According to Google Trends, but also according to Distrowatch, our own statistics here at OSNews and overall sense of the industry during 2006, Ubuntu has a big leap in mind share ahead of its competition (please note that we don't dare to say "market share", although we are pretty confident that it's the most used Linux desktop out there today). The second Fedora has a very small edge ahead of SuSe (while in US is a clear second), while Debian is following fourth. Mandrake+Mandriva (add both names on Google Trends and then sum the results) is clearly way below the previous four distros, but a clear 5th nonetheless. Last year Ubuntu was only a bit ahead of the other distros worldwide, but 2006 seems to have skyrocketed the distribution in the people's minds and computers.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-11-15
"Your criticism misses the mark, I'm afraid. The problem is not X Windows and its "display model"...the problem in your case is the actual graphics driver. The open-source ATI drivers are not very good, and ATI has yet to open-source its proprietary drivers. This means that these cannot easily be distributed along with the LiveCDs for installation. "
That's why it will fail to get Windows users. Sorry. First impressions count and people shouldn't have to look for good drivers.
Member since:2005-07-02
That's why it will fail to get Windows users. Sorry. First impressions count and people shouldn't have to look for good drivers.
Uh...you *do* realize that Nvidia/Ati drivers are *not* included when you install Windows either, right? If you don't happen to have the CD-ROM for your card's driver (which happen if you are reinstalling on a PC you've had a while, and misplaced the CDs), then you also have to go look for them on the Web.
In any case, your theory is wrong. Linux *does* get Windows users...what do you think I was (and in fact, still am) before starting to use Linux?
When you install a LiveCD, it still works, just without 3D acceleration out-of-the-box. This will be the *exact* same situation if you install Windows on a blank machine (except that, by default, Windows will put you in 640x480 and 16 colors...at least the Ubuntu LiveCD has more sensible defaults).
In any case, the point is moot as more and more LiveCD come with proprietary drivers (that are free to redistribute). Ubuntu Feisty Fawn will do it, and so does Sabayon Linux IIRC. Meanwhile, SuSE comes with proprietary drivers that are installed during initial setup.
Things are improving, as you can see. That's the strenght of Linux: it constantly adapts and improves.
Member since:2006-04-21
That's why it will fail to get Windows users. Sorry. First impressions count and people shouldn't have to look for good drivers.
That's why Windows will fail to get Linux users. Sorry. First impressions count and people shouldn't have to load drivers from CD after CD.
Yes, I know there are more Windows installations than Linux. If there were more Linux installations than Windows, the latter wouldn't even get a look in. In fact all other things being equal, Win 9x might well have been enough to bury Windows in a mound of bad publicity and attacks of hysterical laughter.
Member since:2005-08-18
Member since:
2005-07-02
Your criticism misses the mark, I'm afraid. The problem is not X Windows and its "display model"...the problem in your case is the actual graphics driver. The open-source ATI drivers are not very good, and ATI has yet to open-source its proprietary drivers. This means that these cannot easily be distributed along with the LiveCDs for installation.
Fortunately, I belive that as of Feisty Fawn there will be a way to install and configure ATI and NVIDIA cards right from the original setup. I know it's being discussed, anyway.
In any case, this has nothing to do with the X Windows display model, which is an excellent model BTW.