Linux on desktop not doing well, keeps 1% stable barely since many years:
http://www.netmarketshare.com/operat...p timeframe=Y
http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-ww-monthly-201101-201401
So we got 1% in jan 2009, same 1% in jan 2011, and now 2014 some 1.5%, can't say this is growth. Apple got a little increase, unsure they counted ipads separately.
I run linux in desktop for some things, yes... but in virtualbox VMs under a win7, this is where most linux runs. I find this easier than run linux then some win VM's on it eh.
The only real changes happens in mobile:
http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os...-201001-201401
Note Android, constant growth from 0% to 44% in period 2009-2014, and I would not be surprised it ends at 80% in a few years. Instead iOS dropped from 34% in 2009 to 23% in 2014, possible will drop to 10% in some years; but have to give credit to iOS guys for being big spenders, they buy 5-10 times more than android guys.
Others like blackberry, symbian (old nokia before win phone) all dead. Windows phone not even listed there, it is probably 1% to 3% max, I expect it to keep that low in future.
Since the future is more mobile than desktop, windows it is not that big success for next 20 years, as leads a cursed to die market. Android is based on linux (but that's not a gnome or qt... instead google apps), so in 20 years from now if you merge desktop 90% windowns still +mobile 90% android, but more mobile than desktop, linux won still NOT on desktop
