4 ms·

There have been a multitude of high quality desktops for at least 10 years. The main reason people don't switch is just lack of familiarity, driver issues and

There have been a multitude of high quality desktops for at least 10 years. The main reason people don't switch is just lack of familiarity, driver issues and unsupported software - all driven by network effects. There's very little about the OS itself which is preventing adoption. It's entirely about the ecosystem. That pretty much requires a fuck up on the part of Windows or Mac to drive people to use Linux.

cmdrfred 10y ago
My "fuck up" was a Finding Dory ad on my lock screen. In OS advertising is a non-starter. I let the start menu ad's slide in 8, but that was the last straw for me. That and it bugging me "Edge is faster, Edge is better, use Edge!". I feel like paid $199 just so Microsoft can sell me to advertisers. Bill never would of stood for this shit.
- cpayne 10y ago
  A "Finding Dory ad" doesn't sound right. Did that really happen without installing something dodgy??
  - jocro 10y ago
    Sounds like the Windows Spotlight "feature" at work: http://www.howtogeek.com/243263/how-to-disable-ads-on-your-windows-10-lock-screen/ http://www.howtogeek.com/243263/how-to-disable-ads-on-your-w...
  - tajen 10y ago
    With OEM Windows, everything can be expected, from bloatware "drivers" slowing down your machine by half to obligatory root certificates (thanks Lenovo! thanks DELL!) that are necessary to serve you in-browser ads. And you're not theoretically allowed to remove them or it voids you warranty. So an ad at startup doesn't surprise me, it's not really Microsoft's fault, but that's what you get with a Windows OS. https://www.extremetech.com/computing/218437-dell-laptops-may-have-a-lenovo-superfish-size-security-problem https://www.extremetech.com/computing/218437-dell-laptops-ma...
    - cmdrfred 10y ago
      I'm fairly certain that its Microsoft that was responsible for this. Others have reported it as well. https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/5e7kwl/windows_10_updated_and_is_now_advertising_finding/ https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/5e7kwl/windo...
ldev 10y ago
> That pretty much requires a fuck up on the part of Windows or Mac to drive people to use Linux. Windows XP, Vista, 8. I mean even if these fuck ups haven't brought Linux market share above rounding error, nothing will. One thing that could make desktop Linux viable - is throwing transparency, openess, customizability and all similar "good" Linux stuff through the window, having a dictatorship with good UX people and forcing users to one true way. People do not care that they can tinker with their desktop - I really do not care that I cannot make my macOS or Windows look like screenshots in unixporn subreddit - I just want an experience that's concise, the same for every application, polished, clean, lean, etc etc etc. Windows had this in Windows 7 (10th version with UWP programs for tablets really disturbs the UX), macOS still has this. Elementary and especially Solus distributions are doing that - "oooh you want X? well screw you buddy, that's poor UX".
- skinnymuch 10y ago
  Did you mean Windows ME/2000, not XP? Vista was a major screw up. I didn't mind Windows 8 as much. But yeah if those mess ups don't sway people, nothing will.

cmdrfred 10y ago

My "fuck up" was a Finding Dory ad on my lock screen. In OS advertising is a non-starter. I let the start menu ad's slide in 8, but that was the last straw for me. That and it bugging me "Edge is faster, Edge is better, use Edge!". I feel like paid $199 just so Microsoft can sell me to advertisers. Bill never would of stood for this shit.

cpayne 10y ago
A "Finding Dory ad" doesn't sound right. Did that really happen without installing something dodgy??
- jocro 10y ago
  Sounds like the Windows Spotlight "feature" at work: http://www.howtogeek.com/243263/how-to-disable-ads-on-your-windows-10-lock-screen/ http://www.howtogeek.com/243263/how-to-disable-ads-on-your-w...
- tajen 10y ago
  With OEM Windows, everything can be expected, from bloatware "drivers" slowing down your machine by half to obligatory root certificates (thanks Lenovo! thanks DELL!) that are necessary to serve you in-browser ads. And you're not theoretically allowed to remove them or it voids you warranty. So an ad at startup doesn't surprise me, it's not really Microsoft's fault, but that's what you get with a Windows OS. https://www.extremetech.com/computing/218437-dell-laptops-may-have-a-lenovo-superfish-size-security-problem https://www.extremetech.com/computing/218437-dell-laptops-ma...
  - cmdrfred 10y ago
    I'm fairly certain that its Microsoft that was responsible for this. Others have reported it as well. https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/5e7kwl/windows_10_updated_and_is_now_advertising_finding/ https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/5e7kwl/windo...

ldev 10y ago

> That pretty much requires a fuck up on the part of Windows or Mac to drive people to use Linux. Windows XP, Vista, 8. I mean even if these fuck ups haven't brought Linux market share above rounding error, nothing will. One thing that could make desktop Linux viable - is throwing transparency, openess, customizability and all similar "good" Linux stuff through the window, having a dictatorship with good UX people and forcing users to one true way. People do not care that they can tinker with their desktop - I really do not care that I cannot make my macOS or Windows look like screenshots in unixporn subreddit - I just want an experience that's concise, the same for every application, polished, clean, lean, etc etc etc. Windows had this in Windows 7 (10th version with UWP programs for tablets really disturbs the UX), macOS still has this. Elementary and especially Solus distributions are doing that - "oooh you want X? well screw you buddy, that's poor UX".

skinnymuch 10y ago
Did you mean Windows ME/2000, not XP? Vista was a major screw up. I didn't mind Windows 8 as much. But yeah if those mess ups don't sway people, nothing will.