this post was submitted on 24 May 2024
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Linux

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Changing to Linux means, people...:

  • need to have an understanding of operating systems, so they can think about alternatives
  • need to be aware of the actual alternative
  • need to be willing to learn something new
  • need to be willing to leave some applications or games behind
  • need to choose a Linux distribution
  • need the technical ability and understanding to actually download, flash and boot from boot system, install it and setup initial, such as root password and such

These are basic and trivial stuff for us, but most normies don't have this understanding and interest to go this far. And then it depends if they are happy and stay. Even if every PC manufacturer and distributor would offere the same PC with Windows and Linux, most would just choose Windows (probably). This is the current reality.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Such a hard agree. My wife won't even let me install Linux, which takes out the more technical aspects of the above.

She's just comfortable on Windows. Most people don't want to learn something new and even fewer actually care about privacy.

Edit: Us Linux users assume that if Windows gets bad enough people will switch to Linux, when we all should face facts that normies will much sooner switch to Mac.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

that normies will much sooner switch to Mac.

Rich normies.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Sure, for the mac pro line with specs that us nerds care about.

I think some of those M1 mac airs are really affordable now though. For casual use it would be a good device for a tech illiterate person.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Or a mini.

I have an M2 mini I use for iOS builds, cheap enough for me to buy and stick in the rack to use for remote builds. I got that a year ago for $600ish iirc.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah man. Apple still screws people when it comes to ram and storage options of course, but the base products are actually pretty good for the money.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yep... It's permanently where it's at at purchase.

Which is fine, I don't store anything on there (Jenkins automations to build, local git repo on another machine, output goes to NAS), but it's ridiculous how much the upgrades cost.

If I didn't need a build target for iOS I wouldn't have bothered with it, that's for sure.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

I might be biased running a NAS as well, but I'm not fussed about having a tonne of storage on-device. Yeah agreed it is bonkas how much they charge for that extra 8GB of RAM. Default should for sure be 16 by now.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Mostly yes but there's one other option that simplifies the whole thing: Chromebooks. They're actually pretty decent for someone who doesn't need much beyond a browser, a mail client, and a basic office suite.

Sure, they're tied to Google with all that entails but they can be a real option for someone like a senior who relies on relatives for tech support.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

I agree. Chromebooks are a viable choice for those who want a web terminal. I used one for about a year. Got the job done.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Something I've never checked for but...are there any linux installers that run from within windows? Shrink the windows partition, create a linux partition, populate it, install grub, and tell the user to reboot and choose linux? I think general lack of good ext4 fs support in windows might make things difficult, but you don't actually need to do that part from within windows. There could be a second installer that's triggered the first time they boot from grub.

I feel like a well supported installer like that would dramatically lower the barrier to entry. It could make dual booting windows a breeze for anyone who knows how to run an installer and reboot, which is what people actually want.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

This sounds awesome idea. Not sure if there is a technical reason why this could not be done. On the other hand, Windows already has WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux, is it still called like that?). All antivirus programs would probably go nuts. Windows itself is a restricted system and some things need to be done before booting into Windows. I assume if it was possible, then this would have been done before. At least I never heard about this. The best way is to have a preinstalled Linux on hardware.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Q4OS has an installer like that, but you have to change the boot order after installation, I don't think it uses grub.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Nice, indeed it looks like it does! Wonder if that installer could be packaged and licensed in a way that more distros could use it.