this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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They're in their 60's, finally convinced them.

They say things like "This is the same..."

and I'm like

"Ya because that's Firefox, the only program you use..."

"What was Windows even doing for us?"

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[–] Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 143 points 3 weeks ago (6 children)

linux has 2 really good target audiences people using it as a near chrome book like experience, and ultra advanced users who want fine control of the system.

its everyone else in the middle that needs to play how much do i have to tweak in order to do what I want.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 59 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Moving from Windows as an intermediate user was the worst. I hated Linux for like a year. I knew just enough quirks about Windows to get 95% of what I wanted, 95% of the time, and on Linux I had to start from scratch.

Now of course I love I made the switch, as my Linux proficiency let me customize the heck out of everything, but damn, that first year...

[–] 4am@lemm.ee 27 points 3 weeks ago

I wish instead of complaining to people that they didn’t read the docs or whatever that linux devs would scour the internet for these criticisms (like when specifics are provided) and then develop solutions for them.

Yeah, people are shitting on your product because it’s not obvious. Make it more obvious!

(Thankfully this is starting to happen…)

[–] Batbro@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Do you have a top 5 list of things you hated?

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 14 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I don't have a "top 5", but the main thing was outdated software. I went to Debian because I wanted "stability" and heard that it was good, but it ended up meaning the "15-minute bugs" I encountered weren't fixed for basically the whole year I used it, all the apps looked like they were made in 2007, and if it weren't for Linux forums I would never have known that there were more "modern" Linux apps, and I would have been left believing Linux development basically died

[–] synapse1278@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I feel like outdated software on the stable distro like Debian has become less of a problem with the development of flatpak.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This is one of the reasons I love Flatpak so much

[–] Teppichbrand@feddit.org 3 points 3 weeks ago

I like the simplicity and that everything is up to date. Not sure about the weekly 11 GB of updates though.

[–] ScreaminOctopus@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah this tracks, I don't understand why people recommend Debian so much, especially to new users. Distros that update more regularly like Mint or Fedora (for non nvidia users) are much better options.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 weeks ago

This was my mistake, but I don't think people recommended Debian as a desktop OS - I believe it was recommended as a server

[–] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 21 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah my grandma uses it without any problems. I would never recommend it to my sister or mom but i know my grandma is completely happy with her basically chromebook.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Speaking of a chromebook experience, installing ChromeOS Flex on my wife's slow, outdated Surface Pro made it sleek and fast again. Can you suggest a Linux distro that would be similar on old laptops?

[–] WhiteOakBayou@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

I usually use debian with x on old laptops but I've heard good things about gallium being pretty light

[–] iii@mander.xyz 3 points 3 weeks ago

I like Xubuntu. But I've no experience on how well it does with touch screens.

[–] nossaquesapao@lemmy.eco.br 3 points 3 weeks ago

I never though about it in that way hahahah. Makes total sense.

[–] Brahvim@lemmy.kde.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

Wha-
People in the middle! Crushed yet again, oof!

[–] Kushan@lemmy.world 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

For that chrome book like experience, the genuinely think Chrome OS flex is probably a better option for most people (privacy concerns not withstanding).

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 1 points 3 weeks ago

It's ideal for someone who really doesn't understand computers (so can't be relied on to install updates etc) if you don't want to have to be tech support as much as for a "proper" OS