Source: Microsoft (2003)
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Without NetApplications's raw data, its sources of bias are impossible to discover. However, I would guess that GNU/Linux users would be more likely to choose free software website applications than NetApplications's, or perhaps a free online service such as Google Analytics.
In addition, NetApplications is an American company, and its website lists no overseas office. For these reasons, I would assume that its figures are drawn largely from the United States and perhaps Canada, and less so from the rest of the world.
Given that the United States was only ranked ninth in open source activity in the Open Source Index recently published by Red Hat and Georgia Tech (and Canada twenty-eighth), such a bias would seriously question the general applicability of the NetApplications figures.
Why do we wacky religious Linux zealot hippies get so mad? Just because the bulk of tech news reporting is so inaccurate and lazy? Why should anyone get upset at untrustworthy news reporting? (Don't make me insert sarcasm tags.) It doesn't much matter if they're slaves of Sauron or incompetent, because the results look the same. Cry me a river over the "death of journalism", if it can't be bothered to even try for honesty it deserves to die.
Looking into the future just a little, it's easy to see how the Linux desktop number will shift dramatically between now and 2011.
Here are two reasons:
1) Fast boot silicon.
Many notebook vendors and motherboard makers in general, are now including fast boot options which typically are Linux operating systems with browser capabilities. These systems are not just netbooks but high end desktop boards as well.
Certainly, I would expect that many of these fast boot machines will end up being dual boot machines, but they will increase desktop Linux penetration significantly. In fact if the fast boot silicon becomes a default feature (and it sure is looking that way), Linux quite literally will be embedded - not installed - on nearly every new computer system motherboard.
Comments
Gentoo User
2009-05-06 19:42:13
Are all these companies in Microsoft's evil pockets as well? And how come they are allowed to report such "artificially" (right?) high numbers for OS X?
What do you think is the correct number, and what are you planning on backing it up with? Do you just want people to trust your intuition and/or your gut feeling after you've successfully sold them the "company X is corrupt because they're not reporting the numbers I want" PR line?
And another thing. Why do you insist on passing your opinions as fact? Your supporting links as usual don't support anything - in one you even mention that one of NetApplications' partners is Opera... is Opera also paying them to report an artificial market share for their browser? I hope they ask for their money back because as far as I can see they're still far behind Mozilla. Which brings me to the other point: How is it possible that NetApplications is reporting such high numbers for Firefox, if they're in Microsoft's pockets? Can you expand on that as well, please?
Finally, why do you insist on purposefully confusing desktop OS share, which is what this is about, with devices, the embedded market and so on?
I just noticed that DistroWatch says Gentoo is far less popular than even Arch and Zenwalk... since I don't like that number, can I make up my own? Can I just claim DW is in Shuttleworth's pocket? What do you think?
JR Namida
2009-05-07 17:05:37
JR