About 10 years ago, after Windows broke again, I installed Xubuntu on my parents PC. I told them it works like Windows, like how double clicking desktop icons opens programs, the X button in the corner closes them, and there's a "start menu" at the bottom. (If "it works like Windows" triggered you, I'd like to remind you that most people don't care about how operating system kernels are designed.) I showed them how to check email, watch Youtube, play solitaire, read Facebook, and shut down. I expected them to say "put it back like what it was", but it never happened.
If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
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Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#12Your mother-in-law probably never uses bluetooth, video games, Adobe suite, etc.
Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#13Still true. My brother, who is the least tech-aware person, got tired of windows updates breaking his peripherals, so he ended up with a linux desktop from Dell, supported by Dell, and he hasn't asked me for any computer help since. For common chores, "it just works". He uses Libre Office, which also just works. I think he uses Shotwell for photo management.
> Still true
I think it’s more true today. Ubuntu-like distros in 2012 had a few issues with GPU drivers and peripherals and lack of configuration. Today, it’s more polished and works extremely reliably in my experience, especially for desktop.
In the meantime, Microsoft has added (a) literal ads but mostly (b) an insane amount of dark patterns (c) pushing people onto accounts and services for upsells and (d) new control panel-like config while keeping the old ones around. Not that it ever was great, but the user experience has deteriorated a lot. Today, you have to be a power user of windows to not have an absolute shit time.
Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#14Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#15IMHO it's gotten even better since 2012. Back then you would still have issues with stuff like MS Office, video conferencing, etc. Nowdays with the push to SaaS apps, most of that stuff is online and works just fine with Linux.
My company runs on MS stuff so we have Outlook, Teams, Office, etc. Back in 2012 I'm not sure I would have been able to use Linux at work because of this software but now I can run all of it in the browser.
Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#16My wife bought one of these early 2010s netbooks running Ubuntu. She didn't know what it was or how it was different, but eventually she started asking me for support. "How can I use Office? Why can't I play this video? What's this error in the software upgrade screen?"
Linux is fine for day-to-day use if you're already technical and can debug it when you inevitably hit a roadblock, or you have a family member who can provide constant support - thus all these "My grandma uses Linux!" posts that have been a hallmark of this scene for the past 20 years.
It is not a seamless experience for your average Mac or Windows user. There are things like codec restrictions or driver issues (Nvidia), its still transitioning between windowing protocols so things like DPI scaling doesn't work properly across application types. GNOME doesn't even handle tray icons.
Flatpak is a good step but most of the builds are third-party and not endorsed by the vendor (Signal, Chrome, Steam, etc) which leaves them vulnerable to supply chain attacks. Immutable distributions are interesting but rely on the continued success of the above.
I'll continue to recommend Chromebooks to family members. It's incredibly set-and-forget and a more polished experience for the average person.
Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#17IMHO it's gotten even better since 2012. Back then you would still have issues with stuff like MS Office, video conferencing, etc. Nowdays with the push to SaaS apps, most of that stuff is online and works just fine with Linux. My company runs on MS stuff so we have Outlook, Teams, Office, etc. Back in 2012 I'm not sure I would have been able to use Linux at work because of this software but now I can run all of it i…
Things running the browser makes Linux really practical for all my “office/outlook” tasks. The web as a stable platform seems to enable cross platform work.
When I worked at a hpux shop we had to go to a separate machine use some Citrix thing to log onto windows NT to use internet explorer to do our time cards… we’ve come a long way.
Libre office works quite well (especially for csvs)
I’m on popos (Ubuntu varriant) and it really works reliably.
Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why waste your precious time looking at MacOS in your limited life when you could be prostrating in front of your Steve Jobs shrine?
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Your original comment is hard to not be offended by. You made a bold (and false) claim that Linux is ugly (try browsing r/unixporn sometime; it's chock-full of amazing setups) and in the same breath referred people to using Apple products that are known for their cult-like following, not to mention they're diametrically opposed to much of what Linux stands for (free software, customizability, etc.).
Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#19Your mother-in-law probably never uses bluetooth, video games, Adobe suite, etc.
> bluetooth
Has Just Worked (tm) on Fedora and Mint with the past three Thinkpads I've had, even with AirPods.
> video games
From what I understand Valve's efforts on Proton enable a plurality of modern games to run on Linux to the point that their flagship Steam Deck ships with a Debian-derived distro.
> Adobe suite, etc.
Niche creative software like high-end photo editing and DAWs are, admittedly, not well-supported on Linux and are the only reason that I keep a MacBook around. As you pointed out, however, the people that we're talking about don't have these needs. I've put Mint on multiple machines for friends and family and the only time I've had somebody ask me to use Windows instead is because their clapped-out 8-year-old Android phone with a half-broken USB-C jack had trouble keeping a stable mass storage connection to the machine.
As long as a system has a browser and some semblance of an office suite 95% of people are good to go.
Re: If my mother-in-law can use Ubuntu Linux, anyone can (2012)
#20Your mother-in-law probably never uses bluetooth, video games, Adobe suite, etc.
> bluetooth Has Just Worked (tm) on Fedora and Mint with the past three Thinkpads I've had, even with AirPods. > video games From what I understand Valve's efforts on Proton enable a plurality of modern games to run on Linux to the point that their flagship Steam Deck ships with a Debian-derived distro. > Adobe suite, etc. Niche creative software like high-end photo editing and DAWs are, admittedly, not well-supporte…
> Debian-derived distro
Arch Linux