Linux adoption#Timeline

{{Main|List of Linux adopters}}

{{See also|Adoption of free and open-source software by public institutions}}

Outside of traditional web services, Linux powers many of the biggest Internet properties (e.g., Google,Jonathan Corbet, [https://lwn.net/Articles/357658/ "KS2009: How Google uses Linux"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731071041/https://lwn.net/Articles/357658/ |date=31 July 2017 }}, LWN.net, 21 October 2009 Amazon,Stephen Shankland, [https://www.cnet.com/news/how-linux-saved-amazon-millions "How Linux saved Amazon millions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922213006/https://www.cnet.com/news/how-linux-saved-amazon-millions/ |date=22 September 2019 }}, CNET, 7 May 2002 Facebook, eBay, Twitter or Yahoo!Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, [https://www.zdnet.com/article/yahoo-the-linux-company/ "Yahoo: The Linux Company"], ZDNet, 6 April 2011).

Linux is used on desktop computers, servers and supercomputers, as well as a wide range of devices.

{{anchor|Desktop Linux adoption}}Linux powers the Steam Deck's Operating System made by Valve, and has many distributions/versions, such as Bazzite, Arch, and Ubuntu

{{See also|Desktop Linux}}

File:Ubuntu_22.10_Kinetic_Kudu.png, a popular distribution of Linux.]]

Because Linux desktop distributions are not usually distributed by retail sale, there are no sales numbers that indicate the number of users. One downloaded file may be used to create many CDs and each CD may be used to install the operating system on multiple computers. On the other hand, the file might be used only for a test and the installation erased soon after. Due to these factors estimates of current Linux desktop often rely on webpage hits by computers identifying themselves as running Linux. The use of these statistics has been criticized as unreliable and as underestimating Linux use.{{cite news | first=Ryan | last=Paul | title=Linux market share set to surpass Win 98, OS X still ahead of Vista | date=3 September 2007 | publisher=Ars Technica, LLC | url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070903-linux-marketshare-set-to-surpass-windows-98.html | work=Ars Technica | access-date=19 November 2007 | archive-date=16 November 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116080339/http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070903-linux-marketshare-set-to-surpass-windows-98.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web|url = https://www.linuxcounter.net/|title = The Linux Counter Project|access-date = 7 November 2014|date = March 2005|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181205060932/https://www.linuxcounter.net/|archive-date = 5 December 2018|url-status = dead}}

Using webpage hits as a measure, until 2008, Linux accounted for only about 1% of desktop market share, while Microsoft Windows operating systems held more than 90%.{{cite news | first=Peter | last=Galli | title=Vista Aiding Linux Desktop, Strategist Says | date=8 August 2007 | publisher=Ziff Davis Enterprise Inc. | url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Linux-and-Open-Source/Vista-Aiding-Linux-Desktop-Strategist-Says/ | work=eWEEK | access-date=19 November 2007 | archive-date=9 July 2009 | archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090709050715/http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Linux-and-Open-Source/Vista-Aiding-Linux-Desktop-Strategist-Says/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news|first=Stan |last=Beer |title=Vista to play second fiddle to XP until 2009: Gartner |date=23 January 2007 |publisher=iTWire |url=http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8842/53/ |work=iTWire |access-date=19 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203204529/http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8842/53/ |archive-date=3 December 2008 }}{{cite web |url=http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=2&qpmr=15&qpdt=1&qpct=3&qptimeframe=Y |title=Operating System Marketshare for Year 2007 |access-date=19 November 2007 |date=19 November 2007 |work=Market Share |publisher=Net Applications |archive-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624203258/http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=2&qpmr=15&qpdt=1&qpct=3&qptimeframe=Y |url-status=live }}{{cite news|title=Vista slowly continues its growth; Linux more aggressive than Mac OS during the summer |date=24 September 2007 |publisher=AT Internet/XiTi.com |url=http://www.xitimonitor.com/en-us/internet-users-equipment/operating-systems-august-2007/index-1-2-7-107.html |work=XiTiMonitor |access-date=19 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113105328/http://www.xitimonitor.com/en-us/internet-users-equipment/operating-systems-august-2007/index-1-2-7-107.html |archive-date=13 November 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php |title=Global Web Stats |access-date=19 November 2007 |date=10 November 2007 |work=W3Counter |publisher=Awio Web Services LLC |archive-date=28 June 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628/http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist/zeitgeist-jun04.html |title=June 2004 Zeitgeist |access-date=19 November 2007 |date=12 August 2004 |work=Google Press Center |publisher=Google Inc. |archive-date=3 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003022458/http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist/zeitgeist-jun04.html |url-status=live }} This might have been because Linux was not seen at that time as a direct replacement for Windows.{{cite web|url=http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415032312/http://linux-mag.com/id/4357 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 April 2008 |title=Is 2008 the Year of the Linux Desktop? |access-date=19 November 2007 |last=Brockmeier |first=Joe |date=15 November 2007 |work=Linux Magazine |publisher=QuarterPower Media }}

{{As of|2017|2}}, W3Counter estimated "Linux" web browser market share to be 4.63%, while "Android" versions 6, 5 and 4 combined (which is based on the Linux kernel) were estimated to be 33.77%.{{cite web|url = http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php?year=2017&month=2|title = Global Web Stats|access-date = 3 March 2015|website = W3Counter|archive-date = 14 March 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170314152216/https://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php?year=2017&month=2|url-status = live}}

The Unity game engine gathers user statistics and showed in March 2016 0.4% Linux users.[http://hwstats.unity3d.com/pc/os.html Platforms Top on 2016-03] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627193942/http://hwstats.unity3d.com/pc/os.html |date=27 June 2017 }} Windows Player: 97.3%, OS X Player: 2.3%, Others (click to show): 0.4% Linux Player: 0.4% Similarly, the Steam client tracks usage and reported in May 2015 around 1% Linux users.[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/140901-Linux-Steam-Users-Under-1 Linux Users Drop to Under 1% In Latest Steam Survey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409073256/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/140901-Linux-Steam-Users-Under-1 |date=9 April 2017 }} by Steven Bogos on The Escapist (26 May 2015)

In April 2009, Aaron Seigo of KDE indicated that most web-page counter methods produce Linux adoption numbers that are far too low given the system's extensive penetration into non-North American markets, especially China. He stated that the North American-based web-measurement methods produce high Windows numbers and ignore the widespread use of Linux in other parts of the world. In estimating true worldwide desktop adoption and accounting for the Windows-distorted environment in the US and Canada he indicated that at least 8% of the world desktops run Linux distributions and possibly as high as 10–12% and that the numbers are rising quickly. Other commentators have echoed this same belief, noting that competitors are expending a lot of effort to discredit Linux, which is incongruent with a tiny market share:{{cite web|url = http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3818696_2/Linux-Desktop-Market-Share-Greater-Than-One-Percent.htm|title = Linux Desktop Market Share: Greater Than One Percent?|access-date = 6 May 2009|last = Byfield|first = Bruce|date = May 2009|archive-date = 7 May 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090507183542/http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3818696_2/Linux-Desktop-Market-Share-Greater-Than-One-Percent.htm|url-status = live}}{{cite web |url = http://blog.linuxtoday.com/blog/2009/05/1-linux-microso.html |title = Tiny 1% Linux = Big Microsoft Terror |access-date = 30 May 2009 |last = Schroder |first = Carla |date = May 2009 |archive-date = 31 May 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090531140510/http://blog.linuxtoday.com/blog/2009/05/1-linux-microso.html |url-status = live }}

{{blockquote|I don't believe that the desktop Linux market share is barely 1%. I think it is a lot higher. I have no good data to share; I base my assessment on experience and knowing the industry. There is something else that is even more persuasive, and that is how Microsoft behaves. If Linux is so insignificant, why do they pay so much attention to it?|Carla Schroder, Linux Today}}

In May 2009, Preston Gralla, contributing editor to Computerworld.com, in reacting to the Net Applications web hit numbers showing that Linux use was over 1%, said that "Linux will never become an important desktop or notebook operating system". He reasoned that the upsurge in Linux desktop use recently seen was due to Linux netbooks, a trend he saw as already diminishing and which would be further eroded when Windows 7 became available (and indeed, Linux netbooks did fall by the wayside, though whether they were solely responsible for the upsurge in Linux usage is open to question). He concluded: "As a desktop operating system, Linux isn't important enough to think about. For servers, it's top-notch, but you likely won't use it on your desktop – even though it did finally manage to crack the 1% barrier after 18 years".{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=338839 |title=Opinion: Why you shouldn't care about Linux on the desktop |access-date=20 May 2009 |last=Gralla |first=Preston |date=May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521132147/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=338839 |archive-date=21 May 2009 }}

