Don’t get me wrong. I love Linux and FOSS. I have been using and installing distros on my own since I was 12. Now that I’m working in tech-related positions, after the Reddit migration happened, etc. I recovered my interest in all the Linux environment. I use Ubuntu as my main operating system in my Desktop, but I always end up feeling very limited. There’s always software I can’t use properly (and not just Windows stuff), some stuff badly configured with weird error messages… last time I was not able to even use the apt command. Sometimes I lack time and energy for troubleshooting and sometimes I just fail at it.
I usually end up in need of redoing a fresh install until it breaks up again. Maybe Linux is not good for beginners working full time? Maybe we should do something like that Cisco course that teaches you the basic commands?
I use a MacBook, a Windows PC, and Linux (school, games, work). A MacBook is by far the easiest to use, windows is a close second and Linux right behind it. Linux can be easy to use, but when stuff goes wrong, I think Troubleshooting for the average person is where it’s a bit harder. Just in general, people tend to freak out the moment they have to mess with the terminal, and memorizing commands isn’t as easy as visually remembering where to click for most people. That’s not to say that Linux is super hard to learn, I think windows and MacOS just offer a way of doing things that sticks much better in the memory than a line of commands.
I love all 3 and I believe all 3 have their strengths and weaknesses and I’m damn glad that we have choice! (Though right now I’m rooting for Linux a bit more due to the Steam Deck bringing a lot more attention to linux gaming)
Very eloquent way of phrasing it
No “average person” troubleshoots their own Windows machine, but they know someone who can. if you install Linux on someone’s machine, you are their tech support. Most of the time that’s fine, because Linux is pretty damn reliable. But when something goes wrong an average person is going to have a harder time finding support.
And on top of that, almost all people are familiar with Windows or MacOS, the chances of you being able to ask the person next to you about a problem and them being familiar with windows or mac is MUCH higher than with Linux. Their popularity is a massive advantage
That aside, almost every program you can think of has a windows version and 90% of the time also a Mac version. Linux support has gotten very good over the years but it’s still not close to Windows, and that translates to better support for Windows as well
Disagree. My entire family are average users who can troubleshoot their pc for the most part. If the problem is more complex, they will call me up, but they can handle their own. But I know a terminal still overwhelms them.
I never undestood that point, i hear it quite a bit but for me its always the opposite. On linux if something dosen’t work i can usually see a detailed log of what went wrong. On windows its usually an error message with barly any info, stuff like “Error code: 0x72AF9B5D1” or “IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL” isn’t very usefull.
Once again, you are capable of understanding what that log means. As am I, but getting a fatass log is mostly overwhelming for most. Any larger Program that average people are using aren’t giving those weird errors, that’s mostly smaller stuff. Usually windows and Mac gives you some general troubleshooting tips right off the bat or even tries to fix it for you (even though the windows auto-troubleshoot is hot garbage)