this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2025
121 points (92.3% liked)

Linux

57862 readers
808 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Will they lobby for laws that prohibit Linux or make it difficult to install? What actions might they take in the future?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 63 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I believe they just don't care, since not only is Windows not very profitable anymore, the real money is at businesses. So as long as they sell licenses to businesses (business laptops, etc), but also GitHub Enterprise (yes, Micro$oft also owns GitHub) Microsoft earns enough money that way. And also think cloud (Azure)..

My guess is therefor that the focus on Windows isn't that big anymore. I just hope more companies and gaming devs/publishes also push native binaries towards Linux.

[–] audaxdreik@pawb.social 27 points 5 days ago (2 children)

not only is Windows not very profitable anymore, the real money is at businesses.

Hear me out, this is exactly why they care. Windows as a product isn't profitable anymore, but as a market share it is. Apple has always enjoyed their locked down ecosystem and Google is trying to completely block side loading on devices we already largely don't have control over the bootloader. It's no secret Microsoft has been seething with jealousy for years.

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide

You're a soulless corporate ghoul, how do you make those numbers work for you? Why do you think they have the absolute gall to tell you to throw your computer out and get one that supports TPM 2.0? Why do you think there are still so many people willing or not that will swallow that bitter pill that's Windows 11?

I'm not trying to call you out in particular here or anything, but I think it's foolish to assume they don't

[–] humanoidchaos@lemmy.cif.su 2 points 2 days ago

I agree with you.

Everyone who is saying that windows isn't profitable or no longer an important part of microsoft's business strategy is just a parrot succumbing to the snowball effect.

[–] Abrinoxus@lemmy.today 1 points 4 days ago

Yes, i bet they also think what is used by most people permeates upward i.e. if most use win as young companies will pivot to win for work.

[–] jokeyrhyme@lemmy.ml 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Agreed

I think Windows is primarily a development environment for Xbox, just as macOS is primarily a development environment for iOS Everything else of value from Microsoft is available via the web/cloud (even Office)

Eventually, Microsoft might even decide that it's more profitable to abandon Windows completely

[–] jumping_redditor@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago (3 children)

office 365 is a fraction of the true power of office. do not even try to compare the two.

[–] data1701d@startrek.website 7 points 5 days ago

I think you’re mixing up Office 365 and Office Online.

Office 365 is a subscription for Microsoft Office that includes access to both the full, more powerful desktop Office applications and the much less powerful Office Online.

Though I don’t think it’s even called Office 365 anymore, but I don’t respect MS enough to bother to Google what they’re calling it now.

[–] HK65@sopuli.xyz 6 points 5 days ago (2 children)

MS hasn't released an Office version outside 365 for 8 years.

365 is Office for them.

[–] jokeyrhyme@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I agree

But how many paying customers need features that are not in the online/cloud versions of Office?

Sure this is a shrinking number of people?

the same could be said about libreoffice, but the only reason I gave Microsoft money for office was for dealing with specifically the edge cases where a document won't work with other word processing programs. The browser based ms office is comparable to Google docs, usable 98% of the time.