In 2009, Microsoft then-CEO Steve Ballmer indicated that Linux had a greater desktop market share than Mac, stating that in recent years Linux had "certainly increased its share somewhat". Just under a third of all Dell netbook sales in 2009 had Linux installed.{{cite web|url = http://broadcast.oreilly.com/2010/09/debunking-the-1-myth.html|title = Debunking the 1% Myth|access-date = 14 September 2010|last = Martin|first = Caitlyn|date = September 2010|archive-date = 27 February 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110227195510/http://broadcast.oreilly.com/2010/09/debunking-the-1-myth.html|url-status = live}}

Caitlyn Martin, researching retail market numbers in the summer of 2010 also concluded that the traditional numbers mentioned for Linux desktop adoption were far too low:

{{blockquote|It seems like almost every day someone in the tech press or someone commenting in a technical forum will claim that Linux adoption on the desktop (including laptops) is insignificant. The number that is thrown around is 1%. These claims are even repeated by some who advocate for Linux adoption. Both the idea that Linux market share on the desktop is insignificant and the 1% figure are simply false and have been for many years...Where does the 1% number come from? There are two sources: very old data and web counters. The problem with using web counters to try and ascertain market share is that they generally only include websites that have paid to be counted. That pretty much guarantees that Windows will be overcounted.|Caitlyn Martin}}

Reasons to change from other operating systems to Linux include better system stability, better malware protection, low or no cost, that most distributions come complete with application software and hardware drivers, simplified updates for all installed software, free software licensing, availability of application repositories and access to the source code. Linux desktop distributions also offer multiple desktop workspaces, greater customization, free and unlimited support through forums, and an operating system that doesn't slow down over time. Environmental reasons are also cited, as Linux operating systems usually do not come in boxes and other retail packaging, but are downloaded via the Internet. The lower system specifications also mean that older hardware can be kept in use instead of being recycled or discarded. Linux distributions also get security vulnerabilities patched much more quickly than non-free operating systems and improvements in Linux have been occurring at a faster rate than those in Windows.{{cite web |url=http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/ |title=Why Linux is Better |access-date=15 March 2009 |last=Cornet |first=Manu |date=n.d. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313031313/http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/ |archive-date=13 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url = http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/the-linux-desktop-myth/|title = The Linux Desktop Myth|access-date = 19 March 2009|last = Siu|first = A.Y.|date = July 2006|archive-date = 16 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200616152507/https://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/the-linux-desktop-myth/|url-status = live}}{{unreliable source?|date=December 2016}}{{cite web|url = http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/linux-and-open-source/why-would-anyone-choose-windows-over-linux/|title = Why would anyone choose Windows over Linux?|access-date = 19 March 2009|last = Wallen|first = Jack|date = August 2008|archive-date = 2 March 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150302135409/http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/linux-and-open-source/why-would-anyone-choose-windows-over-linux/|url-status = live}}

A report in The Economist in December 2007 said:

{{cquote|Linux has swiftly become popular in small businesses and the home. That’s largely the doing of Gutsy Gibbon, the code-name for the Ubuntu 7.10 from Canonical. Along with distributions such as Linspire, Mint, Xandros, OpenSUSE and gOS, Ubuntu (and its siblings Kubuntu, Edubuntu and Xubuntu) has smoothed most of Linux’s geeky edges while polishing it for the desktop. No question, Gutsy Gibbon is the sleekest, best integrated and most user-friendly Linux distribution yet. It’s now simpler to set up and configure than Windows.{{cite news|url = http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10410912|title = Technology in 2008|access-date = 1 April 2008|newspaper = The Economist|date = December 2007|archive-date = 22 March 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080322045229/http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10410912|url-status = live}}}}

Further investments have been made to improve desktop Linux usability since that 2007 report.

Indian bulk computer purchaser the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) started recommending only Linux in June 2008. Following testing they stated: "ELCOT has been using SUSE Linux and Ubuntu Linux operating systems on desktop and laptop computers numbering over 2,000 during the past two years and found them far superior as compared to other operating systems, notably the Microsoft Windows Operating System."

In many developing nations, such as China, where, due to widespread software piracy, Microsoft Windows can be easily obtained for free, Linux distributions are gaining a high level of adoption. Hence in these countries where there is essentially no cost barrier to obtaining proprietary operating systems, users are adopting Linux based on its merit, rather than on price.

In January 2001, Microsoft then-CEO Bill Gates explained the attraction of adopting Linux in an internal memo that was released in the Comes vs Microsoft case. He said:

{{blockquote|Our most potent Operating System competitor is Linux and the phenomena around Open Source and free software. The same phenomena fuels competitors to all of our products. The ease of picking up Linux to learn it or to modify some piece of it is very attractive. The academic community, start up companies, foreign governments and many other constituencies are putting their best work into Linux.{{cite web|url = http://groklaw.net/pdf/iowa/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/8000/PX08256.pdf|title = Comes vs Microsoft E-mail Exhibit|access-date = 29 June 2009|last = Gates|first = Bill|date = January 2001|archive-date = 12 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160112100827/http://groklaw.net/pdf/iowa/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/8000/PX08256.pdf|url-status = dead}} }}

The greatest barrier to Linux desktop adoption is probably that few desktop PCs come with it from the factory. A.Y. Siu asserted in 2006 that most people use Windows simply because most PCs come with Windows pre-installed; they didn't choose it. Linux has much lower market penetration because in most cases users have to install it themselves, a task that is beyond the capabilities of many PC users: "Most users won’t even use Windows restore CDs, let alone install Windows from scratch. Why would they install an unfamiliar operating system on their computers?"{{unreliable source?|date=December 2016}}

TechRepublic writer Jack Wallen expands on this barrier, saying in August 2008:

{{blockquote|Why would anyone choose Windows over Linux?...In my seriously biased opinion, I think this question is answered with a simple conspiracy theory: Microsoft is doing everything it can to keep the public blind to Linux. Think about it? Remember the whole Wintel conspiracy where MS and Intel played off of each other to continue their strangle-hold monopoly in the PC industry? That era played a huge part in the blinding of consumers. Top that with the business practices MS forces upon big box shops to ensure their operating system is sold on nearly every PC sold and you can see that conspiracy is more of a reality than one might think. }}

Linus Torvalds stated, in his June 2012 interaction with students at Aalto University,{{cite web |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFKxlYNfT_o |title = Q&A session with Linus Torvalds: Why is Linux not competitive on desktop? |website = YouTube |date = 15 June 2012 |access-date = 27 November 2016 |archive-date = 3 December 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161203054123/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFKxlYNfT_o |url-status = live }} that although Linux was originally conceived as a desktop system, that has been the only market where it has not flourished. He suggested that the key reason that keeps Linux from getting a substantial presence in the desktop market is that the average desktop user does not want to install an operating system, so getting manufacturers to sell computers with Linux pre-installed would be the missing piece to fulfill the vision of Linux in the desktop market.{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18419231 |title = Linus Torvalds: Linux succeeded thanks to selfishness and trust |author = Leo Kelion |date = 13 June 2012 |publisher = BBC |access-date = 20 June 2018 |archive-date = 5 January 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180105081446/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18419231 |url-status = live }} He added that Chromebooks, by shipping with the Linux-based ChromeOS, could provide the key turning point in such a transition, much like Android allowed Linux to spread in the mobile space.

In September 2012, GNOME developer Michael Meeks also indicated that the main reason for the lack of adoption of Linux desktops is the lack of manufacturers shipping computers with it pre-installed, supporting Siu's arguments from six years earlier. Meeks also indicated that users wouldn't embrace desktop Linux until there is a wider range of applications and developers won't create that wider range of applications until there are more users, a classic Catch-22 situation.McAllister, Neil (11 September 2012), [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/11/michael_meeks_linux_desktop/ GNOME hacker: Culture isn't holding desktop Linux back] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129095619/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/11/michael_meeks_linux_desktop/ |date=29 January 2017 }}, The Register, retrieved 12 August 2013

In an openSUSE survey conducted in 2007, 69.5% of respondents said they dual booted a Microsoft Windows operating system in addition to a Linux operating system.{{cite web|url=http://files.opensuse.org/opensuse/en/6/6c/Opensuse_survey_102_data_final.pdf |title=openSUSE 10.2 Survey Results |access-date=19 November 2007 |date=4 May 2007 |work=openSUSE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516231251/http://files.opensuse.org/opensuse/en/6/6c/Opensuse_survey_102_data_final.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2008 }} In early 2007 Bill Whyman, an analyst at Precursor Advisors, noted that "there still isn't a compelling alternative to the Microsoft infrastructure on the desktop."{{cite news |first = Robert A. |last = Guth |title = Linux Starts to Find Home on Desktops |date = 13 March 2007 |publisher = Dow Jones & Company, Inc. |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117374336173334742 |work = The Wall Street Journal Online |access-date = 19 November 2007 |archive-date = 22 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222223215/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117374336173334742 |url-status = live }}

