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I have been using an Ubuntu favor for more than a decade and find it easier than Windows when installing an OS. The user interface is about the same a Windows.

by tocs3 2y ago

I have been using an Ubuntu favor for more than a decade and find it easier than Windows when installing an OS. The user interface is about the same a Windows. It is not as easy as buying a computer with the OS installed but is not technically difficult to follow the installation instructions. If you are wondering what it is like you can install it on an inexpensive USB stick and try it without installing anything.

lotsoweiners 2y ago
I know plenty of people who have no idea an OS can be installed/reinstalled.
sholladay 2y ago
Just the fact that you aware of a particular Linux distro indicates that you are a techie. Most people haven’t even heard of Ubuntu. Among those that have, many of them are convinced that using Linux means using the command line, which they consider either scary or confusing. It’s an uphill battle. I’m kind of surprised Canonical hasn’t done more consumer education / marketing. But it’s not entirely untrue, either, albeit the Ubuntu GUI can take you pretty far. I like Ubuntu and I agree that it has a pretty good install UX. But I’ve still had driver issues even with common hardware, as most Linux users have at one point or another. Updates aren’t quite as straightforward compared to Windows/macOS, as it involves using `apt` to properly prepare for an update, etc. It’s a technical operating system, optimized for people who understand technology. It’s very good at that, let’s just be honest about it. For non-techies to adopt Ubuntu, various changes will be needed. One of them is for Ubuntu to be an easy and advertised option on a new computer that a non-techie would buy (meaning, custom rigs or niche manufacturers don’t count). They need an on-ramp.
- fragmede 2y ago
  To my surprise, you can actually get Linux Mint laptops from HP and Lenovo off Amazon these days. So the remaining question is how to get users to buy them instead of Windows computers.
  - sholladay 2y ago
    Apple ran macOS ads for years, with good reason. Canonical needs to get their priorities straight. “Build it and they will come” works to some degree for enthusiasts, but not for the masses.

by tocs3 2y ago

lotsoweiners 2y ago

I know plenty of people who have no idea an OS can be installed/reinstalled.

sholladay 2y ago

Just the fact that you aware of a particular Linux distro indicates that you are a techie. Most people haven’t even heard of Ubuntu. Among those that have, many of them are convinced that using Linux means using the command line, which they consider either scary or confusing. It’s an uphill battle. I’m kind of surprised Canonical hasn’t done more consumer education / marketing. But it’s not entirely untrue, either, albeit the Ubuntu GUI can take you pretty far. I like Ubuntu and I agree that it has a pretty good install UX. But I’ve still had driver issues even with common hardware, as most Linux users have at one point or another. Updates aren’t quite as straightforward compared to Windows/macOS, as it involves using `apt` to properly prepare for an update, etc. It’s a technical operating system, optimized for people who understand technology. It’s very good at that, let’s just be honest about it. For non-techies to adopt Ubuntu, various changes will be needed. One of them is for Ubuntu to be an easy and advertised option on a new computer that a non-techie would buy (meaning, custom rigs or niche manufacturers don’t count). They need an on-ramp.

fragmede 2y ago
To my surprise, you can actually get Linux Mint laptops from HP and Lenovo off Amazon these days. So the remaining question is how to get users to buy them instead of Windows computers.
- sholladay 2y ago
  Apple ran macOS ads for years, with good reason. Canonical needs to get their priorities straight. “Build it and they will come” works to some degree for enthusiasts, but not for the masses.