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People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

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41–50 of 214 posts

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#41
post #7

The year of Linux on the desktop, at last. What may make this happen is political risk. The rest of the world outside the US doesn't like the excessive dependency of Microsoft systems on servers in the US, especially when that may mean snooping or disconnection. This used to be just a theoretical objection, but under the Trump administration it's a practical one.

What on earth are you talking about? There is no "excessive dependency of Microsoft systems on servers in the US", and even if there is typial consumers are not aware and do not care. And if they did what does server software have to do with end user OS choices?

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#43
post #21

What I want is some hardware that, if Linux stops working on it, it's someone's job to fix that. Which is why I'm strongly considering a Steam Cube.

What about Framework? They support Fedora and Ubuntu: https://frame.work/fr/en/linux

This is the way I went - Framework feels like the most mainstream way to have hardware that supports Linux, ships to lots of countries, etc. I installed Fedora first with GNOME but now with KDE Plasma. It's been good!

But I will say, after 18 months it's starting to show a little bit of bit rot. E.g. for some reason the bootloader refuses to remember to boot into the most recent kernal/OS combination I have installed - it works if I intervene during boot and manually select it, but it seems to often revert to an older combo. And there are starting to be some odd little bugs with external storage drives and the file browser... I haven't looked too deeply into it, but I expect these are Fedora problems, not Framework problems. Maybe I brought them upon myself by tinkering a bit too much with some drivers (not strictly necessary, I was trying to do some unusual A/V stuff I wouldn't normally bother with, but it was for a friend...)

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#44
post #30

I switched to Linux in the past month. First, I installed GNOME based Fedora 43, that was a mistake. I got it working "somewhat" like Windows, with Dash to Panel etc. widgets, but stability was not there after all the hacks. Then I figured I try KDE Plasma, and this is so close to Windows that I made the switch permanent. Even little things like double-clicking on top, or bottom resize handle vertically maximizes the…

My parents run a Windows PC as, from what I can tell, a home for stray botnets. The main uses are checking email and working on Word documents. (They have a laptop and iPad, respectively, which does most of their work, so it's an infrequently consulted machine.) What Linux build would you recommend that I can fire and forget, that would be compatible with the Windows 10 machine they have running and will likely never…

ZorinOS keeps it easy and consistent if you are familiar with windows.

I think it’s pretty good for non dev users. The distro doesn’t provide any earth shattering new innovations but they spend efforts to polish the interface and make it easy to use.

Its pretty good for people who just want a working system and don’t care about whether it’s linux or something else.

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#45
post #41
post #7

The year of Linux on the desktop, at last. What may make this happen is political risk. The rest of the world outside the US doesn't like the excessive dependency of Microsoft systems on servers in the US, especially when that may mean snooping or disconnection. This used to be just a theoretical objection, but under the Trump administration it's a practical one.

What on earth are you talking about? There is no "excessive dependency of Microsoft systems on servers in the US", and even if there is typial consumers are not aware and do not care. And if they did what does server software have to do with end user OS choices?

every single government use of it is being looked at with that view courtesy of the recent attacks on bodies like the ICC

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#46
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh right they are a Linux laptop.

They are another somewhat closed ecosystem and becoming more closed over time. Better than a TV that runs Linux, (so far still) better than Android, worse than any "real" Linux distribution. They are mostly on the wrong side in the war on general-purpose computing.

> They are mostly on the wrong side in the war on general-purpose computing.

All modern Chromebooks can be put into developer mode without opening the case, which gives you root access.

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#47
post #3
post #2

"By my count"... Which means pretending that every single "unknown" desktop, which is a larger percentage than the Linux desktops, are Linux. And also by considering ChromeBooks, which also have a larger percentage than Linux, are Linux.

Chromebooks are quite literally linux...

[dead]

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#48
post #2

"By my count"... Which means pretending that every single "unknown" desktop, which is a larger percentage than the Linux desktops, are Linux. And also by considering ChromeBooks, which also have a larger percentage than Linux, are Linux.

PS: Someone changed the title of this submission after my comment. It was originally something like "By my count, Linux has over 11% of the desktop market." This statistic is obviously clickbait and false, even if you count ChromeBooks, though ChromeBooks are not what people mean when they say "Linux desktop".

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#49
post #18

Consumer grade windows machines have been barely useable, for a decade plus, due to pre installed crap ware. I stopped helping family members long ago. I tell them install Linux and I’ll help you. A few have and have been very happy!

*torture screaming at the background

ARE YOU ENJOY MY LINUX? IT'S FULL OF JOY, RIGHT? YOU ARE HAPPY!!! YOU ALL WILL BE HAPPY!!!

___

seriously though, I do enjoy my arch, but I would never force someone to use linux by not providing help. It's basically same vibe, as with Microhard forcing it's AI vision of OS. Don't be that toxic, your relatives needed your help, and not your narcissism.

If you really think, they need to switch, show them the benefits of it. Show them nice UI, ease of use. Ensure, all their needs can be fulfilled by a given set of apps.

it's currently not possible to go linux, if you need photo editing - darktable and rawtherapee are just not there yet. Very far from there, honestly, if you compare with stuff like capture one - by contrast DT and RT would feel like a masochistic toys. I have to keep dual boot because of that.

Re: People keep flocking to Linux, not just to escape Windows

#50
post #30

I switched to Linux in the past month. First, I installed GNOME based Fedora 43, that was a mistake. I got it working "somewhat" like Windows, with Dash to Panel etc. widgets, but stability was not there after all the hacks. Then I figured I try KDE Plasma, and this is so close to Windows that I made the switch permanent. Even little things like double-clicking on top, or bottom resize handle vertically maximizes the…

My parents run a Windows PC as, from what I can tell, a home for stray botnets. The main uses are checking email and working on Word documents. (They have a laptop and iPad, respectively, which does most of their work, so it's an infrequently consulted machine.) What Linux build would you recommend that I can fire and forget, that would be compatible with the Windows 10 machine they have running and will likely never…

Fedora. I've introduced it to many people, all coming from windows, with great luck. Based on use case and individual, it may need a few programs installed that otherwise aren't, and about 7 minutes of patience to learn the UI.
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