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I don't think the Linux desktop has failed. If popular adoption is the standard then MacOS is also a failure of sorts. At the end of the day, there was just no

I don't think the Linux desktop has failed. If popular adoption is the standard then MacOS is also a failure of sorts. At the end of the day, there was just no reason for anyone except enthusiasts to end up with linux on their machine since with rare exceptions you literally couldn't buy it anywhere. If you don't build software, you have pretty much zero incentive to use a linux desktop, especially when factoring in the monumental software compatibility hurdles for non-technical users.

shaan7 8y ago
This ^
rocky1138 8y ago
> If you don't build software, you have pretty much zero incentive to use a linux desktop, especially when factoring in the monumental software compatibility hurdles for non-technical users. I respectfully disagree. Ubuntu really works well for a lot of non-technical folks. A few of my non-technical family members run Ubuntu variants and have remarked at how much better it is than their old Windows 10 install. I don't think they'll be going back. Unless you've got strange hardware like a Mac, Linux for the most part "just works" these days. The biggest barrier to desktop Linux for your average citizen is that the advantages of FOSS, stability, and cost just aren't enough against the disadvantages of Windows. If Microsoft started charging people $1500/year to run desktop Windows, you'd see a lot of people look for alternatives.
- root_axis 8y ago
  I actually agree with everything you wrote there and have also switched some of my relatives over to a linux desktop. Unfortunately, a technical relative willing to set everything up isn't a practical path towards popular adoption. You have described the linux desktop as a viable alternative to Windows, but you haven't shown any incentive for someone to switch. I think the Linux desktop is a superior experience, but if it doesn't come preinstalled and preconfigured on commercial computers there is just no scenario where the average user will even get to use a linux desktop.
  - chopin 8y ago
    We switched because of Microsoft spying. My daughter literally came to me and wanted me to install Linux on her new laptop. So, there is incentive.
    - root_axis 8y ago
      That's great, but "Microsoft spying" is something that most people don't care about and those that do are more likely to switch to Mac rather than even think of much less tinker with linux.
  - rocky1138 8y ago
    I think the incentives of Linux over Windows are well known, it's just that they aren't enough for the average public to bother.
opan 8y ago
>If you don't build software, you have pretty much zero incentive to use a linux desktop I've heard this before, but I never really understood why people think it. I've always had an interest in computers, but I think there's a huge jump in difficult and complexity from using a less popular operating system to creating your own software. I consider programming to be extremely difficult. Using GNU/Linux is just something new. Once you overcome the initial discomfort of it not being like whatever you're used to, it's just fine. It's fun, even.
- root_axis 8y ago
  I agree with everything you've stated here. I'm not saying there are no reasons to switch, I'm saying that the typical user has no incentive to switch. The linux desktop is just as capable and IMO superior to a Windows or Mac desktop, but the story for the user is "buy a Windows machine" or "buy a Mac machine" and linux simply never comes into the equation unless they are an atypical tinkerer type or someone technical guides them to using linux.

shaan7 8y ago

This ^

rocky1138 8y ago

> If you don't build software, you have pretty much zero incentive to use a linux desktop, especially when factoring in the monumental software compatibility hurdles for non-technical users. I respectfully disagree. Ubuntu really works well for a lot of non-technical folks. A few of my non-technical family members run Ubuntu variants and have remarked at how much better it is than their old Windows 10 install. I don't think they'll be going back. Unless you've got strange hardware like a Mac, Linux for the most part "just works" these days. The biggest barrier to desktop Linux for your average citizen is that the advantages of FOSS, stability, and cost just aren't enough against the disadvantages of Windows. If Microsoft started charging people $1500/year to run desktop Windows, you'd see a lot of people look for alternatives.

root_axis 8y ago
I actually agree with everything you wrote there and have also switched some of my relatives over to a linux desktop. Unfortunately, a technical relative willing to set everything up isn't a practical path towards popular adoption. You have described the linux desktop as a viable alternative to Windows, but you haven't shown any incentive for someone to switch. I think the Linux desktop is a superior experience, but if it doesn't come preinstalled and preconfigured on commercial computers there is just no scenario where the average user will even get to use a linux desktop.
- chopin 8y ago
  We switched because of Microsoft spying. My daughter literally came to me and wanted me to install Linux on her new laptop. So, there is incentive.
  - root_axis 8y ago
    That's great, but "Microsoft spying" is something that most people don't care about and those that do are more likely to switch to Mac rather than even think of much less tinker with linux.
- rocky1138 8y ago
  I think the incentives of Linux over Windows are well known, it's just that they aren't enough for the average public to bother.

opan 8y ago

>If you don't build software, you have pretty much zero incentive to use a linux desktop I've heard this before, but I never really understood why people think it. I've always had an interest in computers, but I think there's a huge jump in difficult and complexity from using a less popular operating system to creating your own software. I consider programming to be extremely difficult. Using GNU/Linux is just something new. Once you overcome the initial discomfort of it not being like whatever you're used to, it's just fine. It's fun, even.

root_axis 8y ago
I agree with everything you've stated here. I'm not saying there are no reasons to switch, I'm saying that the typical user has no incentive to switch. The linux desktop is just as capable and IMO superior to a Windows or Mac desktop, but the story for the user is "buy a Windows machine" or "buy a Mac machine" and linux simply never comes into the equation unless they are an atypical tinkerer type or someone technical guides them to using linux.