The Secret Lives of Ubuntu and Debian Users 501
jammag points out a look at statistics from the Popularity Contest projects on Debian and Ubuntu. These projects track the download and upgrade habits of their respective distributions' users, revealing — no surprise here — that Ubuntu users are more likely to be newbies than Debian users. The numbers reveal, for instance, that 86 percent of Ubuntu machines use the proprietary NVidia driver, where only a mere sliver of Debian machines do. Likewise, Debian users are far more eclectic in their software choice, less likely to use any default options. The article concludes with a look at the limits of what conclusions can be drawn from statistics like these. "In general, Debian users seem more eclectic in their use of software than Ubuntu users, and less likely to use an application simply because it is included by default. Debian users also seem more likely to be concerned to maintain a free installation than Ubuntu users — a conclusion that is hardly surprising when you consider Debian's reputation for freedom, but is still interesting to see being supported by statistics. ... To what extent last week's figures are typical is uncertain. Very likely, studying the figures over a longer period would produce different results. Possibly, too, those who participate in the Popularity Contests are not typical users of either Ubuntu or Debian. "
Do you really want to know? (Score:5, Funny)
Because I certainly don't.
Re:Do you really want to know? (Score:5, Funny)
Obviously they are scheming to prevent people from taking online courses. Haven't you paid attention to the news?
Re:Do you really want to know? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:So wait a second... (Score:4, Funny)
"Real nerds use Intel GMA 900s!"
REAL nerds use ASCII graphics, you poser!
Re:Ezmode (Score:5, Funny)
These guys do the same stuff that everyone else does, except they do it with style because they use Linux.
Everybody else sits in their parents' basement eating Cheetos and masturbating to Japanese tentacle porn? And how do you do that with style?
Re:So wait a second... (Score:3, Funny)
Or perhaps it's buying nVidia cards that makes you a "newbie"? Real nerds use Intel GMA 900s!
And those who use a serial console or an ssh terminal session are considered what?
Re:So wait a second... (Score:5, Funny)
Dinosaurs.
Re:freedom? (Score:5, Funny)
Ah, but does it give you the ability to be a smug about your choice of computer software?
I think not.
Re:Do you really want to know? (Score:3, Funny)
So next time you're in getting your car fixed and you don't know what a lower control arm is, I hope they call you an idiot.
I certainly would. If you don't know what something means, you can find out. If you don't, and you get ripped off, then you've only got your own lazy self to blame.
Re:Do you really want to know? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:So wait a second... (Score:4, Funny)
Masochists.
Re:So wait a second... (Score:5, Funny)
On another note, nouveau provides EXA, which makes it faster than nvidia for 2D on all the cards it supports. Just FYI. (They're working on 3D, too, but it'll take a bit since nVidia's still firmly in kitten-killing territory.)
Yup - 'cause when I'm driving home from Fry's with a brand spankin' new Nividia card in my hot little hands, the whole way I'm thinking "oh boy is Open Office gonna scream now!" :)
(Although I really am looking forward to when the 3D support gets hashed out)
Re:Ezmode (Score:5, Funny)
Everybody else sits in their parents' basement eating Cheetos and masturbating to Japanese tentacle porn?
What an insulting thing to say! I don't even like Cheetos, let alone eat them.
Re:Do you really want to know? (Score:4, Funny)
I certainly would. If you don't know what something means, you can find out. If you don't, and you get ripped off, then you've only got your own lazy self to blame.
While I'm all for "buyer beware" and having some knowledge about the services I'm hiring, I'd also still consider a con man a con man whether he was preying on my ignorance or not (and so would any other decent service tech - be it IT, auto mechanics, or what have you).
Re:I've been using linux since the mid nineties. (Score:5, Funny)
Please enter you monitor refresh ratings, ranges can be defined with a hyphen and separated with commas.
Note - if you get this wrong your monitor may expel its magic smoke.
Re:Ezmode (Score:2, Funny)
You stick your little finger out.
Re:Do you really want to know? (Score:3, Funny)
...if Microsoft had published this kind of data on users downloading habits, this would have been published under YRO.
That's because if Microsoft tracked this information, they wouldn't have asked your permission to opt-in.
unlike windows users (Score:3, Funny)
VirtualxBox? NX? Opera? Skype? Codecs? (Score:2, Funny)