Why Linux is failing in desktop space?

Linux operating system was started as a hobby project few years back (around year 1991), more for academic purpose. In the past few years, Linux as an operating system is progressed well. There are many articles out there in web comparing all the benefits of Linux over Microsoft Windows. Security is one of the major criteria when people select Linux over Windows. Stability is the other one! If somebody is to draft comparison chart between Linux and Microsoft Windows, Linux will emerge as a winner!

Considering the above facts, one question that needs to be answered is "why on earth the Linux desktop adoption rate is around 1%? "

Above statistic is not valid for server space, as Linux is rocking in that area having healthy penetration rate and this needs a separate discussion to explain the same. 


This article is an effort, to quantify some of the root causes that will justify the disappointing Linux adoption in desktop area. Following are the 5 major reasons that are stopping Linux for becoming a major desktop operating system.

Inertia

We are here talking about the inertia that is an integral part of our life. Here the inertia is more to do with user's mindset. Looking back at history, Microsoft Windows was a forerunner in introducing product in market when user needed the most! Right from the era of initial windows release (Windows 3.1) Microsoft was there with a product when users are demanding one! This promptness ensures a mass adoption of Windows Operating system right from the beginning. When users spent their hard earned money on Windows operating system and satisfied with it, they were all not at all willing to shift to other operating system as the current operating system was serving them well.

A normal user just wanted to get their job done with operating system without going into too much of technicality. So even if the windows operating system was not technically that strong when compared to Linux, it was serving people purpose in day to day activities. Hence users were more reluctant to try something else.

Usability

We must accept that Windows operating system is more usable than Linux. At the same time we should keep in mind that Linux is more powerful than Windows. But really, what’s the use of power when all people wanted was ease of operation? Side by side comparison of two operating systems explains this very well. When it comes to Linux, we must rely on command line for getting the work done. But in case of Windows the dependency on the command line is minimized, putting more emphasis on Graphic User Interface. Only geeks will appreciate the power of command line not a normal (and also majority) user.

Fragmentation

There are hundreds of variants of Linux operating system out there in market to choose from. The big question that comes in a mind of Linux starter is” which flavor of Linux I choose?”

We don’t have scarcity of advocates for every flavor of Linux existed. All of the articles will describe how a particular flavor is different than the other flavor. The people who promote the Linux will justify this with loads of technical data that is beyond the grasp of a normal desktop user. This confusion will last for few initial days and later either the user end up choosing a wrong distribution or not choosing anything at all!

Standardization

Look how system configuration is performed in Red Hat Linux and SUSE Linux. Both the operating system has its own way of configuring the Linux. So just imagine, we have hundreds of flavor of Linux out there having their own ways of configuring the system. For example, as a windows user, if we want to configure IP address there is one and only one way of doing it. But in case of Linux there are many ways we can set up IP address. Here we are talking about the Graphical User Interface aspect that is implemented differently in different Linux flavor.

Games

Yes! It is true! Games can be a crucial factor in operating system adoption. Most of the Gaming industries are geared toward Windows operating system. There is a substantial amount of users who choose the operating system for which there are lots of games available in market. The scenario is not encouraging for Linux as we have not that many games for this operating system.  Thus normal users are forced to choose only Windows operating system to game.

Support

When users purchase Microsoft Windows operating system, support is ensured. For any difficulty people can look up to Microsoft to solve their problem regarding Windows operating system. In case of most of the Linux distribution, this kind of professional support is missing. Most of the time, the only support that comes is from open source community. It is worthwhile to mention that scenario is changing in this area as more and more companies are coming forward for Linux official support.

Hope in future Linux community will try to work toward addressing this points to increase the adoption in desktop area!