The problem is no matter how badly we want that to be true, Linux just still is not stable enough or user friendly enough for the average user. Unless you’re ready to be a system admin full-time for someone you’re giving a Linux device to, it’s pointless. Even the simple ones like Mint? It’s too much for my elderly mom, she gets lost too easily. It’s just too demanding of average users, simple as that.
I want people to switch to Linux too, but this is exactly why this comic is dead-accurate, because it’s just not ready for average users and likely won’t be anytime soon. Why? Because Linux gives you control, and giving you control is actually demanding of your time and energy and effort. People like Windows or macOS because they don’t have to expend time, energy, and effort, it just “works” well enough for them to use it passively.
There are worse things in the world than regular people not being able to handle Linux.
I switched my grandma to Fedora and she’s been able to use it without issue once I got it set up for her. She only really needs a browser and word processor anyway.
Eh, I think outside of potential language/accessibility/hardware incompatibility issues that I’ve read on blogs/comments, Linux works for the “average” user. It’s the slightly “advanced” user like me who struggles, and the “truly advanced” who swim like a duck in water in any distro. Like the bell curve meme.
I say this cause if I literally only needed some apps and the browser, I wouldn’t struggle. But I do tinker with things and end up needing slightly uncommon software/features that require me to use the CLI (and my dumbass can’t remember commands), even though I’m mid at using the CLI. Meanwhile, people born with a usb-stick in hand love the CLI and use it for everything, even things I would try to avoid unless I felt it was easier.
A kid I know has put his grandparents on Fedora, and has no issues. It comes down to the person. If they can click some buttons and read, and only wanna use office, browser, and a app or two, they’d probably live. Yeah, you might have to tinker how it looks for them or put the apps on the desktop, but outside of that, it’s simple.
Windows definitely doesn’t “just work”, I had to figure out Windows decided to kill my Wifi adapter whenever my laptop would go in sleep (god… why???). OneDrive is an ass, devices not wanting to connect (Bluetooth controllers), printers, etc. I’ll give you that Mac works pretty well for those who like it, but I hate Apple and never got used to Mac. I still can’t remove some shitty old virus scanner that doesn’t work anyway and it can’t update anymore, so it just rots on our computer. So like, Mac has their off-days with me too (one time FF nuked itself…)
I think it mostly comes down to baby duck syndrome. People don’t like using a package manager for programs on their desktop but are fine using an app store on their phone (which might literally be running linux). People simply expect a desktop computer to work a specific way and when things are in different spots and called different things they get upset. I think it’s changing as more companies bake Linux into their product.
Steam Decks running Linux changes people’s impression of it. If a mainstream company sold desktop computers that came with Linux preinstalled I’m sure its use would skyrocket. It’s not that it’s impossible for the average user to understand, It’s that it’s not the default option.
So, while i first encountered this in software, because i was a nerdy little shit, I’ve found it in a lot of other things since gstting into otg activism:
We infantilize the shit out of people, and as long as they’re kept in a cradle, they will not outgrow it, only wither and die when their tike comes.
Claiming agency for ones self is necessarily challenging. You will fuck up, casting off your chains and taking your first steps towards becoming an autonomous individual. It’s just a thing. In politics/conscience, in software, in sexuality, in riding a bike; whatever. It’s unavoidable, and, imo; usually fine. What i can do is help troubleshoot and make your ass keep backups.
You’ll be better and more capable for having surpassed the challenge.
There was actually a major bifurcation in ux design around precisely this issue. Doug englebart on the not-evil side, steve ‘toilet feet nevershower’ jobs on the other.
I think windows also kinda sucks for older people and less technologically inclined people.
Windows is what people are used to, doesn’t mean it is better. I think there are a bunch of linux distros that would work just as well for older people.
Yeah, my grandma had to call my mom and I to help her with Windows to stop uploading everything to OneDrive, and even I fucking hate fighting Windows over OneDrive. I think she could live with Fedora or Mint and be okay, unless there’s a specific app she needed.
My grandma actually used to be a computer professor back in the 80s or so, but I guess use it or lose it lol.
The problem is no matter how badly we want that to be true, Linux just still is not stable enough or user friendly enough for the average user. Unless you’re ready to be a system admin full-time for someone you’re giving a Linux device to, it’s pointless. Even the simple ones like Mint? It’s too much for my elderly mom, she gets lost too easily. It’s just too demanding of average users, simple as that.