Application support, the quality of peripheral support, and end user support were at one time seen as the biggest obstacles to desktop Linux adoption. According to a 2006 survey by The Linux Foundation, these factors were seen as a "major obstacle" for 56%, 49%, and 33% of respondents respectively at that time.{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1462899608;fp;4194304;fpid;1 |title=Living (and dying) with Linux in the workplace |access-date=19 November 2007 |last=Machlis |first=Sharon |date=22 March 2007 |work=Computerworld |publisher=IDG Communications |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221085731/http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id%3B1462899608%3Bfp%3B4194304%3Bfpid%3B1 |archive-date=21 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=420 |title=Five crucial things the Linux community doesn't understand about the average computer user |access-date=19 November 2007 |last=Kingsley-Hughes |first=Adrian |date=21 May 2007 |work=ZDNet |publisher=CNET Networks, Inc. |archive-date=20 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220214820/http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=420 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS6087894103.html |title=Why Windows wins and Linux loses |access-date=19 November 2007 |last=Vaughan-Nichols |first=Steven J. |date=3 January 2007 |work=DesktopLinux.com |publisher=Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-date= 4 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204050814/http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS6087894103.html}}{{cite journal |title=Desktop Linux: Where Art Thou? |journal=ACM Queue |date=May 2004 |first=Bart |last=Decrem |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=48–56 |doi=10.1145/1005062.1005067 |doi-access=free}}{{cite web |url=http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9755856281.html |title=Who are the Linux desktop users? |access-date=19 November 2007 |last=Vaughan-Nichols |first=Steven J. |date=6 May 2007 |work=DesktopLinux.com |publisher=Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117181549/http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9755856281.html |archive-date=17 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Dell to use Ubuntu on Linux PCs |date=1 May 2007 |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6610901.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=19 November 2007 |archive-date=15 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215045433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6610901.stm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Antone |last=Gonsalves |title=Study: Lack of App Support Stunting Linux |date=1 December 2005 |work=TechWeb |publisher=CMP Media LLC |url=http://www.techweb.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174403447 |access-date=19 November 2007 |archive-date=11 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611123304/http://www.techweb.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174403447 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn |title=Ubuntu |access-date=19 November 2007 |work=Dell Home & Home Office |publisher=Dell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228203033/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn |archive-date=28 February 2010 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://mwiki.static.linuxfound.org/images/a/a9/2006survey-analysis.pdf |title=2006 Desktop Linux Client Survey: Analysis |access-date=6 January 2022 |year=2006 |work=OSDL Desktop Linux Working Group |publisher=Linux Foundation |archive-date=6 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106112853/https://mwiki.static.linuxfound.org/images/a/a9/2006survey-analysis.pdf |url-status=live }}

{{See also|Virtual machine|Wine (software)}}

The November 2006 Desktop Linux Client Survey identified the foremost barrier for deploying Linux desktops was that users were accustomed to Windows applications which had not been ported to Linux and which they "just can't live without". These included Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD, Microsoft Project, Visio and Intuit QuickBooks.{{cite news|first=Steven J. |last=Vaughan-Nichols |title=Where are the American Linux desktop users? |date=23 October 2007 |publisher=Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. |url=http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS2619861157.html |work=DesktopLinux.com |access-date=19 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121011218/http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS2619861157.html |archive-date=21 November 2007 }} This creates a chicken or the egg situation where developers make programs for Windows due to its market share, and consumers use Windows due to availability of said programs.

In a DesktopLinux.com survey conducted in 2007, 72% of respondents said they used ways to run Windows applications on Linux.{{cite web|url=http://www.desktoplinux.com/cgi-bin/survey/survey.cgi?view=archive&id=0813200712407 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524145331/http://www.desktoplinux.com/cgi-bin/survey/survey.cgi?view=archive&id=0813200712407 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 May 2012 |title=2007 Desktop Linux Market survey |access-date=11 December 2007 |date=21 August 2007 |work=DesktopLinux.com |publisher=Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc }}

51% of respondents to the 2006 Linux Foundation survey, believed that cross-distribution Linux desktop standards should be the top priority for the Linux desktop community, highlighting the fact that the fragmented Linux market is preventing application vendors from developing, distributing and supporting the operating system. In May 2008, Gartner predicted that "version control and incompatibilities will continue to plague open-source OSs and associated middleware" in the 2013 timeframe.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=2216 |title=Gartner report forecasts bad news, good news for open source |access-date=7 April 2008 |last=Rooney |first=Paula |date=1 April 2008 |work=ZDNet |publisher=CNET Networks, Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405204558/http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=2216 |archive-date= 5 April 2008 }}

By 2008, the design of Linux applications and the porting of Windows and Apple applications had progressed to the point where it was difficult to find an application that did not have an equivalent for Linux, providing adequate or better capabilities.{{cite web |url = http://linuxappfinder.com/alternatives |title = Windows and OS X Software Alternatives |access-date = 19 March 2009 |website = Linux App Finder |year = 2008 |archive-date = 18 March 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090318063443/http://linuxappfinder.com/alternatives |url-status = live }}{{cite web |url = http://www.tuxsoftware.com/home/ |title = Linux Software Search |access-date = 19 March 2009 |website = TuxSoftware.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080822001523/http://www.tuxsoftware.com/home/ |archive-date = 22 August 2008 }}

An example of application progress can be seen comparing the main productivity suite for Linux, OpenOffice.org, to Microsoft Office. With the release of OpenOffice.org 3.0 in October 2008 Ars Technica assessed the two:{{cite web |url = https://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2008/10/openoffice-org-3-0-officially-released.ars |title = OpenOffice.org 3.0 officially released |access-date = 19 March 2009 |last = Paul |first = Ryan |date = October 2008 |archive-date = 12 February 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090212174809/http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2008/10/openoffice-org-3-0-officially-released.ars |url-status = live }}

{{blockquote|Although OpenOffice.org has not yet reached full parity with Microsoft Office, it is maturing at a rapid pace and is already capable of meeting the basic needs of many average computer users. It is an ideal choice for schools and is an increasingly viable choice for small businesses and home users that don't rely on the more advanced capabilities of Microsoft's office suite. }}

In the past the availability and quality of open source device drivers were issues for Linux desktops. Particular areas which were lacking drivers included printers as well as wireless and audio cards.{{cite web |url = https://www.linux-foundation.org/images/3/3b/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005.pdf |title = 2005 Desktop Linux Client Survey Report |access-date = 19 November 2007 |year = 2005 |work = OSDL Desktop Linux Working Group |publisher = Linux Foundation }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=Balon Greyjoy |fix-attempted=yes }} For example, in early 2007, Dell did not sell specific hardware and software with Ubuntu 7.04 computers, including printers, projectors, Bluetooth keyboards and mice, TV tuners and remote controls, desktop modems and Blu-ray drives, due to incompatibilities at that time, as well as legal issues.{{cite web |url = http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&dl=false&l=en&s=gen&docid=33C0764C597FC6CCE040A68F5B2872A3&doclang=en |title = Hardware and Software Not Sold on Dell Ubuntu 7.04 Computers |access-date = 19 November 2007 |date = 26 July 2007 |work = Dell USA |publisher = Dell |archive-date = 24 February 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230224001709/https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us |url-status = live }}

By 2008, most Linux hardware support and driver issues had been adequately addressed. In September 2008, Jack Wallen's assessment was:

{{blockquote|Years ago, if you wanted to install Linux on a machine you had to make sure you hand-picked each piece of hardware or your installation would not work 100 percent...This is not so much the case now. You can grab a PC (or laptop) and most likely get one or more Linux distributions to install and work nearly 100 percent. But there are still some exceptions; for instance, hibernate/suspend remains a problem with many laptops, although it has come a long way. }}

Some critics have stated that compared to Windows, Linux is lacking in end-user support. Linux has traditionally been seen as requiring much more technical expertise.{{cite news |first = Walter S. |last = Mossberg |title = Linux's Free System Is Now Easier to Use, But Not for Everyone |date = 13 September 2007 |publisher = Dow Jones & Company, Inc. |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118963540721725614 |work = The Wall Street Journal Online |access-date = 19 November 2007 |archive-date = 11 January 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150111114300/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118963540721725614 |url-status = live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.crn.com/software/190900617 |title=A Linux OS For All |access-date=19 November 2007 |last=Ohlhorst |first=Frank J. |date=21 July 2006 |work=CRN |publisher=CMP Media LLC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203004836/http://www.crn.com/software/190900617 |archive-date=3 December 2007 }} Dell's website described open source software as requiring intermediate or advanced knowledge to use. In September 2007, the founder of the Ubuntu project, Mark Shuttleworth, commented that "it would be reasonable to say that this is not ready for the mass market."

