Distro's popularities over time

[brunovecchi]

See for yourself. (http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+fedora%2C+suse%2C+mandriva%2C+d ebian&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0)

Notice the regular popularity peaks, presumably because of the 6-month release cycle.

[TBOL3]

Wow, this ubuntu comes out of nowhere, and takes the pie!

[Paul41]

Interesting that Ubuntu is the only one with a upward trend. I wonder if that is people moving from the others to Ubuntu or are the others losing interest in linux all together?

[brunovecchi]

Interesting that Ubuntu is the only one with a upward trend. I wonder if that is people moving from the others to Ubuntu or are the others losing interest in linux all together?

This is more interesting: Ubuntu raises while Linux drops (http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+linux)

[TBOL3]

Yep, this has me worried. Will ubuntu have a 'monopoly' on linux devs? (I know they won't literally have one).

[TBOL3]

Here is an even more interesting one.

http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+windows%2C+apple%2C+linux&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[Paul41]

This is more interesting: Ubuntu raises while Linux drops (http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+linux)

That is interesting. You would think that with Linux getting more and more user friendly that the trend for Linux would be going up. Unless new people searching for Linux think Ubuntu is Linux (as in not just a distro).

[Paul41]

Here is an even more interesting one.

http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+windows%2C+apple%2C+linux&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

It's interesting here to see that Apple looks fairly flat but I keep hearing that it is gaining so much popularity. Makes you wonder if that is true.

[Dr Small]

Linux versus Windows versus Mac
http://www.google.es/trends?q=linux%2C+windows%2C+mac&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Notice how Windows steadily drops after Vista's prime time.

[TBOL3]

This makes apple more popular. But it's still flat. I think that apple marketing will only support a small number of the population.

ubuntu, microsoft, mac, linux

[Paul41]

Linux versus Windows versus Mac
http://www.google.es/trends?q=linux%2C+windows%2C+mac&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Notice how Windows steadily drops after Vista's prime time.

Looks like Windows was dropping steadily even before Vista, then they got a spike with the release of Vista.

[TBOL3]

http://www.google.es/trends?q=windows%2C+microsoft%2C+xp%2C+vista%2C+my space&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

This puts everything in perspective. It's tragic though.

[Dr Small]

http://www.google.es/trends?q=windows%2C+microsoft%2C+xp%2C+vista%2C+my space&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

This puts everything in perspective. It's tragic though.
Well, if you are going to include myspace, might as well graph it against facebook:
http://www.google.es/trends?q=myspace%2C+facebook&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[perlluver]

Well, if you are going to include myspace, might as well graph it against facebook:
http://www.google.es/trends?q=myspace%2C+facebook&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Blah, I can't believe facebook has more users, although there is another to add to that list in a few years, http://www.myyearbook.com.

[TBOL3]

I guess eating is over rated these days.

http://www.google.es/trends?q=myspace%2C+facebook%2C+food&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[Sealbhach]

Sadly, if Linux is to come into common everday use, some distro is going to have to be the standard. People get confused by change and they want to feel comfortable that they're using the same software as everybody else.

Looks like Ubuntu is shaping up to fill that role if enough people start to ditch windows.

All the other great distros will become niche players.


.

[cardinals_fan]

Sadly, if Linux is to come into common everday use, some distro is going to have to be the standard. People get confused by change and they want to feel comfortable that they're using the same software as everybody else.

Looks like Ubuntu is shaping up to fill that role if enough people start to ditch windows.

All the other great distros will become niche players.

Whatever distro negotiates the most preinstallation contracts will become the most commonly used.

[Giant Speck]

It seems that no matter what operating system you use, it's still more popular than sliced bread.

http://www.google.es/trends?q=windows%2C+linux%2C+mac%2C+sliced+bread&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[TBOL3]

Hmm, I see a correlation here. (not really, don't correlations actually have to be going up or down?)

[cardinals_fan]

It seems that no matter what operating system you use, it's still more popular than sliced bread.

http://www.google.es/trends?q=windows%2C+linux%2C+mac%2C+sliced+bread&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
/googles sliced bread

I'm a rebel :)

[Dr Small]

Sadly, if Linux is to come into common everday use, some distro is going to have to be the standard. People get confused by change and they want to feel comfortable that they're using the same software as everybody else.

Looks like Ubuntu is shaping up to fill that role if enough people start to ditch windows.

All the other great distros will become niche players.


.
Debating which distro to be the standard will be a disputation that will never cease. But something we all should really be concerned about is:
http://www.google.es/trends?q=vim%2C+emacs&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[cardinals_fan]

Debating which distro to be the standard will be a disputation that will never cease. But something we all should really be concerned about is:
http://www.google.es/trends?q=vim%2C+emacs&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
At least Emacs is falling :)

[qazwsx]

Debating which distro to be the standard will be a disputation that will never cease. But something we all should really be concerned about is:
http://www.google.es/trends?q=vim%2C+emacs&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

http://www.google.es/trends?q=vim%2C+emacs%2C+kate%2C+nano&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0 :popcorn:

[Dr Small]

http://www.google.es/trends?q=vim%2C+emacs%2C+kate%2C+nano&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0 :popcorn:
Being popular does mean you are the most functional. As a matter of fact, Nano is one of the least functional editors I have ever used. People don't like to take the time to learn all of Vim's functions, but the ones that do can easily run cicles around Nano/GUI users. I won't even mention the Emacs OS...

