Sadly almost every average user will most likely just use windows 10 past the end and won't bother doing anything and eventually just buy new PC in few years. Also some stuff just can't be done on Linux for work, not that it can't be done but had problems with people not being able to open the files that were made on Linux libre office. But personally I'll switch to Linux for safety and try to make it daily driver.
Linux actually dropped by 0.26% in that same period.
Not that I'd be too concerned about any of that, because that's all data from reported OS in website visits, so all those are well within the margin of error.
The year of the Linux desktop will happen when a large (EDIT: large, CONSUMER-FOCUSED AND CONSUMER-FRIENDLY) company decides to donate a remarkable amount of resources to the development and maintenance of a specific distro to make it user friendly and give it the feeling that someone who actually knows better than most users is taking care of important stuff in the background.
When Windows dropped most 32 bit support, desktop Linux had a chance just like this, but it didn't happen then either. Unless some distro becomes a perfect 1:1 replacement for Windows on all hardware, with no changes in installation procedure. (including when it's purchased) as well as: All software must run not only perfectly, but exactly the same, with everything from installation to every moment of use exactly the same, otherwise people will use Windows unpatched, or go out and buy new hardware.
In my opinion, the year of Linux on the desktop will only come when the desktop is abandoned, and it is no longer a commonly used platform.
Yes, it's bleak, but we've been down this road before. Unless a distro becomes perfect, no significant change will come.
Scoop up that hardware being discarded, install your favorite distro (because you will be supporting it) and give it away to someone to learn Linux. There will never be a mass exodus, just install, educate, and chip away 1 user at a time.
Look, I like Linux too, and I think governments should definitely use it to move away from Microsoft.
But as long as prebuilt PCs and laptops are sold with Windows, people will stay accustomed to it and be way more hesitant to switch.
You can tell them, 'It works just like Windows! It just looks a bit different!' Yet their minds will still think, 'New = scary.' and won't use it.
When new OEM PCs comes with Linux pre-installed is when stuff happens. Not before then. Windows 11 adoption will be slow cause of their exclusion of old hardware. That old hardware will be scrapped or people just keep Windows 10 on it, regardless of security warnings.
The Desktop Linux experience, with gaming and all, seems pretty close to fulfilling everyone needs at this point. But it would not surprise me if Microsoft goes around paying OEM manufacturers to not bundle anything but windows with their products.
I remember similar articles when Windows 7 reached end of life. People will complain but mostly adapt to Windows 11, and Linux will gain 0.2% market share.
Yeah, just like how Netflix's rule changes was going to get everyone to turn to piracy. In reality, their subscription numbers skyrocketed, just like how new Windows PC sales will in 10 months.
While I love Linux and wish more people would switch over, I know damn well most people just want to keep using Windows. The people who REALLY want Linux will find it.
Right now I've been offering my friends n family who don't want Win11 two options.
I help them get started using Linux.
Or I show them how to get the IoT LTSC branch of Win10 that'll still get security updates until at the latest 2032.
Most of them including the more tech savy folks just want to keep Win10 with updates, Some have opted to try Linux on a dual boot but few have stuck with it.
Think about this for a second,Why we use Linux on supercomputers and servers and even our phones and embedded devices,But at home we are forced to use Windows from what i heard its built on stolen code and Microsoft had so much mess ups in the past, and why do manufactures put this stolen code os from a company with alot of mess ups in the past on their Pcs.
This may lead to people looking for options. That is good for the competition.
Linux may be ready to receive some of the users. Not in all areas. There is still work to be done. Unfortunately the users want to change now so it may be to other OS. Maybe MAC or Chrome OS.
Unfortunately there is no easy transition or as camping for moving to Linux, like double click this .exe and migration begins.
I moved to Fedora with KDE but that was only possible due to I am a power user. Average Joe will fail and find suitable replacement applications takes time.
I hope some companies with money takes the opportunity to take care of those lost souls. Maybe Red har have money for TV ads?
Ah, yes, the mythical "Year of the Linux Desktop"—that elusive utopia Linux enthusiasts have been chasing since it's creation. Newsflash: nobody cares. The year of the Linux desktop isn't some grand global awakening; it's just whenever you decide to stop whining about it and install the thing. For me, it was 2002, and guess what? My computer didn't care either. It just worked. So stop waiting for some cosmic alignment of market share and app support. The year of the Linux desktop is when you make it. Now go forth and sudo (or doas) your destiny....
I decided to set up Fedora on my new laptop as it was either take a chance on that or spend like 3 hours debloating a Win11 install.
It's been over 10 years since I last tried dailying Linux, we have come a long way in that time. Everything just worked out of the box. No fucking around needed.
Even relatively niche stuff like my thunderbolt dock and the laptop's fingerprint sensor was picked up. And, thanks to the investment Valve has been putting into Wine and Proton, pretty much every game I've tried has worked with no issue.
Next time my desktop is due for a clean install I'll definitely be doing the same there.
I've been learning GIMP to replace Photoshop in preparation. So far, so good, but there are still things about GIMP I just dont get. Like, it's seems impossible to paint onto a fully transparent layer because the paint tool doesn't modify the mask as it goes. I don't even want that layer to have an alpha channel, but it seems like you have no choice if you want a transparent layer.
If you try to paint on a transparent layer, you just get... nothing. It's so trivial in Photoshop to make a new layer and just paint into it, and I can't figure it out at all in GIMP. (I really should ask in a forum, but I also feel like I shouldn't have to.)
Being able to script in Python to simulate Photoshop actions is both awesome and crappy. It's awesome because of how powerful it is, but crappy that I can't just whip up an action in seconds to make a quick, repeatable edit.
I guess I'll have to use a VM to run Autodesk Fusion. ☹️