I don’t need desktop linux to “take off”, I’ve happily used it for a decade. I don’t need mobile linux to become mainstream. I just need it to be a bit better than it currently is.
Exactly. I’m not using mainstream Linux on my phone (I use Android) despite using Linux on my other devices (phone, laptop, desktop, servers), because it’s not daily driveable for me. I really want to switch, but I need some base level of compatibility, and it’s not there yet.
I thought Ubuntu Touch was dang near useable years ago, what someone considers “daily drivable” is probably subjective. If dumb phones had a web browser I’d probably settle for that as I self host and every service has a WebUI.
It’s honestly not the feature set of Linux on Mobile that holds me back from the permanent switch, it’s consistent availability of compatible hardware.
And there’s great strides happening towards fully open mobile hardware platforms.
The year of Linux on Mobile is steadily approaching. I predict it’ll be similarly disruptive as Android’s meteoric rise.
You’re quite right, I’ve forgotten how frustrating it was not knowing if I could get a hold of a replacement if my daily driver custom ROM Android gave up the ghost back when custom ROMs weren’t as widely supported as now.
For every person switching from Windows to Linux, how many people got a new Chromebook or a Mac, or just do everything on their phones or a tablet?
I have a Linux machine myself, and I love having it, but I don’t think the user base is growing particularly quickly as a percentage of PC OS installations.
It’s but growing quickly (well, SteamDeck is), but it’s growing consistently. We’l recently passed an important milestone where people are being charged for no additional features in their commercial operating systems.
That’s why the commercial OS vendors are so keen to add AI. They know they need a new differentiator, because the free options just work.
Sounds like good news for mobile linux!
Right after Linux on desktop takes off, which is sure to happen any day now.
I don’t need desktop linux to “take off”, I’ve happily used it for a decade. I don’t need mobile linux to become mainstream. I just need it to be a bit better than it currently is.
User base size dictates development resources. If you want Linux mobile to be daily driveable, you do need widespread adoption.
Exactly. I’m not using mainstream Linux on my phone (I use Android) despite using Linux on my other devices (phone, laptop, desktop, servers), because it’s not daily driveable for me. I really want to switch, but I need some base level of compatibility, and it’s not there yet.
I thought Ubuntu Touch was dang near useable years ago, what someone considers “daily drivable” is probably subjective. If dumb phones had a web browser I’d probably settle for that as I self host and every service has a WebUI.
It’s honestly not the feature set of Linux on Mobile that holds me back from the permanent switch, it’s consistent availability of compatible hardware.
And there’s great strides happening towards fully open mobile hardware platforms.
The year of Linux on Mobile is steadily approaching. I predict it’ll be similarly disruptive as Android’s meteoric rise.
You’re quite right, I’ve forgotten how frustrating it was not knowing if I could get a hold of a replacement if my daily driver custom ROM Android gave up the ghost back when custom ROMs weren’t as widely supported as now.
I personally finished deleting windows off of all of my machines recently. One by one we will add up over time
For every person switching from Windows to Linux, how many people got a new Chromebook or a Mac, or just do everything on their phones or a tablet?
I have a Linux machine myself, and I love having it, but I don’t think the user base is growing particularly quickly as a percentage of PC OS installations.
It’s but growing quickly (well, SteamDeck is), but it’s growing consistently. We’l recently passed an important milestone where people are being charged for no additional features in their commercial operating systems.
That’s why the commercial OS vendors are so keen to add AI. They know they need a new differentiator, because the free options just work.
Haven’t you heard? It’s the year of the Linux desktop.
It’s the year of the Linux desktop, today. Next year it’s the year of Linux on Mobile.
(I’m not going to clarify how much of this post is fanaticism and how much is humor. Even I’m not sure.)