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[The Mad Draklor]

Linux Shoots Past The 2% Threshold For The Steam Survey, AMD CPU Use Breaks 75% - Phoronix

www.phoronix.com

Source

Linux hit a marketshare of 2.32% in the May 2024 Steam Hardware Survey which marks the highest ever. The last time it went over 2% was in February 2013, a few months after Valve launched the Linux Steam client, when it hit 2.02%. When accounting for just anglophone users, according to GamingOnLinux, Linux represents a 5.29% share. Factors such as the Steam Deck doing well commercially and the concerns behind Windows 11's Recall feature and telemetry may have contributed to Linux's rise.

Things holding Linux back include anticheat software in multiplayer games, Playstation games that require PSN logins, SteamOS still only available on the Steam Deck, and Nvidia GPUs not playing nice. I personally doubt the first two problems will be solved. Valve works on Valve Time, so who knows when SteamOS will be available on other handheld PCs, let alone, regular PCs. There is promising progress with Nvidia GPUs and Linux with NVK making inroads and explicit sync currently in beta.

 

[Topher]

Tough road ahead still with Windows being so dominant, but any progress is good.

 

[adamsapple]

 

[Topher]

 

[Unknown Soldier]

All gains made due to Steam Deck. Linux is never going to see widespread desktop and laptop use

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Linux users remind me of trad caths at university: arrogant insufferable and nobody likes them.

 

[Topher]

Linux users remind me of trad caths at university: arrogant insufferable and nobody likes them.

What the hell is a trad cath?

 

[The Mad Draklor]

Tough road ahead still with Windows being so dominant, but any progress is good.

OEM dominance helps for sure. Linux has small companies like System76 and Tuxedo, but I doubt we'll see Dell, Lenovo, Asus, etc. selling their laptops with a Linux distro preinstalled ever.

The silver lining is that the former lead maintainer of Nouveau is now working for Nvidia which was a surprising development. Since Nvidia GPUs make up the majority of the market, it can definitely help Linux a bit.

 

[Holammer]

All gains made due to Steam Deck. Linux is never going to see widespread desktop and laptop use

Basically this, but we're going to see a lot of unsupported Windows 10 machines after October this year.
If those users don't want to be passed around like a prison bitch by botnets, they should look into Linux.

 

[El Muerto]

Well, Linus Torvalds was right. With Valve and the popularity of noob friendly Ubuntu based distros (Pop OS, Zorin OS, Mint), Linux is going mainstream.

 

[tusharngf]

As a linux admin i have only used linux on servers, docker and build cloud instances. It works perfectly for heavy apps db and infra level projects. But on personal computer its windows latest version for smoother experience. Not a fan of limited steamos functionality.

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

 

[March Climber]

Basically this, but we're going to see a lot of unsupported Windows 10 machines after October this year.
If those users don't want to be passed around like a prison bitch by botnets, they should look into Linux.

The problem with Linux is that there has been an air of elitism around Linux. YeulEmeralda kind of touched on the topic but people who work on linux distros, apps, and UI mostly make them for other Linux users and no one else.

Modern Windows and MacOS, including their pricing models, would have been much different if this wasn't the case over the years.

 

[Buggy Loop]

2.32%???

I was coming in thread a bit more hopeful

 

[What The Fox]

OEM dominance helps for sure. Linux has small companies like System76 and Tuxedo, but I doubt we'll see Dell, Lenovo, Asus, etc. selling their laptops with a Linux distro preinstalled ever.

The silver lining is that the former lead maintainer of Nouveau is now working for Nvidia which was a surprising development. Since Nvidia GPUs make up the majority of the market, it can definitely help Linux a bit.

Dell has actually sold (and still do) laptops with Ubuntu pre-installed for many years now. There's only a handful of them - some XPS and Precision. Mostly targeted toward developers and professional use.

 

[Kilau]

What the hell is a trad cath?

This.

 

[M1chl]

Steam decks are counted? Feel like this would be a culprit.

Granted I work with Linux everyday, but I still don't think that any distro is that everyday desktop ready for normal users. I like Linux on the cloud or as an extension to Windows as a WSL2.

MacOs is Unix on desktop perfected, but shame about no external GPUs, thus low GPU power, very expensive. If Macs would allow external GPUs, delivered in some Apple friendly way it would shake up a lot of user distribution.

 

[Codeblew]

OEM dominance helps for sure. Linux has small companies like System76 and Tuxedo, but I doubt we'll see Dell, Lenovo, Asus, etc. selling their laptops with a Linux distro preinstalled ever.

The silver lining is that the former lead maintainer of Nouveau is now working for Nvidia which was a surprising development. Since Nvidia GPUs make up the majority of the market, it can definitely help Linux a bit.

Dell XPS 13 Plus developer edition -- with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS pre-installed | DELL Technologies

A month ago the Dell XPS 13 Plus developer edition was recertified for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. This meant that owners were able to self-install the latest LTS knowing that it had been thoroughly te...

www.dell.com

 

[ReBurn]

It good to see Valve's work with Proton helping to give people choices.

 

[The Mad Draklor]

2.32%???

