Linux Gamers Make Up ~2% Of Valve's Steam Users

[yogi_berra]

Well they're definitely not "servers and clusters", so now you're just acting deliberately obtuse.

If you keep redefining what a desktop is, you might have more than 1% market share. Keep up the good work!

[stiiixy]

Not to mention most business/government machines ARE desktops, usually using an onboard video solution to boot. A workstation is generally regarded as a heavy-lifting unit designed for a specific task, such as A/V editing, 3D ani. And usually on specifically non-server and non-desktop boards.

[tuubi]

Those aren't desktops, they're workstations. Learn the difference.

Well they're definitely not "servers and clusters", so now you're just acting deliberately obtuse.

[yogi_berra]

I'm not sure if various government agencies and big businesses around the world running enterprise Linux desktops from companies like Red Hat and SUSE would agree though. They're a small slice of the pie, but that doesn't make them any less serious. Feel free to disagree if that makes you happy.

Those aren't desktops, they're workstations. Learn the difference.

[tuubi]

No, hobbyists use it on the desktop. "Serious linux users" use it on servers and clusters.

Riiiight. So our small business does absolutely everything on free and open source Linux software, manages to keep us fed, but is just a hobby. I can buy that, even though it certainly feels serious. We're small enough to be insignificant, maybe that makes us hobbyists.

I'm not sure if various government agencies and big businesses around the world running enterprise Linux desktops from companies like Red Hat and SUSE would agree though. They're a small slice of the pie, but that doesn't make them any less serious. Feel free to disagree if that makes you happy.

[yogi_berra]

Yes, we are.

No, hobbyists use it on the desktop. "Serious linux users" use it on servers and clusters.

[tuubi]

"Serious linux users" aren't using it on the desktop.

Yes, we are.

[yogi_berra]

Why would that be devasting for Linux? I don't think that you understand the mentality behind most, if not all, serious Linux users. Why should we care about other Operating Systems?

"Serious linux users" aren't using it on the desktop.

[whyusewindows]

It would be devastating for the future of Linux without a similar UI, that's what worries me. For Linux to have any future, the users of these OS's which support is ending, need to jump in our (Linux) lake and let their feet get wet.

Why would that be devasting for Linux? I don't think that you understand the mentality behind most, if not all, serious Linux users. Why should we care about other Operating Systems?

[Serge]

i wonder how they actually figure which os to count for dual booters like myself... i default to linux unless i am playing bfbc2 or red orchestra 2 ( which i hope a linux port will be released for soon).... all my games like tf2, dods, beat hazard, oil rush, etc that have native linux versions i have installed on my mint linux 14 box and uninstalled the windows version. for the past year or so i have only purchased games with the intention of playing them on linux. i hope i am being counted as a linux user. over half my game time is in linux now due to valve. i have had an off/on relationship with linux for 15 yrs and valve/steam has turned it into an everyday relationship.

From what I recall, what platform stats you're submitting depends on what platform you're running Steam on when the survey snapshot is taken. I think the survey snapshot is taken once a month right after Steam is fully loaded and your sign-in has been authenticated. I also seem to recall there being a yes/no dialog box for submitting the results.

Take what I write with a grain of salt, as I'm not a gamer, and haven't had a Steam install on one of my boxes in several years now, so even if my memory is correct, I could still be wrong just because things could have changed since then. But based on my recollections, I would imagine that if you only run Steam under Linux and never under Windows, there's no risk of you accidentally submitting stats under a Windows install instead of a Linux one.

Is there anyone here who is actually knowledgeable about how the Steam survey is conducted, and whether there are any special caveats regarding Linux (such as opt-in or opt-out options, etc.)?