Linux desktops have reached a global market share of 3.07 percent, according to a recent report by Statcounter. While this is a notable milestone for the 30-year-old operating system, it also raises questions about its overall significance in the desktop market. The data, collected from over 1.5 million websites and billions of monthly page views, provides an interesting perspective on the current state of operating systems.
In the past five years, Linux has shown steady growth, climbing from 1.69 percent in June 2018 to its current 3.07 percent market share. However, if we consider Chrome OS as a Linux system, the combined market share would be 7.2 percent. This suggests that Linux is making progress, but its growth is still relatively slow compared to other operating systems.
Looking at the larger picture, Windows has experienced a decline in market share, dropping from 76.33 percent to 68.23 percent over the course of a year. This decline could be attributed to various factors, including Microsoft’s suspension of sales in Russia. On the other hand, MacOS has seen consistent growth, increasing from 14.64 percent to 21.32 percent in the same period. Windows and MacOS combined still dominate the desktop market with 89.5 percent market share, leaving the rest to Chrome OS, Linux, and an ambiguous category labeled Unknown.
When focusing on the US market, Linux did not reach 3 percent market share and even experienced a slight loss, dropping from 2.14 percent to 1.96 percent. Meanwhile, MacOS has been steadily gaining ground, going from 24 percent to 34 percent. Windows, although dropping slightly, still remains the dominant player at 55 percent. The Unknown category also saw a slight increase, possibly impacting both Microsoft and Linux.
Considering the projected growth of Linux, it is interesting to reflect on its future prospects. By using an AI model to predict based on past growth patterns, it was estimated that Linux could potentially reach a 100 percent market share by the year 3033, assuming linear growth. However, it is important to note that this projection is simplified and not likely to reflect the complexities of real-world scenarios.
In conclusion, Linux’s growth in the desktop market is significant but relatively slow compared to other operating systems. While it has reached a notable milestone of 3.07 percent global market share, its future trajectory remains uncertain. Windows has experienced a decline, potentially influenced by factors like the suspension of sales in Russia. MacOS, on the other hand, has shown consistent growth. With various operating systems vying for market share, the desktop landscape continues to evolve, making it an intriguing area to observe.
