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> Linux has been making progress but still isn't a good alternative for the common user unless they have an expert to rely upon when something breaks down I'd

> Linux has been making progress but still isn't a good alternative for the common user unless they have an expert to rely upon when something breaks down I'd say there are 2 main problems with Linux (for non-techies, etc, etc): 1 - They are not using 'linux', they are using one of the main distros, that can have some big differences between them. That also happens with Android, BUT, people that use a Galaxy S20 will google `S20 how to xyz` without even knowing how Android differs 2 - As mentioned in other comments, setting up can be a pain. Windows have enough drivers that installing it is just a matter of putting the cd/flashdrive and clicking next-next-finish. Some big distros might have sorted that out, but then you go back to problem #1 if they are the ones having to decide on a distro 3 (bonus) - Most people don't actually benefit from having too many choices, specially from things they don't care about. Usually they will choose a smartphone by 'it looks nice, camera is good, the interface is beautiful'. For me, sounds like this could be improved if instead of recommending Linux, we (tech folks) collectively decided on just one distro to recommend to non-technical people. But I doubt that would be possible

boznz 5y ago
There is only one main problem for linux and it is the catch 22 that most software is still mostly written for windows. I'm not talking about the generic off-the-shelf software like office/paint/browsers which have pretty good alternatives, but the 25+ years of legacy win32 stuff which still runs most businesses and factories. Lets face it nobody wants to re-write that program that Bill wrote in 2001 in Delphi or VB that interfaces to the stamping machine. I'm a Delphi Developer who moved to NZ in 2005 and several programs are still live and running in UK factories. A tribute to the Win32 sub-system rather than my programming I assure you :-)
- FalconSensei 5y ago
  oh yeah, sure. My comment was meant for personal/home use. Work is a complete other thing since it adds more restrictions.
BenjiWiebe 5y ago
Point number two is more the other way around. You plug a device into Linux and it works. You plug it into windows, and it only works once it's downloaded and installed the driver. But in both cases, actual user interaction required is very little and decreasing with time. I will admit though, that if something doesn't work immediately with Linux, there's a good chance you won't be able to get it working with Linux.

boznz 5y ago

There is only one main problem for linux and it is the catch 22 that most software is still mostly written for windows. I'm not talking about the generic off-the-shelf software like office/paint/browsers which have pretty good alternatives, but the 25+ years of legacy win32 stuff which still runs most businesses and factories. Lets face it nobody wants to re-write that program that Bill wrote in 2001 in Delphi or VB that interfaces to the stamping machine. I'm a Delphi Developer who moved to NZ in 2005 and several programs are still live and running in UK factories. A tribute to the Win32 sub-system rather than my programming I assure you :-)

FalconSensei 5y ago
oh yeah, sure. My comment was meant for personal/home use. Work is a complete other thing since it adds more restrictions.

BenjiWiebe 5y ago

Point number two is more the other way around. You plug a device into Linux and it works. You plug it into windows, and it only works once it's downloaded and installed the driver. But in both cases, actual user interaction required is very little and decreasing with time. I will admit though, that if something doesn't work immediately with Linux, there's a good chance you won't be able to get it working with Linux.