this post was submitted on 20 May 2024
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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The original image said windows where this would be accurate but I doubt it applies to the average linux user
thanks for the red circles
Extremely important stuff here
The red circles convinced me to enlarge the picture to read it.
I'm confused, is the image about Linux? I don't see it says Linux anywhere in the red circles. /s
Well, I do. In fact I've installed Linux on 4 classmate's laptops, after insisting for some time.
You are a true friend.
People don't have any reason to recommend Windows because it's the regular OS everyone already uses.
Linux may be an improvement for a lot of people's use cases but a vast majority of them don't even know it exists and its not just for servers and stuff. Mac people probably do this too.
People do this all the time.
You don’t tell people that you use Arch in random conversations? /s
With the amount of fuck-ups from Microsoft, this might not be necessary, but:
The average user doesn't want to install the operating system or doesn't care about it as long as they can do their things, and those who care can easily do so today. Thus, IMO, advertising to the end user is a waste of resources.
Focus on permeating it in governments, institutions, and OEMs to increase market share and break the "Linux is complicated / incompatible / for developers" stigma, then organic adoption out of these environments will grow - at least among people who can actually use it with the supported software.
Really, this seems to be the best way to spread Linux adoption to me. I would bet that Linux got at least a good few users from the Steam Deck coming with it pre-installed. Big way to show people that for most things the average user doesn't need to go into the command line to use their system for what they need as well. Of course, continued improvement in the software included in the most popular distros would really boost Linux adoption as well. I've seen plenty of people say they'd make the switch - if only they could use MS Office or Adobe software on it. Alternatives like LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Kdenlive and the GIMP have come a LONG way since I first made the switch around 2009, but especially the Adobe software still outclasses the competition when it comes to features. MS Office isn't as hard to let go of, especially since you can still use Office 365 Online on Linux and LibreOffice is closer to having all the OOTB features of MS Office than the other programs are to Adobe, but you have to convince people to give it a try first and a lot of employers still require MS Office for work.
I will also say, though, that it was only due to Windows Vista otherwise bricking my laptop back then that I even made the switch. I'd heard of this mysterious OS named Ubuntu so I thought I'd give it a try to save my laptop before I bought a new one, especially since I was living abroad at the time and didn't want to deal with the hassle of buying a computer with a foreign language version of Windows on it. So I had a friend burn me a copy of Ubuntu 8.10, it worked like a charm, and I only ever since ran Windows at home when dual-booting for a couple years for gaming purposes before Proton became a thing. I didn't even know Ubuntu was Linux until I'd installed it and started learning how to use it in earnest. Really showed me how even then Linux wasn't so difficult to use for the average computer user.
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I'm a die hard Linux user. I don't spend much time telling people about it outside of actual tech conversations that should include the topic. I did raise my kids with a lot of Linux desktop use on their machines. They uniformly find the Windows 10/11 experience to be horrible, so I guess I've managed success on that front.
The crazy moment was when one kid was about 10 years old and he busted open the terminal without promoting to get something done. He already knew it was faster and more powerful so he just started learning the tools.
I danced a little jig in my head once I realized what had just happened.
@azimir
All I will say is your kid is smart and you should be a very proud man :)
I suggest as a linux dude myself, keep encouraging him :D and as an extra suggestion if he wants to learn more about Linux see if he wants to try out arch linux because that has taught me a lot over the time I have used it :D
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There's a circular reasoning happening that's causing Windows to stay dominant. Why isn't professional software being developed for Linux more? Because it doesn't get used in the workplace. Why doesn't Linux get used in the workplace? Because it doesn't have professional software support.
You need to break one of these things to succeed.
Agreed. Both things need to happen when they can.
If you live with the applications available on Linux ( or prefer them as I do ) then you can use Linux in the workplace.
At the same time, some “professional” applications are going to need to start targeting Linux. Some do. More need to.
There is an implied contract above. If you need professional applications and they become available on Linux, you have to use them ( and pay for them ).
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Linux isn't competing with Windows or MacOS.
It doesn't follow the capitalist model of a market, and that's a good thing.
Windows and MacOS are products. Linux is a technology and common human knowleadge.
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You don't. It's already happening. Slowly but steady.
Exactly. If critical mass is achieved inorganically, it would result with a reverse in uptake & possibly even a revolt against it.
You can lead a horse to water... (but a pencil must be lead)
Do we need to do anything? Microsoft updates do the bulk of the work - surely everyone has a last straw?
This is an extremely sheltered view. Most people don't even know what an operating system is, and they assume that it is an unalterable component of the computer they purchased at Best Buy. They don't have a last straw because as far as they're concerned there isn't anything they can do about it other than perhaps switching to a Mac.
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Hm it's probably "bundle with the hardware, make sure the hardware really works and there's a price incentive vs Windows".
As long as you have to actively migrate (including backing up, losing access to several commercial apps) and could end up in the situation that your hardware isn't 100% working or you're workflow isn't really supported?
make sure the hardware really works
Also make sure the software really works, one of the main issues with Linux adoption by hardware manufacturers is their lack of dedication to it. In Brazil, for example, most brands that ship with a Linux distro (except for DELL, which ships with Ubuntu) ship with basically digital waste (unmantained, poorly developed distros) just to make the hardware cheaper, because they know people will get it to just install a pirated copy of Windows in it.
Ask India, they hit 15% Linux desktop use
High Fives India, Well Done!!!
Forced financial constraints? Because I am an Indian.
Quite possibly. North America still has too much disposable income to start making OS decisions based on pricing
Why does Linux need to be more popular? This isn't some NRM with a proselytizing mandate. Use whichever OS you prefer and let others do the same.
Linux being more popular means more applications of higher quality. I guess this does not matter to you. For those of us that would prefer more high-quality applications, Linux popularity matters.
Linux is the most used kernel on the planet - and it’s not close. Just the Android phones are enough to get a comfortable lead. Add the embedded systems. Add the servers. The competition is severely trounced.
The few desktops left and right are just slivers of the complete domination that Linux exerts over commercial operating systems.
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I guess they mean "how to make buggy messy often usermade Desktop distributions more popular."
As Linux itself is insanely popular, it's everywhere and runs everything. From the vast majority of server and network infrastructure to most phones.
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Why, though? Like, why should we care?
The more people, the more donations, the more devs, the more user bug reports, the bigger communities, more communities, more brains, more software support, more game support, more likelihood of using linux at work, less microsoft and apple bullshit, ...
Pretty much the entire internet runs on Linux already.
For personal users I think a stable, well supported, secure and privacy focused version will help. Also, it helps if this is the version your "computer-guy" uses, the guy that you (or your mom) call(s) when your computer is broken.
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