Linux hits another all-time high for July 2024 according to Statcounter

Quoting: PinguinoLovely news! BTW, what happened in December 2023 that caused the drop in OS X from 20 % to 15 % (apparently in favor of Windows)?

I haven't been able to figure that out myself. Looks like U.S. and Australia specifically. The numbers are based on total views, so maybe a lot of machines just aged out and not replaced. There was a little bit of a rebound in both U.S. and Australia but those gains were eaten into by a global slump it seems.

BTW, how do the folks down under even work with their keyboards upside down?
(I know, I make bad jokes, don't flame me too badly, haha).

Quoting: HighballBTW, how do the folks down under even work with their keyboards upside down?

What I don't get is how you guys use computer rodents with the tail facing you.

Quoting: pleasereadthemanual

Quoting: HighballBTW, how do the folks down under even work with their keyboards upside down?

What I don't get is how you guys use computer rodents with the tail facing you.

La rata has been tailess for a decade now, it's not even a problem anymore.

Quoting: pleasereadthemanualUltimately it's their computer and their choice. Let them ask you, if they care at all.

That's exactly it.

Quoting: pleasereadthemanualAnd lastly...Linux is not the solution to Windows problems, so it shouldn't be presented like it is when someone asks for help with their Windows computer.

When should it be presented as an option? When someone is looking for a new computer or wondering if there's something better. They've now demonstrated willingness to uproot their current computing lifestyle and try something new, something few people are brave enough or have enough time to do. You can't convince someone to try something new; they need to be open to it already, and when they are, you're presenting an option, not trying to convince them of something.

Precisely. And it's important to point out that the Linux option isn't Windows, and that things aren't going to act the same, and that the software you'll use won't be the same. I know that sounds like common-sense, but for some reason, though people are fine with adjusting to the differences that MacOS has from Windows, they don't seem to approach Linux like that for some strange reason.

If we assume there are approximately 1 billion desktop users in the world, then we are looking at around 45 million people around the world using Linux. That is more than the population of Canada. Pretty nice.

Quoting: Pengling

Quoting: pleasereadthemanualUltimately it's their computer and their choice. Let them ask you, if they care at all.

That's exactly it.

Quoting: pleasereadthemanualAnd lastly...Linux is not the solution to Windows problems, so it shouldn't be presented like it is when someone asks for help with their Windows computer.

When should it be presented as an option? When someone is looking for a new computer or wondering if there's something better. They've now demonstrated willingness to uproot their current computing lifestyle and try something new, something few people are brave enough or have enough time to do. You can't convince someone to try something new; they need to be open to it already, and when they are, you're presenting an option, not trying to convince them of something.

Precisely. And it's important to point out that the Linux option isn't Windows, and that things aren't going to act the same, and that the software you'll use won't be the same. I know that sounds like common-sense, but for some reason, though people are fine with adjusting to the differences that MacOS has from Windows, they don't seem to approach Linux like that for some strange reason.

I dunno. I have recent experience suggesting that for at least some people, if you have the menu and "turn it off" stuff in the lower left and a taskbar on the bottom with a few launch icons, they don't really notice the difference.

Quoting: ToddLAs great as Linux is for gaming, it still has issues with anti-cheat from companies that won't support the OS (e.g. EA, Activision, Bungie). Until that's resolved, along with anything else holding back gaming on Linux, the numbers will continue to stay low.

Unfortunately, that's the biggest remaining obstacle right now. However, there is some hope that MS will restrict kernel access after the Crowd Strike disaster, making this kind of anti-cheat impossible to implement down the road.

In the meantime, we still will see growth. Not everyone wants/needs to play games using this form of anti-cheat. It seems to be mostly competitive shooter games using those...

Quoting: Purple Library GuyI dunno. I have recent experience suggesting that for at least some people, if you have the menu and "turn it off" stuff in the lower left and a taskbar on the bottom with a few launch icons, they don't really notice the difference.

That's good to know, as your experience is likely to be more recent than mine. Good stuff!

Quoting: PenglingPrecisely. And it's important to point out that the Linux option isn't Windows, and that things aren't going to act the same, and that the software you'll use won't be the same. I know that sounds like common-sense, but for some reason, though people are fine with adjusting to the differences that MacOS has from Windows, they don't seem to approach Linux like that for some strange reason.

I think part of it is that some Linux DEs mimic the desktop paradigm of older Windows versions much closer than MacOS does, which masks the differences. With MacOS you've got the task bar at the top, which changes based on the program that has focus, the dock at the bottom, the whole file explorer looks completely different, it clearly doesn't work exactly like Windows does. Whereas someone using Linux with (say) the Cinnamon DE, it's a pretty similar experience superficially: familiar task bar at the bottom with some shortcuts, a list of open programs, a "start menu" in the lower left, the file explorer looks and behaves pretty similarly, etc.…

From personal experience, we got a Windows computer when I was 10, then I first tried Linux in my early twenties at college. It looked similar enough to hide the differences, which kept me from immediately realizing how much work it actually takes to learn a new operating system (since as a kid you just soak up information like a sponge and don't remember the work it took). When I ran into difficulties like learning how to navigate the terminal it kinda put me off Linux for a few years until I started using it in a new job; after a year of getting familiar with it there, I was finally comfortable enough to switch at home.

Despite other comments; World domination! Bwahahahahshaaaaa. Ah, well, 7/8 is joking here - keep up, little penguin!