However, we can see that between an early market and mainstream market there is also a chasm. The way to cross it is by taking over completely a niche. Be #1 in a certain segment of the market.
By taking over a niche, it helps to “bridge” this gap, and go into the main market. This is how Apple did it back in the early 90’s by targeting graphic designers and printing specialists. (This is just before the early days of the internet. They hoped that the computer graphic designers will use their computer and like it so much that they will write and print about it).
In a similar way, Ubuntu could target web developers. Make them have Ubuntu as prefered system.