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2009 Linux Market Share is Slipping
According to two sources that look pretty reliable, Linux market share for the past year has been slipping away – opposed to the higher as I thought and was telling everyone about (sorry guy at the gas station).
According to YingWater in their March 2008 report, Linux had an only 1.94% usage rating (about the same as Windows 98 which I can’t get over). Looking at their previous records, Windows gained marketshare from the previous year.
Then let’s look at a May 2009 report from Geek.com’s article, and we’ll see Windows had gained almost 10%, while Linux had dropped to just under 1%! This is crazy!
So why the drop in market share for Linux? Linux has been around for quite a long time, however still can’t seem to get more users than Windows 98 even. My thinking on the limitations Linux puts on itself would have to be two large points:
1. Marketing. Not a lot of marketing, online buzz or much of anything for Linux. I don’t hear about the option, and when I do it is more due to my field I work in than anything. While I understand Linux doesn’t need to attract users and waste time/energy on marketing themselves as a product, it would be beneficial for the overall ’cause’ of Linux in my opinion.
2. Usability. After a month of working with Ubuntu, I’m still trying to find the right drivers to get my dvd-r to burn, volume buttons to work, and other small issues here and there. I get the remark “Linux is a programmer’s OS“, which I am starting to believe. Once I installed X, I had to spend quite a lot of time customizing it to get it to work with my interests. Yes, it is good to have an OS that gives me the option to “customize and change anything“, but I can’t see my mother working in Terminal to get her wireless to work. I’m still using Ubuntu as my primary OS, leaving Mac and especially Windows behind to walk down a new OS path. I believe once I get all my bugs (which may also be specific to using Ubuntu on a MacBook) I will be very happy.
However, I must say for an OS that only 1% of the public use, it is mighty fine!