------------------------------------------------------------------- +title: Re: why desktop linux is growing +date: Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:52:26 +0100 +edited: Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:20:00 +0100 +author: -fab- ------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a reply to NP89's post[1] about why the Linux desktop is growing. I think he's right in his opinion that the big OSs don't serve the user as much as they did in the past and invest more in spying on the user and doing *whatever* in the background without the users knowledge. That's why more powerful Laptops/Desktops are still developed, to manage the whole background processes which Windows and MacOS steadily introduce. But he's also right in his opinion that the desktop/Laptop market is shrinking. It seems like people don't want to write longer, more creative texts anymore. They just want to surf the web and send short text messages with Twitter or WhatsApp with their small smartphone devices. If they do, I don't care, although I would like to see more people writing longer form texts at best at a Gemini Capsule or in a Gopher Hole. I don't care for the shrinking desktop/Laptop market either as long as these devices don't vanish completely. And maybe this means that these devices get cheaper (but hopefully still more powerful in future). But I think there will always be demand for the "classic" Desktop or Laptop, at least for coding. I don't believe you could even write the smallest script on these inconvenient smartphone keyboards. I need my desktop/laptop and I only use my smartphone for calls, for short SMS messages (sometimes), although I prefer email and use it as a hotspot for my laptops. But for emails and longer texts, I need a device with a proper keyboard and a normal screen. Maybe this is a generational thing, but regarding that, I clearly prefer my desktop/laptop. I don't believe in a big "wake up" from users of Windows or MacOS, but the more users get aware of the nefarious practices Big Tech displays more and more, the better. And then there is Linux or the *BSDs to the rescue. So I think the Linux market share can only rise and that's good! So if less Desktops/Laptops are sold, I hope these are bought by people who care for their privacy and run a free/libre OS. All in all - Have fun! -fab- [1:] gopher://republic.circumlunar.space:70/0/~np89/glog/20251114-why_desktop_linux_is_growing.txt