Stefan Mileschin

Rumours of its popularity greatly exaggerated

Linux fanboys were dancing in the streets when NetMarketShare's desktop operating system analysis, which showed Linux leaping from 2.5 percent in July, to almost 5 percent in September.

The news was seen as living proof that 2017 was the year of the Linux desktop and that things would only get better for next year.

Sadly though it was all a terrible mistake Vince Vizzaccaro, NetMarketShare's executive marketing share of marketing has said that the reported Linux share was incorrect.

“We are aware of the issue and are currently looking into it,” he said.

According to the US federal government's Digital Analytics Program (DAP) shows desktop Linux, as usual, hanging out in "other" at 1.5 percent.

Windows, as always, is on top with 45.9 percent, followed by Apple iOS, at 25.5 percent, Android at 18.6 percent, and macOS at 8.5 percent.

The figures are the US-based so they over emphasis Apple. Linux tends to do better in poorer parts of the world where people have to justify spending money on more important functions such as power, stability rather than just the logo on the case. .

The article does, however, acknowledge that Linux's real market share is probably a little higher this month.

http://fudzilla.com/news/44892-linux...-in-popularity