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On this day in 1991, Linus Torvalds announced he was working on what would become Linux
(www.xda-developers.com)
this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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They believe that if they say it enough times it might just magically happen.
Linux is not ready for prime time and to a large degree it is because of Linux users themselves who simply don't want to admit the massive usability and compatibility problems that their beloved OS has. If they can't admit it, then clearly it's not going to get fixed.
I don't think the usability problems with Linux are even visible to most Linux users. Most Linux users are probably either "at least mildly techy (and has been using Linux for a while)" or "just needs web and e-mails."
This, 100%. There has been serious progress in useability the past few years with distros like Zorin, but FOSS nerds are coming from a fundamentally different angle than people who are used to commercial software. Linux is extremely robust on the backend, but the frontend experience is still lacking for normal people.
Hopefully one day soon we can all meet in the middle. Once a distro comes about that's as (or more) consumer friendly than Windows/Mac, the commercial platforms will be quite literally unable to compete.
EDIT: I feel I should point out that "the year of the Linux server" arrived a long time ago.
The biggest evidence that Linux is not ready for prime time is the fact that it isn't in fact commonly used.
It's like saying that hyperloops are ready for prime time, you can tell that they're not by the evidence that they don't exist.
The Linux community has an excuse for that though... They keep using the excuse that Linux isn't preinstalled and that's why Linux adoption on the desktop is in single digit market share.
Now if Linux was so superior to Window like has been claimed and was indeed so easy to install, and it was able to be compatible with a variety of hardware and run all the software that one needs, then installing it on a PC would hardly stop computer nerds from doing it. But most of us don't bother because the advantages aren't worth the hassle.
That argument falls a bit with the Steam Deck. Linux is preinstalled and most people don't change the OS. On the other hand it's purpose is also pretty specific, so it isn't an issue if Adobe's softwares works etc.
But people are happy with ChromeOS, which is limited but preinstalled. So I do believe preinstalling makes and fails an OS. It's not even worth it for some car manufacturers to have different skews for chair heating, so it's not surprising that pc/laptops don't come with choices between different OS.
I'm happy with Linux, but I don't think most people want what Linux gives them. Most people just want to stop using it and do something fun.
What would it take for Linux to run all the hardware and software it needs? Companies need to make develop for Linux. In order for that to happen, Linux needs market share to make it profitable for them. But in order for Linux to gain market share, it needs to run all the hardware and software it needs. So in other words in order to get market share, Linux needs market share. How does it do that without being preinstalled on devices?
You are missing the most important issue:
WHY
Why would anyone want to waste their time with Linux when WIndows works perfectly fine?
They would for the same reason they use Linux on their Chromebooks, Android phones, Pixel watches, Steam Decks or TrueNAS server. It's pre-installed. Why do you think that argument is an "excuse" is my question.
No one would care if a Chromebook ran Linux, Windows, BeOS, AmigaOS or anything in between. The OS is a means to an end, something that the Linux community constantly forgets. People don't run an OS, they run software.
And how does Linux get software? I was discussing that two comments ago, we've now come full circle.
Why should software companies release a Linus version of a piece of software? Most don't bother with MacOS and they own about 20% of the desktop market. Linux is just 3%. They aren't going to do that out of the goodness of their hearts and this isn't a small ask, either. Would probably mean a total rewrite. To make matters worse is that Linux community seems to be all about free software, so getting them to actually PAY for something seems near impossible. So where does that leave you?
It isn't about supporting Linux, it's about supporting the hardware that comes with it on it. The Steam Deck demonstrates plainly that good hardware with Linux on it will receive dev attention. Game developers now talk and brag about "Steam Deck support" (which is actually just Linux support) for every major game release. It's not an "excuse", pre-installed Linux does work.
I have a hard time believing MacOS is even close to 20%. Hell on Steam Linux users outnumber Mac and the gaming demographic is lower on Linux to begin with. And lack of Mac software support is pretty obviously a result of them (fairly) recently dropping the x86 architecture, so companies have to remake a lot of software for them and it's not easy.
I don't see you proposing any solutions to this problem. So your opinion is Linux just doomed forever? Microsoft owns this market and that's it, competition isn't possible and the world has to use their closed source operating system for the rest of time?
Works for me. I have zero time to waste on Linux. I know Windows. I use Windows and have few problems with it. I am Average Joe Computer User. You have yet to give me a single reason why I would ever care enough to use Linux other than some "Grrrrr M$ IS BAD" reason. Why should I?
These are the questions you are essentially asking, and while I could write a whole treatise on it I doubt you would change your mind anyway. Enjoy using Windows.
I will enjoy using Windows and the literally limitless software and hardware that it can run. You can enjoy using whatever OS you choose and the incredibly limited options you have in both hardware and software. While you go endlessly tinker with you OS, ill actually use a computer for what it was meant for, and that is running software.
lol why are you such a dick? That last comment was me politely trying to end this convo on good terms. What is this pissing contest all of a sudden?
All I ever hear about is how bad Linux users are, then I run into someone like you who is just insufferable because... Why? Someone uses different software than you? What are you, a fucking child? Who cares. Congratulations, a trillion dollar corporation with endless funds made an operating system that can run Photoshop or something. And my distro that is run by volunteers through sheer passion for free software doesn't. Awesome. I don't use Photoshop.