Why don't more people use Linux?
world.hey.com
A couple of weeks ago, I saw a tweet asking: "If Linux is so good, why aren't more people using it?" And it's a fair question! It intuitively rings true until you give it a moment's consideration. Linux is even free, so what's stopping mass adoption, if it's actually better? My response: “If exercising is so healthy, why don't more peo...

And Linux isn’t minimal effort. It’s an operating system that demands more of you than does the commercial offerings from Microsoft and Apple. Thus, it serves as a dojo for understanding computers better. With a sensei who keeps demanding you figure problems out on your own in order to learn and level up.

…

That’s why I’d love to see more developers take another look at Linux. Such that they may develop better proficiency in the basic katas of the internet. Such that they aren’t scared to connect a computer to the internet without the cover of a cloud.

Related: Omakub

  • @mlgEnglish
    31•14 days ago

    There’s plenty of videos on YouTube of people trying Linux for the first time, and it can be painful to watch how poorly they try to fix something or unintentionally break their system.

    That’s not to say windows is any better, because they’d do the same thing there.

    But people will only switch permanently if windows really falls off hard, which may or may not happen.

    You have to think of it like how people first learned to use a mouse and double click back in the 90s. It’s not immediately intuitive for everyone, they often have to start over.

    That being said, having a big OEM ship linux would do wonders, but Microsoft fights hard to make sure that almost never happens.

    • @[email protected]
      3•13 days ago

      I don’t know if Microsoft still using restrictions in their license agreement,that only one system can be installed for OEM when deliverying devices to shops.

      • @mlgEnglish
        2•13 days ago

        iirc due to some anti trust lawsuits, they cannot do that anymore.

        But it’s still easy to coerce OEMs to run Windows because they offer stuff like quick support and standardized IT support.

        If an OEM ships Linux, they don’t want to have to make an entire department to help troubleshoot the OS for users who will inevitably call for help. Ignoring them would only result in returns and loss of sales.

        I think some thinkpads actually do ship with some distro like redhat or opensuse as an option, but that’s because thinkpads are very popular in the business space which means lots of CS people use them, so it helps save some cost from a windows license that won’t get used.

        Like I said though, if windows really dives into the deep end, I think a potential market would open and some OEM will take a chance on it.