this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Go back 20 years. See how many times this prediction has been made 🤣🤣
The only shift now is Microsoft shitting the bed so hard that people don't want to deal with them. The difference this time is the MacBook Neo.
People would gladly pay Apple $600 for a working machine WITH support and stores everywhere to get help if they have hardware issues. It's the new iPhone business model. They'll be taking more desktop market share than people even imagine on the price point alone.
That doesn’t conflict with Linux. Once people get off Windows, it’s easiest to turn to such further. I’m an Apple guy, but ~~most~~ all of my computers run Linux now. Even MacBooks.
I am considering of buying a Mac mini, with the perspective of using it as a Linux server, after it serves as a macOS desktop for my wife.
Once you change your default system and understand it can be changed, you won’t ever need Windows. Both Linux and macOS are quite close to each other.
Linux already got good a few years ago. Once most of the software just worked in wine that was the point where Linux adoption started to grow
Linux has been the most prolific OS on devices for 25 years, friend.
That's a pretty important difference...
Not important enough for people to not spend $500-600 on a MacBook instead of sticking with an antique PC they wish to keep running. That's my point.
Costs less than a phone from the same company.
But the thing with anything that involves network effect (like any os adoption) is that the growth is very slow at first, but it grows faster and faster as more people get in. We used to be grouped along with "others" in charts, then came the "counted with less than 1%" mark, and it took a long time. Then the 1% milestone, then 2%, much faster than from not counted to counted, then 3%, faster than it moved from 1 to 2. Now stats vary from 3 to 5 %, depending on the source. It's getting really fast, and will grow even faster. This is a very significant difference
I feel like I'm insane for having to constantly reassure people on this fact, but...
LINUX IS THE MOST DEPLOYED OS ON THIS PLANET
Desktops are just software on top of Linux. The OS itself is superfluous. It's in your TV, router, car, toothbrush...etc.
Who uses what for desktop matters very little except to the people making the desktop experience. The only thing on the horizon that is going to make a huge dent in the numbers you see reported on Steam, are Valve's new hardware.
Meanwhile, many EU government operations are switching to Linux as fast as they can move their little fingers, but you won't see that reflected on the stats you're paying attention to.
That reminds me of something I read once: If every copy of Windows were to magically disappear, some people would be annoyed. If every copy of Linux were to magically disappear, it would be utter chaos and absolutely nothing would work.
not to mention Apple Education sells it for $500