"history of Linux on the desktop"

I don't know, this is partly about marketshare as well.

And Android is supposedly gonna have a larger marketshare in number of units sold in 2014 in comparison to all Windows devices combined: tablet, phone and desktop:

"...in early 2014, less than two years from now, Android installed base will exceed total Windows installed base, PCs and smartphones and tablets, all counted together."

http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2012/08/smar...

Obviously, this does not make the Windows market a small market.