I was coming in thread a bit more hopeful

This is only the second it has gone over 2%, the other time was fresh off the heels of the Linux Steam client launch and Valve giving a Linux-only item on Team Fortress 2. Unlike the last time, this one appears to be more sustainable.

And remember, Linux's marketshare is dependent on the Steam Deck and people going out of their way to install a Linux distro in their PC, the latter of which the vast majority of people want no part of.

Dell XPS 13 Plus developer edition -- with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS pre-installed | DELL Technologies

A month ago the Dell XPS 13 Plus developer edition was recertified for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. This meant that owners were able to self-install the latest LTS knowing that it had been thoroughly te...

www.dell.com

I stand corrected though you can see from the title alone that it's not meant for the average consumer.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Basically this, but we're going to see a lot of unsupported Windows 10 machines after October this year.
If those users don't want to be passed around like a prison bitch by botnets, they should look into Linux.

This year is 2024

Windows 10 support supposedly ends in 2025

And I say supposedly because they won't be able to just orphan over 1 billion working Windows PC's they are going to have to either backtrack on abandoning 10 or open up 11 to support older hardware

 

[Wildebeest]

For people who just want the basic functionality Linux on desktop can actually be pretty great, but the problem is with intermediate users who want everything to be just like on Windows with 100% compatibility and don't love the idea of spending thousands of hours coming up with new solutions. A very annoying thing about the scene are the distro hopping hipsters who insist you evaluate different flavours of Linux every month to make sure you are not using some crusty old os that doesn't support all the latest things.

 

[jshackles]

How has nobody posted this yet?

 

[yurinka]

2.32%???

And SteamOS (SteamDeck) is around half of that Linux percentage.

 

[proandrad]

Linux should have a way larger market share with how upset people get over windows. Gamers spend thousands of dollars and learn how to make their own custom PCs but think Linux is too complicated to use.

 

[The Mad Draklor]

For people who just want the basic functionality Linux on desktop can actually be pretty great, but the problem is with intermediate users who want everything to be just like on Windows with 100% compatibility and don't love the idea of spending thousands of hours coming up with new solutions. A very annoying thing about the scene are the distro hopping hipsters who insist you evaluate different flavours of Linux every month to make sure you are not using some crusty old os that doesn't support all the latest things.

Adobe's work suite is one such example where it can really get in the way of Linux adoption. I've seen some Linux advocates mention GIMP or Krita, but they fundamentally work differently from Photoshop.

 

[ReBurn]

Adobe's work suite is one such example where it can really get in the way of Linux adoption. I've seen some Linux advocates mention GIMP or Krita, but they fundamentally work differently from Photoshop.

Gimp is for masochists

 

[Unknown?]

All gains made due to Steam Deck. Linux is never going to see widespread desktop and laptop use

It should. Proprietary is trash.

Adobe's work suite is one such example where it can really get in the way of Linux adoption. I've seen some Linux advocates mention GIMP or Krita, but they fundamentally work differently from Photoshop.

KKrKrita is great though and Photoshop can be used with Wine.

 

[Codeblew]

For those afraid of totally giving up windows, it is pretty easy to run a windows 10/11 vm from within Linux.

 

[CrustyBritches]

That'll do, Steam Deck. That'll do.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

The problem with Linux is that there has been an air of elitism around Linux. YeulEmeralda kind of touched on the topic but people who work on linux distros, apps, and UI mostly make them for other Linux users and no one else.

Modern Windows and MacOS, including their pricing models, would have been much different if this wasn't the case over the years.

It's also the indoctrination problem. Windows computers are what most kids grew up using, and most people aren't computer nerds. They don't really care as long as it lets them do the thing they need to. If you gave these people Mint nowadays with Chromium pre-installed and setup automatic updates, I don't think they would even notice. Most people live their lives in browsers now, they don't care about the OS itself.

This year is 2024

Windows 10 support supposedly ends in 2025

And I say supposedly because they won't be able to just orphan over 1 billion working Windows PC's they are going to have to either backtrack on abandoning 10 or open up 11 to support older hardware

See now this is something that may be dangerous to the Windows platform. Most people will just upgrade for free, that has been Microsoft's strategy in the past and it works well. If you had to pay, there would be a mutiny and Windows might actually fall out of favor with your average consumer. Especially if they bought the device in the last few years, they will expect the thing to last 5+ years (and if they are older, they'll basically expect it to work until the device dies).

For people who just want the basic functionality Linux on desktop can actually be pretty great, but the problem is with intermediate users who want everything to be just like on Windows with 100% compatibility and don't love the idea of spending thousands of hours coming up with new solutions. A very annoying thing about the scene are the distro hopping hipsters who insist you evaluate different flavours of Linux every month to make sure you are not using some crusty old os that doesn't support all the latest things.

Windows is really the only platform that does "100% compatibility" and Microsoft does that pretty well, but they should considering how much money is put into that platform. Linux could be like this, but the money isn't there and the people who volunteer to work on freeware don't agree with it. That's basically the impasse we are at now, and I don't think it will change any time soon. It's good that Linux marketshare is increasing, but I don't see a mass migration from Windows to Linux. Even if Microsoft royally fucks up, it would take a lot for that many people to switch platforms.