In October 2004, Chief Technical Officer of Adeptiva Linux, Stephan February, noted at that time that Linux was a very technical software product, and few people outside the technical community were able to support consumers. Windows users are able to rely on friends and family for help, but Linux users generally use discussion boards, which can be uncomfortable for consumers.{{cite news |first = Geoffrey P. |last = Ramos |title = Linux not ready for mass market |date = 29 October 2004 |publisher = IDG |url = http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=2510 |work = Techworld |access-date = 19 November 2007 |archive-date = 23 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023185406/http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=2510 |url-status = live }}{{cite web |url = http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=424 |title = Three more things that the Linux community doesn't get |access-date = 19 November 2007 |last = Kingsley-Hughes |first = Adrian |date = 23 May 2007 |work = ZDNet |publisher = CNET Networks, Inc. |archive-date = 21 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221020252/http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=424 |url-status = dead }}

In 2005, Dominic Humphries summarized the difference in user tech support:{{cite web |url = http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm |title = Linux is Not Windows |access-date = 19 March 2009 |last = Humphries |first = Dominic |date = December 2005 |archive-date = 3 March 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210303001237/http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm |url-status = live }}

{{blockquote|Windows users are more or less in a customer-supplier relationship: They pay for software, for warranties, for support, and so on. They expect software to have a certain level of usability. They are therefore used to having rights with their software: They have paid for technical support and have every right to demand that they receive it. They are also used to dealing with entities rather than people: Their contracts are with a company, not with a person.

Linux users are in more of a community. They don't have to buy the software, they don't have to pay for technical support. They download software for free & use Instant Messaging and web-based forums to get help. They deal with people, not corporations. }}

More recently critics have found that the Linux user support model, using community-based forum support, has greatly improved. In 2008 Jack Wallen stated:{{cite web|last=Wallen|first=Jack.|date=September 2008|title=Ten key differences between Linux and Windows|url=http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/articles/features/0,1000002000,39483863-1,00.htm|access-date=19 March 2009|archive-date=16 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116161330/http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/articles/features/0,1000002000,39483863-1,00.htm|url-status=live}}

{{blockquote|With Linux, you have the support of a huge community via forums, online search, and plenty of dedicated websites. And of course, if you feel the need, you can purchase support contracts from some of the bigger Linux companies (Red Hat and Novell, for instance).

However, when you use the peer support inherent in Linux, you do take a chance with time. You could have an issue with something, send out email to a mailing list or post on a forum, and within 10 minutes be flooded with suggestions. Or these suggestions could take hours or days to come in. It seems all up to chance sometimes.

Yet generally speaking, most problems with Linux have been encountered and documented, so the chances are good you'll find your solution fairly quickly. }}

In addressing the question of user support, Manu Cornet said:

{{blockquote|One of the great assets of the Open Source community (and Linux in particular), is that it's a real community. Users and developers really are out there, on web forums, on mailing lists, on IRC channels, helping out new users. They're all happy to see more and more people switch to Linux, and they're happy to help them get a grip on their new system...you'll find literally thousands of places where nice people will answer you and walk you out of your problem most of the time }}

Linux's credibility has also been under attack at times, but as Ron Miller of LinuxPlanet points out:{{cite web |url = http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/5401/1/ |title = Linux Criticism Revs Up |access-date = 19 November 2007 |last = Miller |first = Ron |date = 20 May 2004 |work = LinuxPlanet |publisher = Jupitermedia Corporation |archive-date = 7 August 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110807034808/http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/5401/1 |url-status = dead }}

{{blockquote|...the fact that Linux is being criticized is probably a good thing.

First of all, it shows that Linux is making headway in the enterprise and beginning to have an impact on competitors and they are reacting to that. Secondly, it's healthy to take a long look at any solution and analyze its strengths and weaknesses and the economic ramifications of one choice over another.

Ultimately, consumers and decision makers need to look carefully at the data including the sources of the data and the criticism and decide if Linux is the right decision, but as more people choose Linux and it finds its place in the market, it is bound to wear a target. That's simply the price you pay for success in the marketplace. }}

There is continuing debate about the total cost of ownership of Linux,{{cite news|first=Vincent |last=Ryan |title=Anti-Linux Comments Rile Supporters |date=19 June 2003 |publisher=NewsFactor Network |url=http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=21764 |work=NewsFactor.com |access-date=19 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203014025/http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=21764 |archive-date=3 December 2007 }}{{cite news|first=Jennifer |last=Mears |title=Novell boosts its Linux desktop |date=13 March 2006 |publisher=Network World, Inc. |url=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/031306-novell-linux.html |work=Network World |access-date=19 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203000603/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/031306-novell-linux.html |archive-date= 3 December 2007 }} with Gartner warning in 2005 that the costs of migration may exceed the cost benefits of Linux.{{cite news |first = Andy |last = McCue |title = Gartner sounds desktop Linux warning |date = 9 September 2005 |publisher = CNET Networks, Inc. |url = http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39217113,00.htm |work = silicon.com |access-date = 19 November 2007 |archive-date = 18 October 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121018023608/http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/application-development/2005/09/09/gartner-sounds-desktop-linux-warning-39217113/ |url-status = dead }} Gartner reiterated the warning in 2008, predicting that "by 2013, a majority of Linux deployments will have no real software total cost of ownership (TCO) advantage over other operating systems." However, in the Comes v. Microsoft lawsuit, Plaintiff's exhibit 2817{{Cite web |url=http://groklaw.net/pdf/Comes-2817.pdf |title=Plaintiff's exhibit 2817 |access-date=15 February 2014 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112100827/http://groklaw.net/pdf/Comes-2817.pdf |url-status=live }} revealed that Microsoft successfully lobbied Gartner for changing their TCO model in favour of Microsoft in 1998. Organizations that have moved to Linux have disagreed with these warnings. Sterling Ball, CEO of Ernie Ball, the world's leading maker of premium guitar strings and a 2003 Linux adopter, said of total cost of ownership arguments: "I think that's propaganda...What about the cost of dealing with a virus? We don't have 'em...There's no doubt that what I'm doing is cheaper to operate. The analyst guys can say whatever they want."[http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090707003009/http://news.cnet.com/2008-1082_3-5065859.html?tag=lh Rockin' on without Microsoft | Newsmakers | CNET News.com]

In the SCO-Linux controversies, the SCO Group had alleged that UNIX source code donated by IBM was illegally incorporated into Linux. The threat that SCO might be able to legally assert ownership of Linux initially caused some potential Linux adopters to delay that move. The court cases bankrupted SCO in 2007 after it lost its four-year court battle over the ownership of the UNIX copyrights. SCO's case had hinged on showing that Linux included intellectual property that had been misappropriated from UNIX, but the case failed when the court discovered that Novell and not SCO was the rightful owner of the copyrights. During the legal process, it was revealed that SCO's claims about Linux were fraudulent and that SCO's internal source code audits had shown no evidence of infringement.{{cite web |url = https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/01/sco-aims-to-reorganize-fight-on-with-corporate-garage-sale.ars |title = SCO aims to reorganize, fight on with corporate garage sale |access-date = 19 March 2009 |last = Paul |first = Ryan |date = January 2009 |archive-date = 21 March 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090321125014/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/01/sco-aims-to-reorganize-fight-on-with-corporate-garage-sale.ars |url-status = live }}

A rival operating system vendor, Green Hills Software, has called the open source paradigm of Linux "fundamentally insecure".{{cite news |first = Alexander |last = Wolfe |title = Green Hills calls Linux 'insecure' for defense |date = 4 September 2004 |publisher = CMP Media LLC |url = http://www.eetimes.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=18900949 |work = EE Times |access-date = 19 November 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110809020713/http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4048562/Green-Hills-calls-Linux-insecure-for-defense |archive-date = 9 August 2011 |url-status = dead }}

The US Army does not agree that Linux is a security problem. Brigadier General Nick Justice, the Deputy Program Officer for the Army's Program Executive Office, Command, Control and Communications Tactical (PEO C3T), said in April 2007:

{{blockquote|Our job is to provide accurate and timely information to the soldier in the field so they can perform their mission. Open source software is part of the integrated network fabric which connects and enables our command and control system to work effectively, as people's lives depend on it.

