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the desktop doesn’t matter anymore most casual users gave up computers for smartphones years ago I would consider either statement to be completely false. Whi
by FpUser 7y ago
the desktop doesn’t matter anymore
most casual users gave up computers for smartphones years ago
I would consider either statement to be completely false. While less people have full blown desktops almost everyone has laptop and modern laptops are good enough.
I would agree that there are many poor countries/places where people can only afford smartphone. But hopefully the future of humanity is to get better rather than going down to that level.
- headmelted 7y agoI don’t think sales figures support the notion that everyone has a laptop at all but I’d be happy to stand corrected.
- FpUser 7y agoI have few laptops. One is very old, 5-6 years I think gaming Asus. It still runs all titles just fine. If I was not a programmer why would I upgrade from that one? This can obviously make people upgrade less.
- headmelted 7y agoRight but you’re a programmer on HN (same as most of us here I’d assume). My point was that we’re not typical users - most users don’t use a traditional computer outside of work anymore as the phone fills that gap for them. Microsoft isn’t threatened by Linux because they have way bigger things to focus on these days - ubiquitous mobile devices and proving Windows’ relevance in an age of web browsers everywhere.
- FpUser 7y agoI do not have crystal ball with precise stats. I do however know and communicate with many people far removed from programming. Nearly all of them have laptops, few have actual desktops. Beside as an owner of some products with 10s of thousands of customers I regularly receive customer wishes. Requests to port to Mac OSX are clearly visible. Requests to port to phones are zilch.
- ClumsyPilot 7y ago>"modern laptops are good enough." Good enough for what? I am not sure I understand what you are claiming or how it disagrees with an OP. The point is, for many users the computer is just where they run a browser. It does not matter whether they have desktop or laptop, and how powerful they are.
- FpUser 7y agoThe point is, for many users the computer is just where they run a browser Well there is a big difference between MANY and MOST. There is a whole world of creative people to whom browser on a phone just does not cut it.
- ClumsyPilot 7y agoPercentage of people living on web-apps is > 10%. Linux Desktop is 0.8% according to Statcounter, September 19 Which is the bigger threat?
- FpUser 7y agoWhy on Earth did you bring LINUX desktop here? Anyways I am done with this Kool-Aid
- jhall1468 7y agoThat was the point of this entire thread. That MS doesn't care about Linux Desktop, so it's no longer a threat. The browser is the new threat, so being buddies with Linux is fine. There's no secret plan here. Priorities have changed since 2002...