I want people to switch to Linux too, but this is exactly why this comic is dead-accurate, because it’s just not ready for average users and likely won’t be anytime soon. Why? Because Linux gives you control, and giving you control is actually demanding of your time and energy and effort. People like Windows or macOS because they don’t have to expend time, energy, and effort, it just “works” well enough for them to use it passively.
There are worse things in the world than regular people not being able to handle Linux.
I switched my grandma to Fedora and she’s been able to use it without issue once I got it set up for her. She only really needs a browser and word processor anyway.
Eh, I think outside of potential language/accessibility/hardware incompatibility issues that I’ve read on blogs/comments, Linux works for the “average” user. It’s the slightly “advanced” user like me who struggles, and the “truly advanced” who swim like a duck in water in any distro. Like the bell curve meme.
I say this cause if I literally only needed some apps and the browser, I wouldn’t struggle. But I do tinker with things and end up needing slightly uncommon software/features that require me to use the CLI (and my dumbass can’t remember commands), even though I’m mid at using the CLI. Meanwhile, people born with a usb-stick in hand love the CLI and use it for everything, even things I would try to avoid unless I felt it was easier.
A kid I know has put his grandparents on Fedora, and has no issues. It comes down to the person. If they can click some buttons and read, and only wanna use office, browser, and a app or two, they’d probably live. Yeah, you might have to tinker how it looks for them or put the apps on the desktop, but outside of that, it’s simple.
Windows definitely doesn’t “just work”, I had to figure out Windows decided to kill my Wifi adapter whenever my laptop would go in sleep (god… why???). OneDrive is an ass, devices not wanting to connect (Bluetooth controllers), printers, etc. I’ll give you that Mac works pretty well for those who like it, but I hate Apple and never got used to Mac. I still can’t remove some shitty old virus scanner that doesn’t work anyway and it can’t update anymore, so it just rots on our computer. So like, Mac has their off-days with me too (one time FF nuked itself…)
I think it mostly comes down to baby duck syndrome. People don’t like using a package manager for programs on their desktop but are fine using an app store on their phone (which might literally be running linux). People simply expect a desktop computer to work a specific way and when things are in different spots and called different things they get upset. I think it’s changing as more companies bake Linux into their product.
Steam Decks running Linux changes people’s impression of it. If a mainstream company sold desktop computers that came with Linux preinstalled I’m sure its use would skyrocket. It’s not that it’s impossible for the average user to understand, It’s that it’s not the default option.
Lenovo will sell you a thinkpad with your favorite distro preinstalled. I bought an X1 carbon with fedora 38 on it. BIOS updates and all.
Both my parents use linux mint with 0 issues.
my dad is abysmal at tech, never sent an email, hates the concept of passwords etc, etc.
Other than resetting Facebook passwords and replacing a laptop battery, they have never needed a thing from me.
Out of curiosity, what is it that you mom wanted from a pc?
My parents only ever seem to use their web browser, which is identical to the windows experiance.
This is false information
So, while i first encountered this in software, because i was a nerdy little shit, I’ve found it in a lot of other things since gstting into otg activism:
We infantilize the shit out of people, and as long as they’re kept in a cradle, they will not outgrow it, only wither and die when their tike comes.
Claiming agency for ones self is necessarily challenging. You will fuck up, casting off your chains and taking your first steps towards becoming an autonomous individual. It’s just a thing. In politics/conscience, in software, in sexuality, in riding a bike; whatever. It’s unavoidable, and, imo; usually fine. What i can do is help troubleshoot and make your ass keep backups.
You’ll be better and more capable for having surpassed the challenge.
There was actually a major bifurcation in ux design around precisely this issue. Doug englebart on the not-evil side, steve ‘toilet feet nevershower’ jobs on the other.
YSK that like all demographics, grandmas occupy a range of intelligence options.
I think windows also kinda sucks for older people and less technologically inclined people.
Windows is what people are used to, doesn’t mean it is better. I think there are a bunch of linux distros that would work just as well for older people.
Yeah, my grandma had to call my mom and I to help her with Windows to stop uploading everything to OneDrive, and even I fucking hate fighting Windows over OneDrive. I think she could live with Fedora or Mint and be okay, unless there’s a specific app she needed.
My grandma actually used to be a computer professor back in the 80s or so, but I guess use it or lose it lol.
Have you used it since the 90s? Something like Ubuntu does literally everything for you - drivers, printers, the works.
I agree that Linux Isn’t stable enough, but having recently been asked to use Windows again, I have realized that it’s no better