When we rolled into Baghdad, we did it using open source. It may come as a surprise to many of you, but the U.S. Army is "the" single largest install base for Red Hat Linux. I'm their largest customer.{{cite web|url=http://www.linux.com/feed/61302 |title=Open Technology within DoD, Intel Systems |access-date=18 October 2008 |website=Linux.com |date=April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706083117/http://www.linux.com/feed/61302 |archive-date=6 July 2008 }} }}

{{Main|Netbook#Linux|l1 = Netbook (Linux)}}

In 2008, Gartner analysts predicted that mobile devices like Netbooks with Linux could potentially break the dominance of Microsoft's Windows as operating system provider, as the netbook concept focuses on OS-agnostic applications built as Web applications and browsing.{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9076698/Windows_is_collapsing_Gartner_analysts_warn |title=Windows is 'collapsing,' Gartner analysts warn – The researchers damn Windows in current form, urge radical changes |first=Gregg |last=Keizer |date=10 April 2008 |access-date=3 October 2013 |publisher=Computer World |quote=And increasingly, users work with "OS-agnostic applications," the two analysts said in their presentation. [...] Microsoft [...]it's going to have trouble competing with Web applications and small, specialized devices. |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134327/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9076698/Windows_is_collapsing_Gartner_analysts_warn |url-status=live }} Until 2008 the netbook market was dominated by Linux-powered devices; this changed in 2009 after Windows XP became available as option.{{cite web |url=http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/market/22362-windows-crushing-linux-in-netbook-market-acer |title=Windows crushing Linux in netbook market: Acer |first=Stan |last=Beer |publisher=itwire.com |date=17 December 2008 |access-date=3 October 2013 |quote=[…] Acer and other leading vendors have confirmed that Microsoft Windows XP now dominates the emerging sub-notebook market with more than 90% of new sales. Meanwhile, Linux, which had the netbooks market to itself until April this year, has seen its share of the space eroded to less than 10% in a breath-taking decline. |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127125334/https://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/market/22362-windows-crushing-linux-in-netbook-market-acer |url-status=live }} One of the reasons given was that many customers returned Linux-based netbooks as they were still expecting a Windows-like environment, despite the netbook vision: a web-surfing and web-application device.{{cite web |url=http://www.informationweek.com/windows/operating-systems/microsoft-96-of-netbooks-run-windows/216402927 |quote=[…] United Kingdom's Car phone Warehouse dropped Linux-based netbooks after seeing return rates as high as 20%. |title=Microsoft: 96% Of Netbooks Run Windows – Gains in PC market's hottest category come at the expense of Linux, Redmond says. |first=Paul |last=McDougall |publisher=InformationWeek |date=6 April 2009 |access-date=3 October 2013 |archive-date=12 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012064500/http://www.informationweek.com/windows/operating-systems/microsoft-96-of-netbooks-run-windows/216402927 |url-status=live }}[http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated Ubuntu Confirms Linux Netbook Returns Higher than Anticipated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712193841/http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated |date=12 July 2015 }} on Laptopmag.com (Joanna Stern, 6 October 2008)

{{Main|Thin client|l1 = Web thin client}}

{{Expand section|date = September 2013}}

In 2011, Google introduced the Chromebook, a thin client running the Linux-based ChromeOS, with the ability to use web applications and remote desktop in to other computers running Windows, Mac OS X, a traditional Linux distribution or ChromeOS, using Chrome Remote Desktop. In 2012 Google and Samsung introduced the first version of the Chromebox, a small-form-factor desktop equivalent to the Chromebook.

By 2013, Chromebooks had captured 20–25% of the sub-$300 US laptop market.{{cite web|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/10173494/Google-Chromebook-sales-soar-in-face-of-PC-decline.html|title = Google Chromebook sales soar in face of PC decline|date = 11 July 2013|access-date = 3 September 2013|website = Daily Telegraph|last = Williams|first = Rhiannon|archive-date = 25 September 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130925104825/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/10173494/Google-Chromebook-sales-soar-in-face-of-PC-decline.html|url-status = live}}

By 2014, Google launched App Runtime for Chrome (ARC), which allowed certain Android apps to be run, it was no longer a thin client.{{cite web |url=https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/arc-welder/emfinbmielocnlhgmfkkmkngdoccbadn |title=ARC Welder |quote=Package Android APKs for ARC (App Runtime for Chrome) |access-date=December 6, 2016 |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110143808/https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/arc-welder/emfinbmielocnlhgmfkkmkngdoccbadn |url-status=dead }}

By 2020, Chromebook's market share was 10.8%, placing it above the Mac platform; having found success in education markets.{{Cite news |date=2021-02-13 |title=Chromebooks overtake Macs in market share for first time |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56116573 |access-date=2024-09-16}}

File:Samsung Galaxy Note series 2.jpg

Android, which runs the Linux kernel is the world's most popular mobile platform. {{as of|2024|September}}, Android has 71.85% of the global mobile operating system market.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-11 |title=Mobile Operating System Market Share Worldwide|url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide/#monthly-202409-202409-bar |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}

Firefox OS was another open source Linux-based mobile operating system, which has now been discontinued.

Nokia previously produced some phones running a variant of Linux (e.g. the Nokia N900), but in 2013, Nokia's handset division was bought by Microsoft.

Smartphones are gradually replacing these kinds of embedded devices, but they still exist. An example are the Portable media players. Some of the OEM firmware is Linux based. A community-driven fully free and open-source project is Rockbox.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

In-vehicle infotainment hardware usually involves some kind of display, either built into the Dashboard or additional displays. The GENIVI Alliance, now called COVESA (Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance), works on a Linux-based open platform to run the IVI. It may have an interface to some values delivered by the Engine control unit but is albeit completely separate system. There will be a special variant of Tizen for IVI, different for the Tizen for smartphones in several regards.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

{{See also|Linux-powered device}}

Linux is often used in various single- or multi-purpose computer appliances and embedded systems.{{cite web|url=http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4936596231.html|title=The Linux Devices Showcase|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312084819/http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4936596231.html|archive-date=12 March 2009 }}

Customer-premises equipment are a group of devices that are embedded and have no graphical user interface in the common sense. Some are remotely operated via Secure Shell or via some Web-based user interface running on some lightweight web server software. Most of the OEM firmware is based on the Linux kernel and other free and open-source software, e.g. Das U-Boot and Busybox. There are also a couple of community driven projects, e.g. OpenWrt.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

Smaller scale embedded network-attached storage-devices are also mostly Linux-driven.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

{{further|Linux#Servers, mainframes and supercomputers}}

Linux became popular in the Internet server market particularly due to the LAMP software bundle. In September 2008 Steve Ballmer (Microsoft CEO) claimed 60% of servers run Linux and 40% run Windows Server.{{cite web|url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/536915/article-7967.html|title = Ballmer Still Searching for an Answer to Google|access-date = 4 June 2009|last = Niccolai|first = James|date = September 2008}} According to IDC's report covering Q2 2013, Linux was up to 23.2% of worldwide server revenue{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/10/linux-is-king-nix-of-the-data-center-but-unix-may-live-on-forever/ | title=Linux is king *nix of the data center—but Unix may live on forever | access-date=1 November 2013 | last=Brodkin | first=Jon | date=22 October 2013 | archive-date=2 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202215826/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/10/linux-is-king-nix-of-the-data-center-but-unix-may-live-on-forever/ | url-status=live }} although this does compensate for the potential price disparity between Linux and non-Linux servers. In May 2014, W3Techs estimated that 67.5% of the top 10 million (according to Alexa) websites run some form of Unix, and Linux is used by at least 57.2% of all those websites which use Unix.{{cite web | url=http://w3techs.com/technologies/details/os-unix/all/all | title=Usage Statistics and Market Share of Unix for Websites, May 2014 | work=W3Techs | date=May 2014 | access-date=14 May 2014 | archive-date=24 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224001711/https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/os-unix | url-status=live }}

Linux-based solution stacks come with all the general advantages and benefits of free and open-source software. Some more commonly known examples are:

• LAMP
• MEAN stack

According to the Netcraft, {{as of|2019|lc=1}}, nginx had the highest market share.Netcraft, [http://news.netcraft.com/archives/category/web-server-survey Survey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909224237/https://news.netcraft.com/archives/category/web-server-survey/ |date=9 September 2017 }} July 2021

{{Main|Lightweight Directory Access Protocol}}

There are various freely available implementations of LDAP servers.

Free routing software available for Linux includes BIRD, B.A.T.M.A.N., FRRouting, Quagga and XORP. Whether on Customer-premises equipment, on personal computer or server-hardware, the mainline Linux kernel or an adapted highly optimized Linux kernel is capable of doing routing at rates that are limited by the hardware bus throughput.

