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People aren't "trapped" on Windows, by and large they just don't know about Linux. Awareness is the first step. It should answer the needs of the vast majority

People aren't "trapped" on Windows, by and large they just don't know about Linux. Awareness is the first step. It should answer the needs of the vast majority of people, but they won't consider switching if they think Windows is the only OS.

hayst4ck 4y ago
I don't think that's true at all, personally. I think that attitude is pure hubris (not meant in an attacking way, but in a feedback way). I tried to move my mom to Linux (ubuntu) and she absolutely hated it. Nothing "just worked." Everything was a "new learning opportunity." I came to the conclusion it was the wrong OS for her myself, despite my offer to give her any kind of support she might need. There is a whole concept of "Killer app" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_application https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_application) that the industry was founded on. The linux desktop does not AFAIK have any kind of killer app. The value of running a linux desktop is clear for devs and security professionals, but it is not clear at all for "normal" people. The killer apps for windows are Steam, MS Office, and Firefox/Chrome, to a smaller degree active directory. The only viable path that I can see for linux is "free" privacy respecting operating system choice, but in order to be a choice it must run exe's without any extra configs, check boxes, pop up windows, or anything else that would indicate something should be understood or configured. It must be able to understand a printer is on the network without any effort at all. It must take no more than 3-5 clicks and a google search to be running Firefox. Awareness before feature parity (runs MS office, runs steam) increases resistance through bad experiences. If someone has a bad experience, they will be less interested even if it gets better later. I feel like your comment is not very different than "awareness of rsync is the first step to moving files around."
titoCA321 4y ago
Some people know about Linux but aren't going to touch it and there are some that touch it but wish nothing to do with it when they aren't configuring servers. It's not necessary limited to Linux, some people use Macs when they work on PCs at the office, but the greater question is what would switching Linux provide to the switchers when you claim, "It should answer the needs of the vast majority of people". If my car is fine for my transport needs, why would I buy a truck?

hayst4ck 4y ago

I don't think that's true at all, personally. I think that attitude is pure hubris (not meant in an attacking way, but in a feedback way). I tried to move my mom to Linux (ubuntu) and she absolutely hated it. Nothing "just worked." Everything was a "new learning opportunity." I came to the conclusion it was the wrong OS for her myself, despite my offer to give her any kind of support she might need. There is a whole concept of "Killer app" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_application https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_application) that the industry was founded on. The linux desktop does not AFAIK have any kind of killer app. The value of running a linux desktop is clear for devs and security professionals, but it is not clear at all for "normal" people. The killer apps for windows are Steam, MS Office, and Firefox/Chrome, to a smaller degree active directory. The only viable path that I can see for linux is "free" privacy respecting operating system choice, but in order to be a choice it must run exe's without any extra configs, check boxes, pop up windows, or anything else that would indicate something should be understood or configured. It must be able to understand a printer is on the network without any effort at all. It must take no more than 3-5 clicks and a google search to be running Firefox. Awareness before feature parity (runs MS office, runs steam) increases resistance through bad experiences. If someone has a bad experience, they will be less interested even if it gets better later. I feel like your comment is not very different than "awareness of rsync is the first step to moving files around."

titoCA321 4y ago

Some people know about Linux but aren't going to touch it and there are some that touch it but wish nothing to do with it when they aren't configuring servers. It's not necessary limited to Linux, some people use Macs when they work on PCs at the office, but the greater question is what would switching Linux provide to the switchers when you claim, "It should answer the needs of the vast majority of people". If my car is fine for my transport needs, why would I buy a truck?