[brunovecchi]

OMG this has turned into a vim/emacs flame war!

Well, let's spice things up a bit:

Fire! (http://www.google.es/trends?q=gnome%2C+kde%2C+fluxbox%2C+xfce%2C+openbo x&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0)

[TBOL3]

Crap, I was going to insult your personality.

http://www.google.es/trends?q=me%2C+you&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[1cewolf]

I don't ever want to see a distro achieve the status of being "the standard". Linux's sheer variety is its best characteristic and reducing the distro scene to a monopoly would suck the soul right out of the movement.

Variety brings competition. Competition brings innovation. Innovation brings better products for us, the end-users! :KS

[Dr Small]

OMG this has turned into a vim/emacs flame war!

Well, let's spice things up a bit:

Fire! (http://www.google.es/trends?q=gnome%2C+kde%2C+fluxbox%2C+xfce%2C+openbo x&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0)
When you compare things, you can't never leave vim out of the picture, so from there, it instantly becomes a flamewar (to those that oppose the mighty vim) :)

[joninkrakow]

This makes apple more popular. But it's still flat. I think that apple marketing will only support a small number of the population.


Yup, but the dirty secret is that market share isn't really the holy grail people think it is--or rather, Microsoft thinks it is. It is necessary in the sense that Apple and Linux need to attract enough people to make it worth developing for (in Mac's case, enough to attract developers to make money on it), but market share is really not the thing to aim for. Raw numbers is, and market share will take care of itself. Let Microsoft keep aiming for market share, and missing the users, and lose market share. My opinion, of course...

-Jon

[earthpigg]

back on topic! (http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+microsoft%2C+apple&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0)

The Big Players, by Brand Name (http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+microsoft%2C+apple&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0)
Microsoft
Apple
Ubuntu

Apple and MS look to be tied with just over 40% each, with Ubuntu pulling in at just under 20%.

brand value is important.... if i have an apple music player and phone, then an apple computer may feel automatic to me. (well, not ~me~... but you know what i mean :))

edit: now that i think about it, that entire string was a dumb search... i need to eat more fruit, such as apples, so this does not happen in the future.

[kernelhaxor]

how abt this for a change?

http://www.google.es/trends?q=obama%2C+mccain&ctab=0&geo=all&date=ytd&sort=0

[Swarms]

Yup, but the dirty secret is that market share isn't really the holy grail people think it is--or rather, Microsoft thinks it is. It is necessary in the sense that Apple and Linux need to attract enough people to make it worth developing for (in Mac's case, enough to attract developers to make money on it), but market share is really not the thing to aim for. Raw numbers is, and market share will take care of itself. Let Microsoft keep aiming for market share, and missing the users, and lose market share. My opinion, of course...

-Jon

Increased numbers = increased market share?

[brunovecchi]

back on topic! (http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+microsoft%2C+apple&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0)

The Big Players, by Brand Name (http://www.google.es/trends?q=ubuntu%2C+microsoft%2C+apple&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0)
Microsoft
Apple
Ubuntu

Apple and MS look to be tied with just over 40% each, with Ubuntu pulling in at just under 20%.

brand value is important.... if i have an apple music player and phone, then an apple computer may feel automatic to me. (well, not ~me~... but you know what i mean :))


This graph is interesting in two ways:
1) The absolute values. Ubuntu doesn't come out bad here, considering that it has the only unambiguous keyword. I consider Microsoft and Apple ambiguous keywords because they are not used uniquely when referring to an Operating System (Microsoft Office, Microsoft Flight Simulator, mummy I want my apple...). Therefore, Ubuntu's relative position might be underestimated.

2) The trends. Ubuntu seems the only one with a clear positive slope. In fact, it might be estimated that in 2009-2010, it will surpass apple's and Microsoft's google searches (whether that accounts for anything is debatable).

[Calmatory]

Here's the search volume between distros (http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=Ubuntu%2CFedora%2CSuse%2CMandriva%2CDebian&cmpt=q). :)

[brunovecchi]

I didn't know about that! Quite an useful tool, I'll bookmark it.

[andras artois]

This is what we should be concerned about:

http://www.google.es/trends?q=porn%2C+ipod&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

OH HEY IRELAND!!!


....and I come from Birmingham........

[adityakavoor]

Joomla rises from nowhere !!

http://www.google.com/trends?q=drupal%2Cjoomla%2Cwordpress&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[samjh]

You're more popular than me:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=you%2C+me&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

And he's more popular than her:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=he%2C+her&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

[Exershio]

http://www.google.es/trends?q=google%2C+microsoft%2C+apple&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

I think we have a winner