 

[jshackles]

See now this is something that may be dangerous to the Windows platform. Most people will just upgrade for free, that has been Microsoft's strategy in the past and it works well. If you had to pay, there would be a mutiny and Windows might actually fall out of favor with your average consumer. Especially if they bought the device in the last few years, they will expect the thing to last 5+ years (and if they are older, they'll basically expect it to work until the device dies).

The upgrade from 10 to 11 is free, but you have to meet the system requirements for Windows 11. Namely, a recent-ish CPU and a TPM on your motherboard. While every PC released in the last 5 years has met this requirement, there are still a ton of older systems working just fine under Windows 10 that cannot be upgraded. Microsoft is gambling that these machines will simply be tossed in the trash and replaced with ones that meet their requirements.

 

[Syphon Filter]

linux needs native games, not emulation.

 

[dave_d]

What the hell is a trad cath?

I'm assuming traditional catholic.

 

[Guilty_AI]

 

[LavitzSlambert]

The upgrade from 10 to 11 is free, but you have to meet the system requirements for Windows 11. Namely, a recent-ish CPU and a TPM on your motherboard. While every PC released in the last 5 years has met this requirement, there are still a ton of older systems working just fine under Windows 10 that cannot be upgraded. Microsoft is gambling that these machines will simply be tossed in the trash and replaced with ones that meet their requirements.

Right, but all that will happen is those people will be unsupported, and they'll be fine with it. It's not like their device will refuse to boot up the next day, or stop running Office immediately. It's a rarity, but I know people with old iphones that are fine running unsupported hardware until they eventually replace the device. Your average joe isn't going to say "oh no, Microsoft is no longer supporting my OS and my hardware doesn't support Windows 11! Ugh now I have to buy a more recent device!" And when they do eventually get a new device, it won't be an issue. Very few people are actually going to see this and say "fuck it I'm booting Linux".

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Doesn't this actually tell us that the Steam Deck isn't selling all that well..

 

[lh032]

Doesn't this actually tell us that the Steam Deck isn't selling all that well..

i would be surprise if steam deck 1 even reach the sales of 10% switch life time sales.

 

[BlackTron]

This year is 2024

Windows 10 support supposedly ends in 2025

And I say supposedly because they won't be able to just orphan over 1 billion working Windows PC's they are going to have to either backtrack on abandoning 10 or open up 11 to support older hardware

I remember when they didn't even give you the option to upgrade, just install Windows 10 overnight and show up at work the next morning with your entire small business broken lol

 

[Magic Carpet]

Don’t need anti cheat if you stay single.

 

[Fredrik]

Linux should have a way larger market share with how upset people get over windows. Gamers spend thousands of dollars and learn how to make their own custom PCs but think Linux is too complicated to use.

Using Linux for me is like eating vegan food, as in the best you’ll ever get is ”Oh, nice, this isn’t so bad actually, it’s almost like the real thing”.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Linux users remind me of trad caths at university: arrogant insufferable and nobody likes them.

So I take it you are a Linux user, given the quality of your post here?

 

[Topher]

So I take it you are a Linux user, given the quality of your post here?

 

[Topher]

I'm assuming traditional catholic.

So every bit the stupid statement I thought it was.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Using Linux for me is like eating vegan food, as in the best you’ll ever get is ”Oh, nice, this isn’t so bad actually, it’s almost like the real thing”.

That is how I used to feel, back around 2012-2014 when I first used Linux. Fell off and recently switched back after endless frustrations with Windows late last year.

Now it feels like how Operating Systems used to act. Actually useable without the endless BS of internet searches when I try to find a file, endless bloat software, bullshit tracking, etc. Its far more useful and something I actually enjoy using now. Only issues I had was trying to re-learn and install the damned thing. They really need to make it a bit simpler, especially when there are issues with some distros and things like NVME recognization.

 

[FoxMcChief]

How has nobody posted this yet?

It’s only funny when Microsoft/Xbox are in third.

 

[Topher]

It’s only funny when Microsoft/Xbox are in third.

"when"

 

[Dr. Claus]

So every bit the stupid statement I thought it was.

Absolutely idiotic. Most religious folks I meet on college campuses just keep to themselves. Trad Caths, Jewish folk, Muslims, Jehovah's witnesses, etc. Most folks just want to focus on classes and learn - you know the entire reason they are there.

If anything in my experience, it is those with religious biases that tend to be the most arrogant and insufferable. The atheists and the like who think they are above things such as religion.

I would say the same goes with Linux now. Most Linux users are just excited about recent growth and want to get others into their favorite ecosystem. They get excited about talking about it, no different than someone excited about their new favorite game, movie, or song.

 

[Crayon]

Nice. Let's see how Deckard does.

 

[Zathalus]

The fundamental issues that Linux has always had are still there, so widespread adoption continues to be a pipedream for now. Much better for gaming these days though, but missing or badly supported Nvidia features makes it a bit of a no go for most gamers.