Microsoft's Economic Downfall Is Foretold by the Rise of Linux-Based Chromebooks

[sujith]

Microsoft will have you believe that the new Windows 8 operating system is doing great in sales and that Linux is not actually gaining any solid ground, but it's difficult to tell what is happening on the market without any real data. So we turn to the only online shop that has enough sales to provide an accurate picture.

The online community is being flooded with reports of amazing sales for Windows 8 and about how much better Windows 8.1 actually is. Unfortunately, only Microsoft is providing those numbers, so it's hard to get a clear image.

On the other hand, Amazon has a huge amount of sales in any department, so it's very likely that what it reports as successful on a particular market is actually representative on a global scale. We can’t say for certain that it is, but there’s a high chance.

A Google Plus user has compiled a very simple list of the Best Sellers in the Laptop Computers category. This is a very dynamic list and the numbers change constantly, but not the three main entries.

Out of the first ten laptops in the Best-Selling category, five of them are Chromebooks and three of those occupy the first three places. All of them have one thing in common – they feature a free operating system, and this means that they also support Linux. Plus, because their OS is free, they are also available at half the price of a Windows 8 laptop.

It's very interesting to see how the tables have turned in just a few years. It used to be difficult to find a cheaper PC or laptop that had Linux on it, and the Windows operating system was being pushed into the market by all the major hardware makers.

Now, the Linux laptops are ruling best-selling lists and Windows 8 and 8.1 are gasping for air in a market that's finding the alternative a lot more attractive.

It's also true that the Linux-based operating systems have become a lot friendlier and, with the rise of Steam for Linux, more and more users find out that they don't actually need an expensive OS.

It will be a while before the roles are completely reversed and until the majority of users realizes that they can save a lot of money by opting for a free and open source solution for their PC and laptop needs.

Source

Edited March 28, 2014 by sujith

[smallhagrid]

This speaks for itself - LOUD & CLEAR !!!:

[MidnightDistortions]

After W7 no more Windows for me. Going Linux fulltime ;)

[smallhagrid]

Very wise IMO:

After W7 no more Windows for me. Going Linux fulltime ;)

And I've posted more of what I think on the subject, here:
http://www.nsaneforums.com/topic/213056-viaduct-vya-no-leenooks/

If anybody is interested.