
He has a large audience and used his position to publicise it.
There have been countless volunteers and enthusiasts who have worked hard to make Linux worth publicising.
Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Keep in mind quite a lot of online games have recently banned linux players, in case there’s an important game for you like that.
cass80@programming.dev 2 months ago
I’m out of the loop. What did he do?
A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 1 month ago
be a racist piece of shit with the emotional maturity of a 12 year old with fetal alcohol syndrome?
mrodri89@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVI_smLgTY0&t=7s
He made a video encouraging people to try Linux.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Recommended Linux.
Sarothazrom@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Just switched last month and I love it so far (:
tfm@europe.pub 2 months ago
🙃
Dindonmasker@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Hopefully this surge in users make people want to develop for it a lot more and break more walls for others who are interested.
MCasq_qsaCJ_234@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
The bad thing is that more malware will arrive to Linux and from time to time malware that exploit undiscovered vulnerabilities.
SMillerNL@lemmy.world 2 months ago
It was already a pretty attractive target because of servers for everything. I’m not sure reaching 5% desktop market share will really make it more attractive for malware.
mortalblade@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
Just made the full switch meself this past week!
zach@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
Welcome Mr. Krabs
goatinspace@feddit.org 2 months ago
(~‾⌣‾)~
masterofn001@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
Windows
(╯°□°）╯︵┻━┻
Linux
¯\(ツ)/¯┬─┬
Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Feathercrown@lemmy.world 2 months ago
At some point companies will be forced to accept that they’re losing out on revenue by not releasingg a linux version of their software.
Sestren@lemmy.world 2 months ago
And the Windows version through Wine will still run better than the native… As is tradition.
anachrohack@piefed.world 2 months ago
Companies don't make native software anymore - most things are websites now
Feathercrown@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Adobe creative suite, most cad software, fames (work with Proton already so little need for this), etc.
JimmyKerr@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I use arch btw
misteloct@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
It wasn’t immediately clear, I think you need to change your username to IUseArchBtw so we all know off the bat.
fluxion@lemmy.world 1 month ago
This guy uses arch btw
Bluewing@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Real men and women run Slack. Tarballs Yum!
To head off the zealots-- ./././
fluxion@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Gentoo with allllllllll the custom cflags while hanging a 20 lb weight off your scrotum
qevlarr@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Every year Linux fans:
👐 It’s happening! 👐
tehn00bi@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I made the switch recently for probably the strangest reason.
I’ve been running win 11 for over a year using a shell tool that allowed me to move my task bar to the top of the screen and some other win 10 functionality.
However win 11 removed the ability to move the task bar and my shell program lost most of its functionality. After that I was done.
I’ve Linux off and on since 2002ish so it’s not scary to me and I’m pretty happy with Arch and KDE right now. Still the occasional crash that appears to happen sometimes when watching YouTube.
walderan@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Hey, don’t knock on customization as a reason. A couple of decades ago, I was sold on Linux by silly Beryl/Compiz videos such as this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=038RHEGu4OYenthusiasm_headquarters@lemmy.world 1 month ago
yo compiz is the shit. You can do ANYTHING with it. It took me a while to figure out because where the hell is the manual, but I have my own custom thing going on and it’s brilliant.
whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
If anyone is stuck on windows and not able to switch there’s a program called wind hawk that will let you download customizations in windows 11 including moving the bar
enthusiasm_headquarters@lemmy.world 1 month ago
it’s sad, pathetic, and stupid that one has to download a potentially dangerous hack to do something so basic.
tehn00bi@lemmy.world 1 month ago
From my reading all ways to move the task bar have been removed.
jabjoe@feddit.uk 1 month ago
Wow, that’s excluding Chrome OS, which has 2.71% on it’s own. So you could say Linux is at over 7%, but glad they split it so we know.
kadaverin0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
I hopped on the Linux train when Microsoft began pushing hard for AI integration and Microsoft accounts. I fucking hate AI and I don’t need some corpo cunt looking over my shoulder and taking notes while I use my computer.
DandomRude@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Still far too low, considering that the US is now a police state.
Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 month ago
I’m doing my part! Switched to Linux earlier this year because Microsoft started showing ads in the start menu. I tried Nobara but ran into some glitches that I didn’t want to troubleshoot so I switched to Bazzite. So far so good.
HotsauceHurricane@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Woooo! Year of the linux desktop baby!!
- pumps fist in air*
centipede_powder@lemmy.world 2 months ago
It would probably be more if there weren’t so many Linux gatekeepers that tell people to “go back to Windows/Apple” when they ask a questions.
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 2 months ago
Finally, the year of Desktop Linux. Twenty years after we were promised. And it’s still a pittence, but I’ll take it.
I’m on a Mac, only use Linux for server stuff, but the more people we can get off Windows, the better. Let’s go!
BackYardIncendiary@lemmy.sdf.org 1 month ago
Scoffs derisively at the new popular thing and switches to BSD…
dukatos@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Thanks, Gaben.
wjrii@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Great, but that graph is not showing any prticular spike, just a nice and gentle upward trend in share. The article also overlooks that there is a certain element of Windows and MacOS computers being replaced by tablets and phones, while Linux is already an enthusiast choice on the desktop, meaning it will be insulated somewhat.
On the plus side, Steam and Proton and maturing DEs/distros and enshittification of Windows certainly make Linux a much more viable “normie” option than it’s ever been. We’re a far cry from the CD-ROM of Red Hat that came with my “Intro to Linux” book in 1999 but couldn’t use my Winmodem or printer and really preferred to run XWindows in grayscale.
jsomae@lemmy.ml 1 month ago
As pointed out on hackernews, this is likely attributed to (a) decrease in desktop usage by non-linux-users, and (b) the gaming industry embracing linux
te_abstract_art@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I’m not in the US, but here in the UK I made the switch too.
I went from Windows PC + Windows laptop ~2 years ago to now having a Linux PC (ZorinOS), Samsung tablet and a home server running Proxmox with an Ubuntu VM for Docker.
Never been happier with my setup. The grass truly is greener over here.
sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
TrueStoryBob@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Just switched to Linux for my daily driver laptop!
Crabhands@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
I’m on EndeavorOS for 2 months, and I just installed Bazzite on my kids desktop! As long as Sober keeps working for Roblox, we are golden.
simplejack@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Why are is that stat counter splitting Macs into OS X and macOS
It’s the same OS.
shapptastic@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I mean good for the desktop experience on Linux, its taken the movement of most desktop apps to the web to make OS choice basically immaterial. I’ll still nitpick some things in linux that are still worse than Windows (i’ve replaced my htpc with a cheapo N100 and its better in most ways, worse in a few smaller things), but the most important thing is that the things I mostly use a desktop for (namely media consumption, browsing, some game streaming, and docker containers) its more or less the same as using windows or macos.
Switorik@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
I just transitioned to Linux. Fully removed windows.
I’m doing my part!
FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I consider myself a trans ally, but I’m struggling to keep up with the latest pronouns. Congrats!
ramjambamalam@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
I identify as Linux and my pronouns are root/+u.
goatinspace@feddit.org 2 months ago
It’s not perfect but there are different values
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
The funny thing is there are lots of things that are designed better on Linux vs Windows/macos too.
My memory is fading on some of them since I primarily use Windows for work and a steam deck for gaming now, but keyboard shortcuts was definitely one of them. Easier to get shit done automation-wise from simple scripts. CMD is so basic and PowerShell feels like my fingers are exhausted from doing a simple thing, and like you always need to write a paragraph to get a simple thing done.