OMGUbuntu asks: Has Interest in Ubuntu Peaked?

jeremy · 03-23-2017, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Looking at the image it us hard to not conclude one thing: that interest in Ubuntu has peaked.

But has it?

I think there are a couple of possible reasons why people Google for information on or about Ubuntu less than they used to.

And most of those reasons are actually positive.
Ubuntu is a bit… boring

Ubuntu (as a desktop OS) is fairly stale.

It’s uneventful and it’s predictable.

Don’t get me wrong: hat isn’t necessarily a criticism, but an observation. The days of big desktop innovations like web-app integration, the HUD, or the (rather controversial) introduction of Smart Scopes, etc seem long gone. Ubuntu has neatly settled into a two year LTS-focused cadence that favours reliability and stability over change for changes’ sake.

But in doing that it’s only natural that curiosity and interest will wane too.

The Unity 7 desktop is effectively mothballed. We know that. It gets a few new bug fixes every 6 months, and occasionally adds the odd “missing” feature.

But it’s reliable and it’s dependable.

Work continues on Unity 8, of course, but as this effort is largely a “catch up affair”, with hands tasked to create a new desktop experience that has all the features of the one we already have. That’s not enough to get people excited.

...

What Do You Think?

This article represents a few off the cuff thoughts about a single graph and nothing more. It’s not a takedown nor am I claiming Ubuntu is doomed/dead/dying.

I intend this to be conversation starter that we can continue in the comments, so please do chime in with your take on the supposed declining trend in the space below. Do keep our Code of Conduct in mind when doing so, though.

Whether you’ve switched to a different distribution, spend less time tweaking your PC, or advocate for both more than ever: we want to know what you think.

I'm curious as well, what do LQ members think of this?

-jeremy

Gedagtes · 03-30-2017, 02:11 AM

I have used Ubuntu since about version 6.1 and welcome its "stability". Not that it ever was unduly unstable, but it had a steep learning curve, issues, quirks etc. If ease of use and stability translate into boredom - let it be.

cynwulf · 04-03-2017, 10:37 AM

The article seems based on an overly simplistic analysis. "googling for solutions" seems irrelevant, the more users, the more web searches there will be and the more exposure the more people "googling".

Distrowach, unreliable as it's hit counter can be as a "measure", probably shows something closer to the truth: Linux Mint happened. Linux Mint simply did the 'buntu thing better and without all the posturing and restrictions and with a desktop most users preferred.

Mint toppled Ubuntu from the top of distrowatch back some time around 2011

And for the last few years, Debian itself has been ahead, which was unthinkable a few years back.

But it's not just that others have grown, 'buntu itself has simply declined in popularity as it's no longer the only act. Ubuntu has also suffered from bad press since the "purple era" with the Amazon "shopping lens" fiasco springing to mind. And before that the Banshee amazon store, gnome foundation funding fiasco.