In today's open source roundup: Windows 10 is not relevant to Linux. Plus: Borderlands 2 available for Linux, and does OpenOffice really still matter? The obsession with desktop market share continues in the media. Some journalists just can’t seem to let go of this and continually recycle it for clicks and page views. The latest example of this comes from a column on Beta News that proclaims in its title that “Windows 10 will continue Microsoft’s desktop domination.” According to BetaNews: This is really sad, as I know some very passionate Linux users that thought Linux could grab a huge piece of the desktop pie from Windows. Unfortunately, Microsoft has killed that opportunity with the announcement of Windows 10. You see, the biggest criticisms about Windows 8, which could have driven users towards Linux, are being rectified in the future version of Windows. Microsoft is finally bringing back the Start Menu and allowing Modern apps to run in a windowed mode. I still love Linux and I am anticipating Fedora 21; however, me and most of the world are probably more excited about the next version of Windows. The dream of Linux having a bigger piece of the desktop is less likely today than it was yesterday because of Windows 10. More at BetaNews Image credit: BetaNews Ugh, here we go again with the Windows versus Linux desktop blather. I hate having to wade through this stuff, but it’s necessary because articles like this continue to promote the idea that the desktop is of primary importance to Linux and that simply isn’t true. Usage habits have shifted considerably from desktop computers to mobile devices. Linux will always be around on the desktop, it may or may not have a sizable percentage of market share, but it will always be there as an alternative to Windows and OS X. And Windows 10 (or 11 or 12 or 13) isn’t going to change that, no matter what Microsoft does to improve its desktop operating system. The real action is in mobile devices and in that arena Linux has utterly smashed Windows and Microsoft into oblivion. You see Linux in Android phones and tablets, Chromebooks, Kindle ebook readers and in many other devices. The article grudgingly notes the success of Linux in mobile at the very end but otherwise seems totally focused on a pointless desktop horse race between Linux and Windows. Windows Phone is a good example of Microsoft’s almost complete failure in the mobile market. Android has around eighty percent (it may be more by now) market share in mobile devices, and Windows Phone is probably three percent or less despite all the money that Microsoft has spent developing and promoting it. Very few people want Windows Phone devices but many millions of people want Linux-based Android phones and tablets. So who cares about Windows 10? Let it have whatever market share it will have on the desktop. Linux will still roll on for those who want it for desktop computers, and it will continue to blow Microsoft off the map in mobile devices. Borderlands 2 available for Linux OMG Ubuntu reports that the game Borderlands 2 has been released for Linux. According to OMG Ubuntu!: “Don’t get your hopes up,” they said. “Economics make it unlikely,” they said. Well, forget that guff as today two titles from the famed first-person shooter franchise Borderlands make their Linux debut. Borderlands 2 is available to buy and play today. More at OMG Ubuntu! Image credit: Steam This is great news for Linux gamers, you can buy Borderlands 2 right now on Steam. Please note that currently it only supports Nvidia graphics cards. Here are the rest of the system requirements: Ubuntu 14.04 Intel Core 2 Quad or AMD Phenom II X4 @ 2.4GHz (or better) 4 GB RAM 13 GB HDD Space NVIDIA Geforce 260 with 1GB VRAM (or better) Does OpenOffice really still matter? A redditor asks if OpenOffice will be discontinued at some point. According to Reddit: I know the whole history behind the break off for LibreOffice to be created. Since then LibreOffice has been way more popular than OpenOffice. It is even pre-installed on most Linux distros. Will it be discontinued soon? Any thoughts? More at Reddit I have no idea if it will be discontinued, but I think a better question is: Does OpenOffice even matter at this point? And I think the answer to that is clearly no. LibreOffice has displaced OpenOffice in most Linux distributions, and I think most users made the transition quite a long time ago. OpenOffice may linger on for a while longer, but it will never matter like it once did. What’s your take on all this? Tell me in the comments below. The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of ITworld. Software DevelopmentOpen Source