So, these statistics apparently come from StatCounter, a web analytics company. I know that this is probably the best way of collecting usage metrics for the entire Internet, but I think this is less efficient for counting Linux users - after all, I would say that the proportion of Linux users who also use content blockers is pretty high. Even if it weren’t the case, most distributions ship with Firefox pre-installed, which automatically blocks trackers out-of-the-box.

Also, wouldn’t this also count an embedded device with a WebView as a “Linux user”? For example, smart TVs have a web browser, and typically identify themselves with a “Generic Linux” user-agent.

To be honest, I think 8 GB is a more realistic requirement for light tasks nowadays, but not because of Windows - even Windows 10 would struggle with Chrome, Word, Excel, etc on just 4 GB, and I can’t imagine that W11 is any better. Increasing the requirements would ensure that OEMs won’t put Windows 12 on shitbox PCs with 4 GB and call them usable, just because they meet the bare-minimum standards.

2-3 years is actually a reasonable time for Windows releases, going by historical dates. I think we’re all used to the long gap between Windows 10 and Windows 11

New Windows release already? Looks like Microsoft has realised that its old model of selling major upgrades was more profitable than the Windows 10 strategy.

That billboard is probably recent, I went to their website and they prominently display it on their homepage