[OT] linux statistics

[Phil Meyer]

g wrote:
> John Brier wrote:
>
>   
>> for linux installs check out the linux counter:
>>
>> http://counter.li.org/
>>     
>
> thanks john.
>
> there is also, that i have seen, but do not recall, a site that shows
> stats by distribution, that i have logged but do not recall.
>
> i guess i will have to wade thru a google search to find it.
>
> later.
>
>   

There are no good metrics for Linux installed base numbers. 

Too many folks have to set their browser to mimic IE for some sites to 
work, so web based stats are no good.

Many installs are done on server hardware that never hit web based stats.

Many installs are done from local repositories and/or custom spins, and 
many installs are done over the internet, so counting iso downloads is 
also meaningless.

Most people ignore the Smolt prompts, or any other attempt to gather 
user based inputs for distribution counts/statistics.

However, within the limited and skewed numbers, there is some knowledge 
to be gained.

For users who get their distro via distrowatch, their numbers are 
telling.  Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, and Mint are downloaded from them more than 
Fedora.

But, that does not have anything to do with the literally hundreds of 
installs that I personally have done, because I have never downloaded 
any iso from distrowatch.

However, in the last 6 months, over 2,200 Ububtu iso files were 
downloaded from there. That's allot of downloads, but considering that 
Windows 7 beta did a million downloads in a week, its not saying much.

See the problem with that comparison?

How many places can you get/download Ubuntu (Think DELL, for one)?  It 
may very well be that Ubuntu is installed a million times a week.  There 
is NO WAY to prove or disprove it.

Also consider that many Linux users would like to remain anonymous.  
There are privacy advocates at the highest levels of most popular Linux 
distros and at the kernel development level.  If you were to think that 
Linux installed base numbers are intentionally hard to calculate, you 
might not be far from the mark.

Good Luck!