{{Main|Supercomputer operating system}}

Linux is the most popular operating system among supercomputers due to the general advantages and benefits of free and open-source software, like superior performance, flexibility, speed and lower costs. In November 2008 Linux held an 87.8 percent share of the world's top 500 supercomputers.[http://www.top500.org/stats/list/34/osfam Operating system Family share for 11/2009 | TOP500 Supercomputing Sites] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119022533/http://www.top500.org/stats/list/34/osfam |date=19 November 2009 }}:Image:Top500 OS.png{{cite web|url= http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux_it_doesnt_get_any_faster |title=Linux: It doesn't get any faster| access-date=24 June 2009| last=Vaughn-Nichols| first=Steven J.| date=June 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626043246/http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux_it_doesnt_get_any_faster| archive-date=26 June 2009| url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://practical-tech.com/infrastructure/linux-computer-smashes-petaflop-supercomputer-barrier/ |title=Linux Computer Smashes Petaflop Supercomputer Barrier |access-date=15 October 2009 |website=Practical Technology |date=June 2009 |archive-date=21 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121035112/http://practical-tech.com/infrastructure/linux-computer-smashes-petaflop-supercomputer-barrier/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Strothman |first=Jim |title=Linux elbows into super-computer turf |url=http://www.isa.org/InTechTemplate.cfm?Section=InTech&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=29241 |access-date=15 October 2009 |date=September 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050805073753/http://www.isa.org/InTechTemplate.cfm?Section=InTech&template=%2FContentManagement%2FContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=29241}}

Since June 2018, every computer on the TOP500 list ran some version of Linux.{{cite web |title=List Statistics |website=TOP500 |url=http://www.top500.org/statistics/list/ |access-date=18 October 2022 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718013118/https://www.top500.org/statistics/list/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2010, Weiwu Hu, chief architect of the Loongson family of CPUs at the Institute of Computing Technology, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, confirmed that the new Dawning 6000 supercomputer will use Chinese-made Loongson processors and will run Linux as its operating system. The most recent supercomputer the organization built, the Dawning 5000a, which was first run in 2008, used AMD chips and ran Windows HPC Server 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/24374/?a=f |title=China Details Homemade Supercomputer Plans |access-date=20 January 2010 |last=Mims |first=Christopher |newspaper=Technology Review |date=January 2010 |archive-date=21 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121035857/http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/24374/?a=f |url-status=live }}

Many organizations advocate for Linux adoption. The foremost of these is the Linux Foundation which hosts and sponsors the key kernel developers, manages the Linux trademark, manages the Open Source Developer Travel Fund, provides legal aid to open source developers and companies through the Linux Legal Defense Fund, sponsors kernel.org and also hosts the Patent Commons Project.

The International Free and Open Source Software Foundation (iFOSSF) is a nonprofit organization based in Michigan, USA dedicated to accelerating and promoting the adoption of FOSS worldwide through research and civil society partnership networks.

The Open Invention Network was formed to protect vendors and customers from patent royalty fees while using OSS.

Other advocates for Linux include:

• IBM through its Linux Marketing Strategy
• Linux User Groups
• Asian Open Source Centre (AsiaOSC)
• The Brazilian government, under president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva{{cite web|title=A lei é digitalizar|url=http://www.softwarelivre.gov.br|publisher=softwarelivre.gov.br|access-date=23 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512082208/http://www.softwarelivre.gov.br/|archive-date=12 May 2008|url-status=dead}} {{in lang|pt}}
• Software Livre Brasil, a Brazilian organization promoting Linux adoption in schools, public departments, commerce, industry and personal desktops.{{cite web|title=Portal do Projeto Software Livre Brasil|url=http://www.softwarelivre.org/|access-date=14 April 2012|archive-date=13 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413111859/http://softwarelivre.org/|url-status=live}} {{in lang|pt}}
• FOSS: Free and Open Source Software Foundations of India and China.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

{{Main|History of Linux}}

Gartner claimed that Linux-powered personal computers accounted for 4% of unit sales in 2008.

{{cite web|url = http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/455992/200808081544/Netbooks-A-Linux-Stronghold-.aspx|title = Netbooks A Linux Stronghold?|access-date = 12 August 2008|last = Womack|first = Brian|date = August 2008|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130126093338/http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/455992/200808081544/Netbooks-A-Linux-Stronghold-.aspx|archive-date = 26 January 2013|df = dmy-all}} However, it is common for users to install Linux in addition to (as a dual boot arrangement) or in place of a factory-installed Microsoft Windows operating system.{{unreliable source?|date=December 2016}}

• 1983 (September): GNU Project announced publicly
• 1991 (September): First version of the Linux kernel released to the Internet
• mid-1990s: Linux runs on cluster computers at NASA and elsewhere{{cite book |title=Practical UNIX and Internet Security |first1=Simson |last1=Garfinkel |first2=Gene |last2=Spafford |first3=Alan |last3=Schwartz |publisher=O'Reilly |year=2003 |pages=21}}
• late 1990s: Dell, IBM and Hewlett-Packard offer commercial support for Linux on their hardware; Red Hat and VA Linux have initial public offerings{{r|security}}
• 1999: EmperorLinux started shipping specially configured laptops running modified Linux distributions to ensure usability{{cite web|url = http://www.emperorlinux.com/why/|title = Why?|access-date = 27 May 2009|website = EmperorLinux|year = 2009|archive-date = 24 May 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090524153637/http://www.emperorlinux.com/why/|url-status = live}}
• 2001 (second quarter): Linux server unit shipments recorded a 15% annual growth rate{{cite web|url=http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=fr2004_11_02_093312 |access-date=8 August 2005 }}{{dead link|date=February 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
• 2004: Linux shipped on approximately 50% of the worldwide server blade units, and 20% of all rack-optimized servers
• 2005: System76, a Linux-only computer OEM, starts selling Ubuntu pre-installed on laptops and desktops.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/system76?sk=info|title=System76|work=Facebook|access-date=19 February 2015|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112100827/https://www.facebook.com/system76?sk=info|url-status=live}}

• Dell announced it would ship select models with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6610901.stm | work=BBC News | title=Dell to use Ubuntu on Linux PCs | date=1 May 2007 | access-date=7 May 2010 | archive-date=27 August 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827191257/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6610901.stm | url-status=live }}
• ZaReason is founded as a Linux only hardware OEM.{{cite web|url = http://zareason.com/shop/Our-Story.html|title = Our Story|access-date =14 October 2011|website= ZaReason|date=October 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100912185324/http://zareason.com/shop/Our-Story.html |archive-date = 12 September 2010}}
• Lenovo announced it would ship select models with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop pre-installed[http://news.lenovo.co.uk/news.nsf/0/DABDA91E954025DD802573360052D0CB?open Lenovo – News – Lenovo, bilgisayarlarını Linux ile donatacak – DEFAULT] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928172129/http://news.lenovo.co.uk/news.nsf/0/DABDA91E954025DD802573360052D0CB?open |date=28 September 2007 }}
• HP announced that it would begin shipping computers preinstalled with Red Hat Enterprise Linux in Australia{{cite web |url=http://apcmag.com/7034/hp_launches_red_hat_linux_pc |title=HP launches RedHat Linux desktop PC |website=APC Magazine |date=30 August 2007 |first=Dan |last=Warne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902190853/http://apcmag.com/7034/hp_launches_red_hat_linux_pc |archive-date=2 September 2007}}
• ASUS launched the Linux-based ASUS Eee PC[http://www.itwire.com/content/view/15922/1141/ iTWire – The top Linux/FOSS events of 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117033936/http://www.itwire.com/content/view/15922/1141/ |date=17 January 2008 }}

