Why Isn't Linux More Popular for Desktop Use?

Question

I've read that Linux has a very small market share:

Windows: 80%
Mac: 8%
Linux 2%

Something like the above.

I understand that Linux is quite popular for main-frame computers and for web-servers.

Why isn't Linux more popular with a higher market share for desktop users? Lack of device drivers? Lack of unity with too many different distributions? Too hard to use? A lack of leadership?

I have a T-Shirt that says:

Linux is for servers,
Mac is for productivity,
Windows is for solitaire.

Windows has the lion's share of the desktop OS market so they must be for something more than for solitaire. Windows is much better than it was years ago.

Macs are too expensive. I like them, but I can't really afford them.

I want to look into running Linux on a partition of one of my Macs.
http://lifehacker.com/5934942/how-to-dual-boot-linux-on-your-mac-and-take-back-your-powerhouse-apple-hardware

I'm just wondering why Linux isn't run more on PCs rather than running Windows.

I'm thinking of migrating from Mac to Linux. Why or why not?

Answer 1

Most computers come with Windows installed.



also people believe Linux is hard to use and that every OS sucks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPRvc2UMeMI

Answer 2

Ten years ago Windows XP was very good, and Linux was not. Private and business computer usage skyrocketed, and most of them had Windows on them. I used Windows back then and loved it. We've used Windows for over 15 years, it is everywhere, and it has a huge amount of momentum. Few people remember back when computers only ran DOS or cp/m.



Linux as a desktop and home computer OS is a newcomer. It takes time for something new to replace the 8000 pound gorilla.



Microsoft offers support for Windows and other Microsoft products. Most businesses require that such support be available for their computer software. Business users count for a huge share of the computer market. People go to work, use Windows, and they want to go home and use the same thing.



Linux has a reputation of being difficult to install and use. While this is not undeserved, today that simply is not so. Today I can install Linux faster and easier than I can install Windows. You want a web server? Database? Software development tools? I can install those faster on linux then you ever will on Windows, they work as well if not better, and cost nothing.



The days of Windows is coming to an end. Windows 8 was just another nail in the coffin. I see Windows users abandoning Windows and moving to Linux all the time.

Answer 3

The answer is surprisingly simple:



Microsoft's MASSIVE Marketing Machine is always finding new ways to make Windows Users BELIEVE that the latest version of Windows is the best ever. And this is nonsense.



When Microsoft's Operating System can effectively prevent MALWARE and Pop Ups, and stops doing things behind our backs, like tracking virtually everything we do, then maybe, more of us will start to believe all of the FUD coming from Redmond.



TIP: Do whatever you want, learning Linux is a good idea. Just don't replace OS X with Linux, instead, just dual boot to them.

Answer 4

Really depends what you want to do with it - most people just want to run MS Office so a PC makes sense for that and a Mac is a cooler way to be able to do the same thing.



Running Linux is different - you have complete control over everything - you can even build your own Linux (from scratch) - which is a great learning exercise if you have time.



But you have to give up on the mainstream (like being able to run office - yes there are alternatives but you'll always have compatibility niggles)...



My solution is to have a Mac and run VirtualBox to allow me to run Linux or Windows if I need to :)

Answer 5

As OS X is built on top of a full UNIX system there would be no real benefit in "migrating from Mac to Linux".



Run Linux on the Mac in a Virtual Box or from a USB stick and you can see why it is not more popular... it is not very good. A mishmash of inconsistent and/or counter intuitive ideas cobbled together to make it a little bit like a Mac.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKwWPQ1Orzs

Answer 6

Windows has inertia from being around for so long. Right now though it's getting hit from every side, it's completely lost the mobile market to iOS and Android and as we move more into standards based web applications suddenly applications start working on more operating systems.

Answer 7

You want to run Linux on your mac then that's no problem and you don't need to run mackintosh to do it. That went out years ago,

Here are some Linux distributions that will install on any Mac system without any problems check them out.

http://www.debian.org/

http://www.freebsd.org/

http://www.gentoo.org/



You can go to their users forum if you want more info on the systems

Answer 8

sudo this

sudo that

apt-get-install-opera

run as sudo

lol