According to data analytics company Net Market Share,Linux desktop usage has reached 2%.
This is a first time achievement for the open source operating system.
This number doesnotcount Android as Linux.
Let me tell you why.
Linux is Easy
There’s this misconceptionthat Linux is difficult to use.
People assume that it’s only for developers, and that peoplehaveto use the command line.
Not so.Linux is different, but these days you could get by without knowing what a terminal even is.
Most distros come with enough apps to cover the essentials.
In some cases, they do a better job than the competition.
you could do a new or non-technical computer user a favor bystarting them off with Linux.
The Desktop is Polished
Not just polished.
!Linux desktop environments have reached a point where they are comparable to their commercial counterparts.
In some ways, they’re more innovative.
Ubuntu has created Unity, which places familiar app icons in a launcher on the side of the screen.
Its HUD lets youdo most things via keyboard shortcuts.
GNOME has spent the past few years turning a traditional desktop into aninterface unlike any other.
Then there’s Elementary OS, whose developersput more emphasis on polish than the Linux desktop usually gets.
Web apps make it possible to watch video, edit documents, and file your taxes.
At this point, millions of people can get by usingonlya internet tool.
The success of Chromebooks bears this out.
By extension, this increases what it’s possible for you to do from a Linux desktop.
Users can nowwatch Netflix easily.
Microsoft Office is available online.
Plus there’s Google Docs, Pixlr, and all the apps in the Chrome Web Store.
New apps are easier to grab.
Ubuntu PPAs provide software that isn’t available in the Software Center.
New formats such asAppImages,Snaps, andFlakpakslet youinstall an app regardless of your distribution.
This makes life easier for usersanddevelopers.
The Games Are Coming
Gaming is a big reason many Windows users haven’t switched to Linux.
While the number of games coming out for Windows remains much higher, Linux has come a long way.
These days there is plenty to keep a gamer happy.
If you enjoy indie games, this is an area where Linux is strong.
Steam hasbrought more AAA titles to the platform.
And that’s before we dive into themany ways to play old Windows and DOS games.
Linux Is Dependable
Remember Windows 7?
It was a solid release that won praise unheard since the days of XP.
Then Windows 8 came andprovided a radically different experience.
What should we expect from the future?
It’s anyone’s guess.
The same is true of GIMP.
New features come, but the workflow remains the same.
Is Linux Perfect?
Many Windows apps from a decade ago can still launch on modern PCs.
Meanwhile, Linux software can stop working after an OS update every six months.
And it may never even work at all on another distro.
Developing for Linux can be a headache, and that’s frustrating for users.
New package formats may fix this, but for now, that remains a future possibility.
Using Linux requires more research.
But Chromebooks are showing that neither of these issues are dealbreakers.
These Linux-powered machines are flying off the shelves and grabbing more of the marketshare.
They’re showing people that it’s okay to try something new.