• Dell announced it would begin shipping Ubuntu-based computers to Canada and Latin America.{{Cite web |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Dell-Will-Ship-Ubuntu-in-Canada-and-Latin-America-79296.shtml |title=Dell Will Ship Ubuntu in Canada and Latin America – Inspiron 1525n will ship with Ubuntu 7.10 – Softpedia |date=22 February 2008 |access-date=22 February 2008 |archive-date=28 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528201135/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Dell-Will-Ship-Ubuntu-in-Canada-and-Latin-America-79296.shtml |url-status=live }}
• Dell began shipping systems with Ubuntu pre-installed in China.{{Cite web |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Dell-Is-Shipping-Systems-With-Ubuntu-Pre-installed-In-China-80141.shtml |title=Dell Is Shipping Systems with Ubuntu Pre-installed, in China – ... due to the high number of requests from the customers – Softpedia |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=7 March 2008 |archive-date=28 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528203751/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Dell-Is-Shipping-Systems-With-Ubuntu-Pre-installed-In-China-80141.shtml |url-status=live }}[http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/03/03/48393.aspx Ubuntu 7.10 Now Available to Customers in China on the Inspiron 530 Desktop] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013073534/http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/03/03/48393.aspx |date=13 October 2008 }}
• Acer launched the Linux-based Acer Aspire One.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080605121333/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2218172/acer-pushes-linux-hard – Acer bets big on Linux]
• In June 2008, the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), a bulk computer buyer for students in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, decided to switch entirely to supplying Linux after Microsoft attempted to use its monopoly position to sell the organization Windows bundled with Microsoft Office. ELCOT declined the offer stating "Any such bundling could result in serious exploitation of the consumer."{{cite web|url=http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS6504473525.html |title=Microsoft tactics push India toward Linux |access-date=4 July 2008 |last=Kingman |first=Henry |date=June 2008 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• In August 2008, IBM cited market disillusionment with Windows Vista in announcing a new partnership arrangement with Red Hat, Novell and Canonical to offer "Microsoft-free" personal computers with IBM application software, including Lotus Notes and Lotus Symphony.{{cite web|url = https://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2008/08/ibm-targets-microsoft-with-desktop-linux-initiative.ars|title = IBM targets Microsoft with desktop Linux initiative|access-date = 18 March 2009|last = Paul|first = Ryan|date = August 2008|archive-date = 31 March 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090331213416/http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2008/08/ibm-targets-microsoft-with-desktop-linux-initiative.ars|url-status = live}}

• In January 2009, the New York Times stated: "More than 10 million people are estimated to run Ubuntu today".{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/business/11ubuntu.html?_r=2&th&emc=th|title = A Software Populist Who Doesn't Do Windows|access-date = 22 February 2009|last = Vance|first = Ashlee|author-link = Ashlee Vance|date = January 2009|work = The New York Times|archive-date = 12 May 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130512232859/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/business/11ubuntu.html?_r=2&th&emc=th|url-status = live}}
• In mid-2009, Asus, as part of its It's better with Windows campaign, stopped offering Linux, for which they received strong criticism. The company claimed that competition from other netbook makers drove them to offer only Windows XP. Writing in May 2010 Computerworld columnist Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols said "I'm sure that the real reason is Microsoft has pressured Asus into abandoning Linux. On ASUS' site, you'll now see the slogan 'ASUS recommends Windows 7' proudly shown. Never mind that, while Windows 7 is a good operating system, Windows 7 is awful on netbooks."{{cite web |url = http://popey.com/Asus_The_Fair_Weather_Friend |title = Asus, a fair weather friend |access-date = 15 May 2009 |last = Pope |first = Alan |date = May 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090518153752/http://popey.com/Asus_The_Fair_Weather_Friend |archive-date = 18 May 2009 }}{{cite web|url = http://itsbetterwithwindows.com/|title = It's Better With Windows – Here's Why|access-date = 18 May 2009|date = May 2009|archive-date = 20 February 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090220033129/http://itsbetterwithwindows.com/|url-status = live}}{{cite web|url = http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/304693/has_asus_all_given_up_linux?fp=16&fpid=1|title = Has ASUS all but given up on Linux?|access-date = 30 May 2009|last = Gedda|first = Rodney|date = May 2009|archive-date = 30 May 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090530050944/http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/304693/has_asus_all_given_up_linux?fp=16&fpid=1|url-status = live}}{{cite web|url = http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/asus-dumps-linux-from-the-eee-1270|title = Asus Dumps Linux From The Eee|access-date = 2 July 2009|last = Judge|first = Peter|date = July 2009|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090705114425/http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/asus-dumps-linux-from-the-eee-1270|archive-date = 5 July 2009|df = dmy-all}}{{cite web|url = http://blogs.computerworld.com/16161/has_asus_abandoned_netbook_linux|title = Has ASUS abandoned netbook Linux?|access-date = 14 May 2010|last = Vaughan-Nichols|first = Steven J.|date = May 2010|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100523054007/http://blogs.computerworld.com/16161/has_asus_abandoned_netbook_linux|archive-date = 23 May 2010|df = dmy-all}}
• In May 2009, Fedora developer Jef Spaleta estimated on the basis of IP addresses of update downloads and statistics from the voluntary user hardware registration service Smolt that there are 16 million Fedora systems in use.{{cite web|url=http://jspaleta.livejournal.com/42464.html |title=Giving accurate Fedora client counting the 115% effort it deserves. |access-date=8 June 2010 |last=Spaleta |first=Jef |date=May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819035957/http://jspaleta.livejournal.com/42464.html |archive-date=19 August 2011 }} No effort was made to estimate how much the Fedora installed base overlaps with other Linux distributions (enthusiasts installing many distributions on the same system).
• In June 2009, ZDNet reported "Worldwide, there are 13 million active Ubuntu users with use growing faster than any other distribution."{{cite web|url = http://education.zdnet.com/?p=2709|title = Ubuntu a minor player? Not outside the States|access-date = 18 June 2009|last = Dawson|first = Christopher|date = June 2009|archive-date = 24 December 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181224235831/https://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/?p=2709%20|url-status = dead}}

• In April 2010, Chris Kenyon, vice president for OEM at Canonical Ltd., estimated that there were 12 million Ubuntu users.{{cite web|url = http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/7032/1/|title = Ubuntu Claims 12 Million Users as Lucid Linux Desktop Nears|access-date = 7 April 2010|last = Kerner|first = Michael|date = April 2010|archive-date = 10 April 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100410164921/http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/7032/1|url-status = dead}}
• In June 2010, a Quebec Superior Court Judge Denis Jacques ruled that the provincial government broke the law when it spent Cdn$720,000, starting in the fall of 2006 to migrate 800 government workstations to Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 without carrying out a "serious and documented search" for alternatives. The search for alternatives was legally required for any expenditures over Cdn$25,000. The court case was brought by Savoir Faire Linux, a small Montreal-based company that had hoped to bid Linux software to replace the government's aging Windows XP. The judge dismissed the government's contention that Microsoft software was chosen because employees were already familiar with Windows and that switching to a different operating system would have cost more.{{cite news|url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/quebec-broke-law-in-buying-microsoft-software-1.962964|title = Quebec broke law in buying Microsoft software|access-date = 3 June 2010|last = Nowak|first = Peter|date = June 2010|work = CBC News|archive-date = 5 June 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100605034513/http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/03/quebec-microsoft-lawsuit.html|url-status = live}}
• In October 2010, a statistics company stated that Android, Google's version of Linux for smartphones (and tablets), had become the most popular operating system among new buyers.{{cite web |last=Hachman |first=Mark |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2370259,00.asp |title=Nielsen: Android Is Most Popular Smartphone OS | News & Opinion |publisher=PCMag.com |date=5 October 2010 |access-date=12 August 2013 |archive-date=20 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920020641/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2370259,00.asp |url-status=live }}

• In November 2012, Top500.org's November 2012 list has all Top 10 Supercomputers as running a distribution of Linux as their Operating System.{{cite web|url=http://top500.org/lists/2012/11/|title=November 2012|access-date=19 February 2015|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224213924/http://www.top500.org/lists/2012/11/|url-status=live}}

• In February 2013, Dice and the Linux Foundation released a survey that showed Linux skills in high demand among employers.{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/20/dice_linux_jobs_survey/|title=Survey: Bosses are DESPERATE and GAGGING for Linux skills|website=The Register|access-date=19 February 2015|archive-date=20 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220010253/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/20/dice_linux_jobs_survey/|url-status=live}}
• Valve announces its Linux-based SteamOS for video game consoles.
• Supercomputers, Japan's bullet trains, traffic control, Toyota IVI, NYSE, CERN, FAA air traffic control, nuclear submarines and top websites all use Linux.{{cite news|url=http://efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=120870|title=9 Powerful Things Powered By Linux!|access-date=1 May 2014|date=8 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705031621/http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=120870|archive-date=5 July 2014|url-status=dead}}
• In December 2013, the city of Munich announced that it successfully migrated 12,000 of its 15,000 computers to LiMux Linux and that the savings in 2013 alone were about 10 million euros.{{cite news|title=Projekt "Limux" in München: Umstieg auf Linux abgeschlossen|url=http://derstandard.at/1385171067350/Projekt-Limux-in-Muenchen-Umstieg-auf-Linux-abgeschlossen|access-date=12 February 2014|newspaper=Der Standard|date=14 December 2013|archive-date=19 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219020935/http://derstandard.at/1385171067350/Projekt-Limux-in-Muenchen-Umstieg-auf-Linux-abgeschlossen|url-status=live}}

