CodingExperiments.com posted an interesting article by utilizing the Google Trends system to show the trends in the Linux ecosystem. While these trends don't mean "market share", they are interesting and pretty accurate in terms of what average users care about. According to it, "Ubuntu" might even overtake the word "linux" in Google's searches.
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Member since:2005-06-28
Member since:2007-08-12
I don't think so, other distros release 2 versions a year as well (Mandriva, for example).
I think Ubuntu gathered a lot of attention initially because it built a whole distribution out of stock parts. Other distros try to shove down tools like the Drakes or Yast, but Ubuntu uses the tools available in the DEs for configuration, putting efforts on making those tools more powerful.
Instead of creating its own theme (e.g., Red Hat's Bluecurve), Ubuntu uses Clearlooks with a different color setting. Instead of creating something like Yast, Kubuntu uses systemsettings.
The DEs are now following the Ubuntu standards. The KDE project, for example, tries to keep the default settings of the base programs really close to the Ubuntu settings.
It's a win-win situation. It's much easier to ship Ubuntu that way, because there's much less stuff to change and test. The DE maintainers also win, since their code gets tested with less modifications. The user wins as well, since the standardization that brings makes things simpler and a more stable codebase can provide more innovation.
Obviously, that doesn't explain why Ubuntu got so popular among the non-tech-savy. There's a lot of marketing involved, a lot of hype. We live in a Steve Jobs era, where marketing means a lot. The timing was right. Besides, Ubuntu is a valuable product by itself, so all the hype (or most of it, maybe) was backed up by a good product.
I'm by no means an Ubuntu lover, but I gotta admit the Ubuntu guys nailed it.
Member since:
2006-11-14
they have a release every six months ...ubuntu online activity should be constantly up there because of their frequent release cycles ..
i am not saying ubuntu isnt popular, i am just saying their online activity is inflated because a good fraction of these activities dont come from new users, but from current users looking for info on the new release ..