this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
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My partner doesn't do much on the computer except web browsing and writing. The Scrivener writing program had a Linux version at some point that was abandoned.

I wanted to see if anyone personally has used Scrivener with Wine and if it is fussy or not. How has your experience been?

I could set it up for them, but they're not a tech person and will probably reject Linux if it breaks all the time and they have to get me to come fix it.


Extra irrelevant info: trying to decide on having them try Mint or Ubuntu. Fedora is my daily driver and I typically use a headless Debian install for servers, but I heard Mint and Ubuntu are pretty perfect and low fuss for Windows users.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Not sure there's really much point in trying to push people to use Linux if they aren't interested in computers.

Imagine if someone came up to you raving about switching to a new car brand that has a 5% higher top speed and 10% more fuel efficiency for your money but the handbrake is in on the roof, you change gears with buttons instead of a gear stick and you fill the tires with water instead of air

Most people don't care about what software runs on their computer and just want the default because it works the same way everyone else's does

Only way Linux gets into the mainstream is if consumer hardware with it preinstalled gets popular, the steam deck is a good start

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Thats not really true though... I installed linux on computer-illeterate people so that they would avoid viruses and they were happy with it...

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

I always worry with those kinds of installations that I'm going to become permanent tech support because Linux problems are far less universal

Also if they need to run Photoshop or full fat Office they're kinda screwed

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Libreoffice is essentially full fat Office at this point. If you need any , more than what it offers, you're more likely than not a computer savvy person already. Photoshop is hard to fully replace though. I ran it in wine for a long time, still haven't found a good alternative.

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

Photoshop runs in wine? Gave up on trying to run it on Linux long ago not that I have a license for it anymore anyway

There's stuff like photopea but the web based ones kinda suck and are full of ads

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Probably old versions from when you could still buy it instead of rent

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yes, I found a guide for getting Photoshop CS6 running in wine (PlayOnLinux wrapper). A recent update to something broke it for me, but it might still work for others.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Ok if they are browsing and reading emails BUT you are the administrator. But apparently s/he has a Windows only program s/he relies on... Using Wine will only increase the probability of the program crashing

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's their partner. Maybe OP just wants to get rid of microsoft in their home network and the household, which is not an absurd thing I think.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Bingo!

They wanted to give it a try so win-win for both of us if they end up liking it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm probably going to be unpopular for saying this but I think at some point you just have to settle. What practical difference does it actually make to your life if someone else has windows on your network

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It has, I think.

A little different, but I hope you'll see my point.
My family members use netflix on our smart TV. The netflix that says in it's privacy policy that they'll scan your network to know what devices you have.
I have never agreed to that outrageously unacceptable privacy policy, still, my devices are scanned by that garbage service, and by that they have insight on what devices I have, when am I around (at home), the network services that those devices run (any android app can run a network service in the background), and probably the OS along with it's version that your device runs. These information can be quite telling about your personality, your life situation and other private matters.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

And it sucks that companies are allowed to do things like that with their software but I would imagine you wouldn't be very popular if you try to tell them they can't use Netflix anymore

Could always put your machines on a different subnet to the smart TV?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Preinstalled on consumer hardware like Chromebooks in every school or for some unfathomable reason some of the nursing homes I work with?