Comment by jbs789

I think the categories are "desktop", "mobile", and "server". Perhaps "tablet" as well.

So "desktop OS" likely includes actual desktops and laptops.

More likely it's because fewer desktops AND laptops are being bought in favor of phones and tablets (and Chromebooks).

Windows appeals to two groups with any real loyalty: gamers, and enterprises. Everyone else who was just a casual user just used it for decades because it's what came preinstalled on the most systems. If all you're doing is watching netflix, checking social media, and reading email, you really don't care what OS you're using, unless it forces you to care (at which point, you consider another device).

Gamer loyalty is getting more and more dubious. I wouldn't necessarily say this means that we'll have a ton of Linux desktops though. We'll just likely be seeing fewer PC's in general, as we already have been. And those of us using Linux will be the last to ditch the form factor, as phones, tablets, and smart tv's are more of an appliance than a tool.

I would assume that laptops count as desktop because they are running desktop operating systems. How would a browser user agent string even differentiate between a desktop PC and laptop?

Laptops are desktops.

i saw folks suggesting a lot of the growth came from india, but i didn't look into it.