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The main reason why Linux on the desktop has never gone mainstream is that it is extremely difficult to find a good laptop that comes with Linux preinstalled, w

The main reason why Linux on the desktop has never gone mainstream is that it is extremely difficult to find a good laptop that comes with Linux preinstalled, where the OEM is responsible for ensuring a seamless experience, as any bugs in WiFi, audio, drivers, peripherals, etc. is the OEM's responsibility, not the consumer's. 99% of computer users will never consider replacing the operating system that came installed on their system, they don't want to risk bricking it or losing data.

scarface_74 2y ago
The other question is why should any normal person want to run Linux as their primary OS except for philosophical reasons? I was forced to use Windows for a year as a developer. I threw WSL2 on it and it was fine. I installed Docker desktop for Windows and it worked fine for Linux. But especially on the Mac, while I have to download updated commands, it is genuinely certified UNIX. On both Macs and Windows I also get mainstream software support and on Macs, I get a laptop that can run 14-20 hours on a battery and runs cool and quiet.
- em-bee 2y ago
  The other question is why should any normal person want to run Linux as their primary OS except for philosophical reasons? it's free. it's stable. it's easier to use. it doesn't have adds. it uses less resources. it runs on older hardware. it doesn't contain spyware. it doesn't violate my privacy. it includes more powerful features. it offers more alternatives for the GUI. i can trust it because the kernel has been audited. it is way easier to configure to my personal preferences. it allows me to replace or remove any application that i don't like. Mac [...] is genuinely certified UNIX why should any normal person care about that? UNIX is dead. Linux would be a genuinely certified UNIX if anyone would bother to pay for the certification. in fact, at some point someone did: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/293396/is-there-a-linux-distro-thats-unix-certified https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/293396/is-there-a-l...
  - scarface_74 2y ago
    I still have to buy the computer so an OS being “free” is inconsequential and what does “using less resources” get me? Does your computer run for 16 hours+ on one charge? Does it run fast, quiet and cool like my MacBook Air? By the way you can buy a brand new M1 MacBook Air from Walmart for $699. These are still being manufactured by Apple and distributed via third parties. As far as “trusting it” because it has been audited, the Heartbleed bug was part of Linux for years before it was discovered. What “more powerful features” does it have than a typical Mac?
    - desumeku 2y ago
      $699, which can buy you approximately 7 used laptops that are worthwhile daily drivers when set up with Linux. You sound like a shill.
      - scarface_74 2y ago
        Exactly what are the specs of this $100 laptop? Am I then going to carry around 7 laptops so I can get 14 hours of battery life? Am I going to run a cluster of them when I need to do something worthwhile with them? What exactly do you do “daily” with a $100 laptop? From your past comments, I’m assuming you are developer, are you really using a $100 computer?
        desumeku 2y ago
        I'm currently posting from a Dell Inspiron 3505 which has an 8-core AMD CPU and 6gb of ram. I got it new for roughly $300 and from quickly looking on ebay can be had for under $200 used. I'm waiting on the mail for a $70 Chromebook with 8gb of ram and a 2-core/4-thread CPU to replace this laptop because of a half-damaged charging port. I picked a Chromebook for the 10+ hour battery life, the same reason you chose a Macbook that costs 10x as much. I use a terminal text editor to write code and I use a web browser for everything else. If it wasn't for browsers being so bloated and desktop applications made with electron, I would be happy to settle with a laptop that had even just 4gb of ram.
- dark__paladin 2y ago
  Philosophy aside, many users actually do not prefer to have ads and data tracking built-in to the devices they use.
  - scarface_74 2y ago
    What “ads” are built into Macs and what “data tracking” can you not turn off?
    - talldayo 2y ago
      > What “ads” are built into Macs https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252087642 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252087642 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252412228 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252412228 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7655683 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7655683 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252623445 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252623445 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251628859 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251628859 > what “data tracking” can you not turn off? https://eclecticlight.co/2021/08/12/is-apple-keeping-its-promises-over-online-ocsp-certificate-checks/ https://eclecticlight.co/2021/08/12/is-apple-keeping-its-pro...

scarface_74 2y ago

The other question is why should any normal person want to run Linux as their primary OS except for philosophical reasons? I was forced to use Windows for a year as a developer. I threw WSL2 on it and it was fine. I installed Docker desktop for Windows and it worked fine for Linux. But especially on the Mac, while I have to download updated commands, it is genuinely certified UNIX. On both Macs and Windows I also get mainstream software support and on Macs, I get a laptop that can run 14-20 hours on a battery and runs cool and quiet.

em-bee 2y ago
The other question is why should any normal person want to run Linux as their primary OS except for philosophical reasons? it's free. it's stable. it's easier to use. it doesn't have adds. it uses less resources. it runs on older hardware. it doesn't contain spyware. it doesn't violate my privacy. it includes more powerful features. it offers more alternatives for the GUI. i can trust it because the kernel has been audited. it is way easier to configure to my personal preferences. it allows me to replace or remove any application that i don't like. Mac [...] is genuinely certified UNIX why should any normal person care about that? UNIX is dead. Linux would be a genuinely certified UNIX if anyone would bother to pay for the certification. in fact, at some point someone did: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/293396/is-there-a-linux-distro-thats-unix-certified https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/293396/is-there-a-l...
- scarface_74 2y ago
  I still have to buy the computer so an OS being “free” is inconsequential and what does “using less resources” get me? Does your computer run for 16 hours+ on one charge? Does it run fast, quiet and cool like my MacBook Air? By the way you can buy a brand new M1 MacBook Air from Walmart for $699. These are still being manufactured by Apple and distributed via third parties. As far as “trusting it” because it has been audited, the Heartbleed bug was part of Linux for years before it was discovered. What “more powerful features” does it have than a typical Mac?
  - desumeku 2y ago
    $699, which can buy you approximately 7 used laptops that are worthwhile daily drivers when set up with Linux. You sound like a shill.
    - scarface_74 2y ago
      Exactly what are the specs of this $100 laptop? Am I then going to carry around 7 laptops so I can get 14 hours of battery life? Am I going to run a cluster of them when I need to do something worthwhile with them? What exactly do you do “daily” with a $100 laptop? From your past comments, I’m assuming you are developer, are you really using a $100 computer?
      - desumeku 2y ago
        I'm currently posting from a Dell Inspiron 3505 which has an 8-core AMD CPU and 6gb of ram. I got it new for roughly $300 and from quickly looking on ebay can be had for under $200 used. I'm waiting on the mail for a $70 Chromebook with 8gb of ram and a 2-core/4-thread CPU to replace this laptop because of a half-damaged charging port. I picked a Chromebook for the 10+ hour battery life, the same reason you chose a Macbook that costs 10x as much. I use a terminal text editor to write code and I use a web browser for everything else. If it wasn't for browsers being so bloated and desktop applications made with electron, I would be happy to settle with a laptop that had even just 4gb of ram.
dark__paladin 2y ago
Philosophy aside, many users actually do not prefer to have ads and data tracking built-in to the devices they use.
- scarface_74 2y ago
  What “ads” are built into Macs and what “data tracking” can you not turn off?
  - talldayo 2y ago
    > What “ads” are built into Macs https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252087642 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252087642 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252412228 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252412228 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7655683 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7655683 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252623445 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252623445 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251628859 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251628859 > what “data tracking” can you not turn off? https://eclecticlight.co/2021/08/12/is-apple-keeping-its-promises-over-online-ocsp-certificate-checks/ https://eclecticlight.co/2021/08/12/is-apple-keeping-its-pro...