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Valve amended the Steam survey for December 2025 - Linux actually hit another all-time high
(www.gamingonlinux.com)
this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
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I've installed Windows on thousands of machines and IMO, major Linux distros are usually easier to set up for home use but I say that having used both for a good amount of time, so my opinion is definitely biased compared to someone who doesn't really use computers.
I would argue though, where Linux really shines is old systems, much like the many that MS chose to drop support for in Windows 11. There's a pretty decent chance that the bullshit going on with RAM and drives might actually further drive Linux adoption as people try to get more out of their existing machines or old used\refurbished machines that they can actually afford (which Linux runs great on, unlike Windows).
Time will tell though...
It doesn't really matter which is easier to install because only a very small percentage of people are comfortable with installing an OS of any kind. The vast majority of people just keep whatever OS was pre-installed. 99% of the time that's Windows or MacOS.
Hopefully 2026 brings some more mainstream options to buy computers with Linux pre-installed. I think that's unlikely though, other than Steam OS for some handhelds and Valve's new hardware.
It would be great if Lenovo or Dell or others prominently featured Linux options to try to capitalize on all the Microsoft hate. I know they already sell some Ubuntu options but they aren't featured or advertised. I suspect they are afraid of pissing off Microsoft.
Dell definitely has an option for Ubuntu as a default install, but it's definitely not the norm. Not sure about Lenovo, but I can tell you Linux runs great on Thinkpads (my daily driver is a T14 with Cinnamon Mint).
PSA: Michael Dell is a super shitty GOP megadonor. Don't buy his shit.
I don't personally, but they are one of the suppliers where I work.
Only with certain models, sadly. Mine was not available with anything but W10 Pro, 3y ago. Zero support for Linux.
Also linux support for cellular models is atrocious, so I had to go with (k)ubuntu, even though I didn't want to. Even then, it was more difficult than it should have been (didn't work out of the box). Everything else worked fine on all distros and flavors I checked, but none else got the modem working (eventually).
But also, after that TP and then buying and returning two more (known cooling issues that Lenovo denies, and a custom build that they didn't activate or provide a key for W10 Pro!), they will have to give me a free, top-tier machine to potentially get me as a customer again. Cs was nice but everything else is a dumpster fire.
The TP is on its second battery too - the first was replaced after 6 weeks. I never left the house with it, and yet it went from 3h to 20m capacity in that amount of time. The replacement did the same thing...
Makes sense, I never bought from Lenovo directly (mine's a refurb), but I wouldn't be surprised to learn Lenovo started doing it before Dell.