It is official: Linux distributions are now running on 3% of the world’s desktops – a number that even jumps to 7% if we count devices running Chrome operating system.
The message comes courtesy of new statistics counterdata and derives its findings from the tracking code embedded in it browsers. Curiously, “desktops” also include laptops, since the nature of telemetry makes it difficult to tell them apart.
Over the past year, Windows’ market share fell from 76.33% to 68.23%, while macOS saw a sharp increase from 14.64% to 21.32%, leaving Linux, ChromeOS and the nebulous “Unknown” category to top the remaining 10 .5% accounted for %.
While we can’t say we’re in a period of Linux mania or that this growth will be exponential (this author categorically refuses to use AI to run this simulation), it absolutely is Linux’s most user-friendly is It never was.
This is thanks to devices like the Raspberry Pi and Valve’s Steam Deck, which come with their own bespoke features operating systems (operating systems), Raspberry Pi OS, and SteamOS, with graphical user interfaces that resemble Windows at every step while still providing the tools to tinker and learn open-source Software freedom, which has been the unique selling point of Linux since its inception.
Practice what you preach
When the idea of writing something about the rise of Linux came to me, the joke was that it would “test my love for Linux” since I had bought a Steam Deck and a Raspberry Pi for different use cases and (spoilers ) pleasant was completely surprised. I would definitely agree with the idea that a lot of work has gone into making Linux palatable not just to the lay business man but to the rest of us.
I initially started with a grudging tolerance for SteamOS as there is currently no official dual boot wizard for the Steam Deck. Software compatibility was the first major gripe, but Valve’s compatibility layer for Windows software, Proton, is constantly being improved and, in my experience, can even run certain applications better than Windows installed on the deck.
Other application launchers designed for gaming, such as Lutris, appear to offer a custom implementation of the long-established Wine compatibility layer, alongside community installers for various pieces of software.
Again, Steam and Lutris aren’t explicitly designed for installing enterprise software tools, but I’ve had luck creating a portable workspace for emergency use, in addition to a set of required Windows dependencies and redistributables.
Sometimes even all this is an extravagance. For example, the Steam Deck, like Ubuntu (another popular Linux distribution), has a “Discover” application that replicates the Flathub software repository, which offers nothing but free software, in a baby-friendly “App Store”-like interface.
And there’s a lot here, important or not: those external Wine installers, a version of Space Cadet, the Windows 95 pinball game, for your lunch break. But not everything is fun and games. You’ll find your office software, your word processors, FTP and torrent clients, and even an open source fork of the 3D modeling software Blender.
I briefly considered making this article an experience piece: “I turned my Steam deck into a work laptop,” but beyond that, TechRadar Pro is deeply unoriginal and may be based solely on using web applications, so the piece would be remarkably boring Writing.
So you might be thinking, “I have the same use case at work, so why bother?” But the entry-level Steam Deck costs £349, and Raspberry Pis are available for just £35, so they’re pretty cheap options Workplace go.
With an application called InputDirector, you can easily turn the Steam Deck into a sort of “third display” on Windows. Although the Steam Deck remains a separate desktop, you can use WiFi to control a set of monitors on another system, as well as Steam Deck with a set of peripherals.
Supposedly there are Linux-based alternatives here, but I don’t use Linux on my primary desktop so can’t comment on that. In this scenario, the operating system you plan to use on a laptop for work purposes should probably be the same as the one you use on your primary PC.
Maybe that’s a consequence of my Steam deck currently running Windows, but if I were to make this experimental piece I wouldn’t have too many qualms about going back — certainly not one business PC Perspective.
Fear not, though, because I’ve been tinkering with a Raspberry Pi for a while – partly for personal use, but also in search of the rich, creamy, content-generated affiliate revenue my corporate payers are craving. And I have to say, I’m really excited about the size, the possibilities and the Windows-like standard operating system.
When exploring the capabilities of a Pi, its compact design makes it an ideal choice for beginners Small Business Servers connected to a powered USB hub. This is best if you have enough space to stack drives, but is absolutely the cheapest and easiest way to get one NAS (Network Attached Storage) box ready for use.
On Raspberry Pi OS, an SFTP server is as simple as enabling Secure Shell Protocol (SSH), either in the settings or directly via the Raspberry Pi Imager when installing the OS to an SD card. This was by far the easiest thing I’ve done in my growing Pis litany (more on that when I get one that actually lasts 12+ hours, but I should note that your performance in terms of reliability is likely to fluctuate for the better and I just had bad luck).
While I’m dying to save the RPi talk for my inevitable Experience feature, I’ll say this: there’s a culture of fear, difficulty, and ambiguity about Linux that emerging devices like Pis and the Steam Deck really take advantage of.
In both cases, the merging of very similar device specifications under a single brand name has resulted in strong community and brand support from third parties, resulting in a variety of software tools and accessories designed specifically for these devices. Do you have a problem with the special Linux variants of these devices? Google is your friend (other search engines are available).
Handheld Windows PCs that achieve the same effect, like Asus’ ROG Ally and Aya Neo (both aimed at gamers, but computers are computers), don’t quite get there. Valve and the Raspberry Pi Foundation are companies that produce hardware that stands for quality and long-term support, and both lower the barrier to entry by selling that hardware at a competitive price.
Here’s what I learned from a recent, albeit partial, conversion: If you need an app feature, I guarantee it will be available in some form on Linux, and it’s not like you’re just fumbling around with an app need command line windows to get everything going. If you want Linux to be right for you, this may be it. Right now I’m still in both camps, but honestly? I’m perfectly happy with the state of Linux and optimistic about how far it can go.
Over Ars Technica