• In September 2014, the Italian city of Turin, the capital of Piedmont, decided to switch to Linux.{{cite web|last1=Guerrini|first1=Federico|title=City of Turin decides to ditch Windows XP for Ubuntu and €6m saving|website=ZDNet|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/city-of-turin-decides-to-ditch-windows-xp-for-ubuntu-and-eur6m-saving/|access-date=21 September 2014|archive-date=20 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920185422/http://www.zdnet.com/city-of-turin-decides-to-ditch-windows-xp-for-ubuntu-and-6m-saving-7000033482/|url-status=live}}
• In October 2014, the city of Gummersbach announced that their IT infrastructure now is based on 300 thin clients and 6 servers that run SuSe Linux.{{cite web|title=Gummersbach: Deutsche Stadt stellt auf Linux um|url=http://derstandard.at/2000006672327/Gummersbach-Deutsche-Stadt-stellt-Verwaltung-auf-Linux-um|access-date=11 October 2014|archive-date=11 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011000850/http://derstandard.at/2000006672327/Gummersbach-Deutsche-Stadt-stellt-Verwaltung-auf-Linux-um|url-status=live}}
• June 2014, France's National Gendarmerie has completed the migration of 65,000 to Linux "GendBuntu".{{cite web

| url=https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/community/osor/news/open-standards-and-itil-lead-open-source-frances-gendarmerie-tells-korean-ict-mi

| title='Open standards and ITIL lead to open source', France's Gendarmerie tells Korean ICT ministry

| author=Gijs Hillenius

| date=16 June 2014

| quote=The police force now has 65,000 PC workstations running Ubuntu Linux (version 12.04).

| access-date=1 September 2015

| archive-date=22 December 2015

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222085611/https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/community/osor/news/open-standards-and-itil-lead-open-source-frances-gendarmerie-tells-korean-ict-mi

| url-status=live

}}

• In November 2014 Purism was founded as an OEM Linux manufacturer.{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/search_detail.aspx?ubi=603453485 |title=Registration Detail |author= |date= |website=Washington Secretary of State |access-date=2019-02-26 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202082352/https://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/search_detail.aspx?ubi=603453485 |url-status=live }}

• In November 2017, all 500 of the world's top supercomputers ran Linux.{{Cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-totally-dominates-supercomputers/|title=Linux totally dominates supercomputers|last=Vaughan-Nichols|first=Steven J.|work=ZDNet|access-date=18 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114211600/http://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-totally-dominates-supercomputers/|url-status=live}}

• In April 2018, Microsoft announced Azure Sphere, a Linux-based operating system for Internet of Things applications.{{Cite news|title=Azure Sphere – Microsoft's Ambitious Plan To Own The Next-Generation IoT Devices|last=MSV|first=Janakiram|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2018/04/23/azure-sphere-microsofts-ambitious-plan-to-own-the-next-generation-iot-devices/#2f50708e5e64|access-date=18 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705121439/https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2018/04/23/azure-sphere-microsofts-ambitious-plan-to-own-the-next-generation-iot-devices/#2f50708e5e64|url-status=live}}
• In May 2018, pre-orders began for Atari VCS, a gaming console that is powered by the Linux kernel.{{Cite news|url=https://mashable.com/2018/05/30/atari-vcs-indiegogo-presales/#ps2R3v3zPPqg|title=You can pre-order the Atari VCS now, but it won't ship till 2019|last=Krol|first=Jake|work=Mashable|access-date=18 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214637/https://mashable.com/2018/05/30/atari-vcs-indiegogo-presales/#ps2R3v3zPPqg|url-status=live}}

• In May 2019, Microsoft announced Windows Subsystem for Linux 2, which will rely on a pre-installed Linux kernel built by Microsoft. This marks the first time that the Linux kernel has shipped with a Microsoft operating system.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-is-getting-a-microsoft-built-linux-kernel/|title=Windows 10 is getting a Microsoft-built Linux kernel|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=8 May 2019|archive-date=8 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508015242/https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-is-getting-a-microsoft-built-linux-kernel/|url-status=live}}
• In May 2019, South Korea announced that it was looking to migrate its major government systems to Linux, due to the pending end of support for Windows 7.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3076048/south-korea-is-switching-to-linux-ahead-of-the-windows-7-shutdown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520132346/https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3076048/south-korea-is-switching-to-linux-ahead-of-the-windows-7-shutdown|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 May 2019 |title=South Korea is switching to Linux ahead of the Windows 7 shutdown|last=Merriman|first=Chris |date=20 May 2019|website=The Inquirer|access-date=28 May 2019}}

• In June 2020, Lenovo announced Linux certification for ThinkPad and ThinkStation portfolio products.{{cite web |title=Lenovo Brings Linux® Certification to ThinkPad and ThinkStation Workstation Portfolio, Easing Deployment for Developers & Data Scientists |url=https://news.lenovo.com/pressroom/press-releases/lenovo-brings-linux-certification-to-thinkpad-and-thinkstation-workstation-portfolio-easing-deployment-for-developers-data-scientists/ |website=Lenovo News Portal |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020025634/https://news.lenovo.com/pressroom/press-releases/lenovo-brings-linux-certification-to-thinkpad-and-thinkstation-workstation-portfolio-easing-deployment-for-developers-data-scientists/ |url-status=live }}

• In January 2021, the government of the Argentinian province of Misiones announced that it had developed {{interlanguage link|GobMis GNU/Linux|es}}, a distribution based on the Devuan operating system, specially designed for government offices.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-26|title=Desarrollaron un sistema operativo seguro y gratuito especialmente para las computadoras del Gobierno de Misiones|website=Ministerio de Coordinación de Gabinete|language=es-ar|url=https://mcgg.misiones.gob.ar/desarrollaron-un-sistema-operativo-seguro-y-gratuito-especialmente-para-las-computadoras-del-gobierno-de-misiones/|access-date=2021-01-27|archive-date=9 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909202628/https://mcgg.misiones.gob.ar/desarrollaron-un-sistema-operativo-seguro-y-gratuito-especialmente-para-las-computadoras-del-gobierno-de-misiones/|url-status=live}}
• In February 2021 Linux was first used on Mars when NASA's Perseverance rover landed on 18 February.{{Cite web|first=Michael|last=Kan|date=2021-02-19|title=Linux Is Now on Mars, Thanks to NASA's Perseverance Rover|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/drones/131849/linux-is-now-on-mars-thanks-to-nasas-perseverance-rover|access-date=2021-02-20|website=PCMag UK|language=en-gb|archive-date=21 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221034129/https://uk.pcmag.com/drones/131849/linux-is-now-on-mars-thanks-to-nasas-perseverance-rover|url-status=live}}

• In late February 2022, Steam Deck was released, which runs SteamOS 3.0, which is in turn based on Arch Linux.{{Cite news |author1=Alan Dexter |date=2021-08-09 |title=This is why Valve is switching from Debian to Arch for Steam Deck's Linux OS |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/this-is-why-valve-is-switching-from-debian-to-arch-for-steam-decks-linux-os/ |access-date=2023-09-12}}

{{Portal|Linux|Free and open-source software}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• Diffusion (business)
• Disruptive innovation
• History of free and open-source software
• Comparison of open-source and closed-source software
• OpenDocument adoption
• Technology acceptance model
• Technology life cycle
• Timeline of free and open-source software

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=2 O/S market share monthly estimations, based on internet traffic]
• [https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share Operating System Market Share Worldwide | StatCounter Global Stats]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060828024309/http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;1855967602;fp;2;fpid;3 LinuxWorld: What's Driving Global Linux Adoption?]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070204235901/http://old.linux-foundation.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005.pdf OSDL Desktop Linux Client Survey]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071203022056/http://linuxmednews.org/linuxmednews/1090943082/index_html Canadian Provincial Medical Association To Use Open Source Platform For EMR Project]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091008103206/http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=IDC_P7073 IDC: Latin America Linux Migration Trends 2005]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080508232933/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F08-04-2005%2F0004082258&EDATE= OSDL Claims Linux Making Major Gains in Global Retail Sector]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070703023503/http://www.datasync.com/~rogerspl/Advocacy-HOWTO.html Linux Advocacy mini-HOWTO]
• [https://lwn.net/2002/0509/ Measuring total cost of ownership]
• [http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39379900,00.htm Gartner: Open source will quietly take over] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530045451/http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39379900,00.htm |date=30 May 2009 }}
• [http://www.internetnews.com/software/article.php/3739491 IDC: Linux-Related Spending Could Top $49B by 2011]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120108125541/http://www.redhat.com/about/where-is-open-source/activity/ Red Hat – Open Source Activity Map]

{{Linux}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Linux Adoption}}

Category:Linux

Category:Linux-based devices

Category:Operating system advocacy

Category:Technological change