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The day I'm sure many have been waiting for, and just as many probably thought it wouldn't happen. Linux has finally hit 1% again on the Steam Hardware Survey.

Not the first time, in fact years ago when Steam for Linux was pretty fresh we actually saw it remain over 1% for a while. That didn't last long though, and it's been bouncing around at sub 1% for multiple years now as we've been showing on our dedicated Steam Tracker.

Want to see what systems our readers are running? Check out our statistics page.

If we take how many monthly active users Steam has which Valve reported at over 120 million at the start of this year, that would give us an estimated 1,204,000 monthly active Linux users on Steam.

The question in my mind is: why are we seeing a sudden surge? Starting in April 2021 it started to gradually slowly move upwards but now it's a much more pronounced jump. Perhaps this is as a result of the Steam Deck announcement? It certainly wouldn't be surprising to see more people try out Linux as a result of it so they know a bit more about what to expect.

What do you think has caused the recent up-tick in users? Let us know in the comments.

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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Eike Oct 12, 2021
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Quoting: Purple Library GuyCrypto is fake money.

I'd wager to say in effect it isn't money. Years ago, people started to sell coffee for bitcoins around here. I don't think anybody is still doing that. If you sell your coffee for x bitcoins, with which you could buy you new coffee beans and pay your rent and everything, you don't know if it's worth half next month and you cannot pay your rent - or maybe double. Same for the customer. Money with such fluctuations doesn't work. Even currencies with huge inflation are less bad - at least you know which direction it will take.


Last edited by Eike on 12 October 2021 at 6:36 pm UTC
Purple Library Guy Oct 12, 2021
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: Purple Library GuyCrypto is fake money.

I'd wager to say in effect it isn't money. Years ago, people started to sell coffee for bitcoins around here. I don't think anybody is still doing that. If you sell your coffee for x bitcoins, with which you could buy you new coffee beans and pay your rent and everything, you don't know if it's worth half next month and you cannot pay your rent - or maybe double. Same for the customer. Money with such fluctuations doesn't work. Even currencies with huge inflation are less bad - at least you know which direction it will take.
Really, it's more a vehicle for speculation. Which currently probably makes it a pretty good investment, if you're someone who can afford to be investing, because everything that's primarily a vehicle for speculation is doing well right now and will continue for as long as central banks pump money into the markets and the net worth of the very rich continues to soar (a not unrelated phenomenon). This is true whether it's crypto, high end art or antiques or other collectibles, or whatever.
Presumably there has to be a ceiling somewhere; as the guy said, "If something cannot continue forever, it will stop."
Eike Oct 12, 2021
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Quoting: Purple Library GuyPresumably there has to be a ceiling somewhere; as the guy said, "If something cannot continue forever, it will stop."

Never heard that one. "Stein's Law", Google says. Well, there's weird stuff to get famous for. ;)
slaapliedje Oct 12, 2021
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: Purple Library GuyCrypto is fake money.

I'd wager to say in effect it isn't money. Years ago, people started to sell coffee for bitcoins around here. I don't think anybody is still doing that. If you sell your coffee for x bitcoins, with which you could buy you new coffee beans and pay your rent and everything, you don't know if it's worth half next month and you cannot pay your rent - or maybe double. Same for the customer. Money with such fluctuations doesn't work. Even currencies with huge inflation are less bad - at least you know which direction it will take.
Really, it's more a vehicle for speculation. Which currently probably makes it a pretty good investment, if you're someone who can afford to be investing, because everything that's primarily a vehicle for speculation is doing well right now and will continue for as long as central banks pump money into the markets and the net worth of the very rich continues to soar (a not unrelated phenomenon). This is true whether it's crypto, high end art or antiques or other collectibles, or whatever.
Presumably there has to be a ceiling somewhere; as the guy said, "If something cannot continue forever, it will stop."
I mean at the current prices for 'retro' systems, if I sold all of mine off I would have a rather nice chunk of change!


Last edited by slaapliedje on 13 October 2021 at 3:34 pm UTC
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