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The Steam Hardware Survey for August 2016 shows Linux has grown again

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Here is some good news to offset the two recent bad news articles. According to the latest Steam Hardware Survey for August 2016 Linux market-share on Steam has grown two months in a row.

Linux total: 0.83% + 0.02%
Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS 64 bit 0.28% + 0.22%
Linux 64 bit 0.09% + 0.01%
Linux Mint 18 Sarah 64 bit 0.06% + 0.06%

Well, that's certainly something now isn't it (as in, it's better than nothing, or going down further). It looks like both Linux and Windows ate into Mac market-share which dropped by -0.03% (Windows had +0.01%).

These are still tiny percentages we are talking about, but I am hoping this trend continues for a while.

Note: SteamOS and Steam Big Picture are still not included in the survey and it's a manual survey, so you're not included in it unless you get the pop-up asking you to submit your details. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Mohandevir Sep 2, 2016
I got the request on an old Toshiba laptop running Ubuntu 16.04. I just opened the client to look for new releases and manage my wishlist... Bam! Must have lowered the average system setup on my own. :)
Kimyrielle Sep 2, 2016
Mac really isn't a viable gaming platform anymore and Apple doesn't seem to be interested in changing that. It doesn't surprise me that they are losing ground. Which in all honesty is good for us, because it makes Metal irrelevant and Vulkan a more viable alternative for developers interested in cross-platform development.
Mohandevir Sep 2, 2016
Quoting: KimyrielleMac really isn't a viable gaming platform anymore and Apple doesn't seem to be interested in changing that. It doesn't surprise me that they are losing ground. Which in all honesty is good for us, because it makes Metal irrelevant and Vulkan a more viable alternative for developers interested in cross-platform development.

Still, we would be really happy if Linux could get to the 3% mark, like Mac...
Snev Sep 2, 2016
Don't want to be harsh and don't take it personal, but I have to disagree on the fact that this "certainly something now". If it's -0.2% it's the fault of statistics. If it's +0.2% it's good news? That aside, for me personally, as long as it stays or increases periodically I'm pleased.
Liam Dawe Sep 2, 2016
Quoting: SnevDon't want to be harsh and don't take it personal, but I have to disagree on the fact that this "certainly something now". If it's -0.2% it's the fault of statistics. If it's +0.2% it's good news? That aside, for me personally, as long as it stays or increases periodically I'm pleased.
You're reading my words in the wrong way.

"certainly something now" in the context I am using it, means it's better than nothing.

Also, who doesn't like to see a positive exactly?
Mohandevir Sep 2, 2016
Quoting: SnevDon't want to be harsh and don't take it personal, but I have to disagree on the fact that this "certainly something now". If it's -0.2% it's the fault of statistics. If it's +0.2% it's good news? That aside, for me personally, as long as it stays or increases periodically I'm pleased.

We have to remember that, when added together, these statistic "anomalies" sent us from 1.3% to .83%, during the "Windows10 rush", so there must be something. :)
Slackdog Sep 2, 2016
It would be interesting to see what sales figures the likes of Feral et al are getting from this .83%...
wolfyrion Sep 2, 2016
Unfortunately Linux will stay as is with a few + or -

For Gamers
-------------
A couple of my friends who tried Linux(Manjaro) I can say that they liked the OS and Plasma 5 features,they use it only for games and browsing,windows was just an annoying launcher but due to the new AAA games releasing only for Windows they went back to Windows. :|

For Companies
----------------
We made a test in one company to switch to Linux just for testing purposes since they have most of their software on cloud.
Only 2 users just for testing purposes ( age 50-55)
It was simply impossible to switch them to Linux because of MS Office and especially for outlook they just couldnt get used to Thunderbird and Libreoffice.

New Generation age (8-15)
----------------
As I see it from my relatives daughters and sons....
They dont care what OS they are using as long as facebook,facebook games,youtube + more social media web pages are working.
For gaming for some reason they prefer their tablets or their smartphones :O

Oh well... :(
GustyGhost Sep 2, 2016
What? Nobody is decrying the inaccuracy of these "irrelevant" surveys? I guess that only happens when the number goes down...
Beamboom Sep 2, 2016
That's what the stats last time showed too, that it seems it's a shift from Mac, and not Windows, to Linux. But it can of course be totally unrelated, and probably is.

Still, it's interesting!


Last edited by Beamboom on 2 September 2016 at 5:47 pm UTC
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