this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2024
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31
Why Linux is Best for Most People (medium.com)
submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 43 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (10 children)

I think that Linux is the worst for middle-tier tech people.

For elderies, kids or someone that just visit social media, listen to music on Spotify and edit photos from vacations this it is perfect. They might learn where the app store is, how to open up menu and that's all.

For tech saavy, programmers, engineers I... don't really get how you can use Windows at all until you are forced by your environment. Going from Windows to Linux to do work is just like going from ChromeOS to MacOS.

But the worst would be the midtier, a friend who does a joke in "ohshit.exe" style, but don't know what is an executable. That has multiple free games from Epic Store he never plays but must be installed and work. That have bought Photoshop and "original" MS Office licence years ago for outdated version but keep it, because "original". And that has some amateur audio eqippment that even if Linux have build-in drivers for, would complain the .exe installer from that "download for free" website does not work.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

A good way to fix this, I guess, would be teaching children to use GNU/Linux alongside or in place of Windows when they're learning how to use computers in digital literacy classes.

Because this isn't an OS problem, it's a familiarity problem.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

Agree, a lot of Windows weirdness is taken as like it's like computers work overall. An example I give is when program freeze everyone knows Ctrl+Alt+Del to get the task manager. On Linux mostly there is Ctrl+Alt+ESC and click on the window to kill it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

For generations, parents have been giving kids their old cars or buying a used beater so they can learn to drive.

We need to get a generation of parents giving kids their old laptops or buying a cheap one off eBay with a light linux distro to extend its life.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

And are there even industry standard equivalent programs available for graphic designers on Linux?

Most FOSS alternatives tend to be a significant step back for folks used to their closed source industry counterparts like for example Adobe. The available video editing software is either a step back or closed source (DaVinci Resolve).

It's probably the proverbial chicken-and-egg situation.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I mean, for UI-UX, Figma, Lunacy, etc. are available via browser. But I despise web-based clients.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

That's a wonderful example. My average tech friend was an early adopter of SteamOS and called me a lot about wine.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

For tech saavy, programmers, engineers I... don't really get how you can use Windows at all until you are forced by your environment. Going from Windows to Linux to do work is just like going from ChromeOS to MacOS.

I do native Windows, Linux and Android development and much prefer working on Windows since I like the software and tooling there better. At home, I don't really want to fiddle with Linux anymore than I want to. Spending 2 days trying to fix my work PC's Ubuntu installation not being able to detect my Nvidia GPU has scared me off bothering with it.

Coincidentally, I did not have fun switching over to my Ubuntu partition at work today and finding out my Bluetooth mouse stopped working with it all of a sudden.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Ubuntu installation not being able to detect my Nvidia GPU

NVidia and Linux... don't get along very well. They've also been caught violating the GPL in their drivers, resulting in the kernel being hardcoded to block them in some instances. There is good reason why Valve picked an AMD APU in their handheld

Ubuntu partition at work today and finding out my Bluetooth mouse stopped working with it

Modern bluetooth controllers store the paired devices on their onboard memory, rather than only in the OS (allowing your bluetooth peripherals to work in the BIOS etc). If the two paired device lists fall out of sync, this could lead to erroneous behavior, especially since you're dual booting two completely different operating systems using completely different driver implementations to talk to your hardware

Just wanted to share why things are broken - not trying to persuade you to change your workflow. Use whatever works best for you!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Yea I get where you're coming from. Unfortunately, my work requires me to use an Nvidia GPU so I can't really budge on that front. It is what it is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Thanks for sharing! I found it interesting.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

I must fit in the middle here. I know that virtual drives exist, I've had a friend install one on my computer, but I never got it to work. I installed an old game off of a disk once, but when it quit working I had no idea why or what to do. I had a laptop and installed Ubuntu on it, and just never used it because I didn't know what it would be good for and I got tired of constantly updating/fixing/troubleshooting it.

I'm used to the options and menus of windows, Linux is just confusing to me.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Before you can even entertain the arguments in this article, don't you first need to address the barrier to entry of installing an operating system in the first place? This isn't even a hurdle specific to Linux, I don't really think the average user has the technical know-how to install any operating system onto a computer.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Yeah, it makes me think back to the CD days. I think just having a Windows install CD already premade for you made the process at least semi approachable.

Last month when I was installing an OS (it was proxmox, not exactly beginner friendly, I know) the first boot disk creator I used "worked" but ended up failing in the install. The second one worked though.

All in all, creating your own install disk is nice and flexible, but it really is a barrier for the average user.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago (14 children)

Hilarious. In what world is a Linux a good choice for “Elderly people who are not familiar with advanced technology and prefer clean and simple computer usage”.

The elderly people I know already struggle with the systems they’ve used for years. And when something goes wrong, they can ask basically anyone and someone will be able to help them.

Now insert Linux (which “flavour”? Who knows, pick one) and see who can help with even basic tasks or problems. This is fantasy shit.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago

My mother used Linux Mint as her last OS just fine. She struggled more with her phone than Linux. Just using browser, mail client and writing the occasional letter you're pretty much OS-agnostic.

However, while that does work, sometimes updates break something (regardless of distribution). Windows mixes shit up which makes the elderly not finding something again but Linux updates may result in the DE not starting for some reason. I moved to Linux 100% myself but I still won't ever recommend it to anyone who isn't fine with tinkering or has access to family tech support.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

Some Linux distros change less than Windows in appearance over the years.

Also easy to set configs back to default if things go astray, as everything is a file.

Have you tried introducing an "oldy" to it lately?

I showed my parents who used Windows but Apple for phones and they took to Ubuntu like duck to water!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Another argument in the style of "Linux cannot be used by the common public, because Linux is not used by the common public".

Windows is super annoying to help someone with it, as you can barely do anything. Let's say that after the update the graphical interface is not starting, what can be done? Because you cannot Ctrl+Alt+F3 to get into a console mode. Or that for remote help I can a dictate command that sends me the info or open SSH to me instead of recieving blurry photos of the screen. Like Android, easy to help if they just don't know where a thing is, super hard to fix deep system problem.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago (4 children)

It’s not because it’s not used by the common public, it’s because there aren’t normie-friendly resources and or a company help desk that average people rely on when they need assistance. It’s all well and good for people to say these things are easy to learn and they don’t break, it in the real world, for people who don’t really care about this stuff but have to use it for a few random tasks, it’s nice to know there’s a place that will help you. Not everyone has a techie friend or relative.

The issue is not with the software itself (although there are issues there) as much as it is with non-commercial nature of Linux. It’s great that there’s a thriving community of people who are passionate about this stuff and get great use and enjoyment out of it, but many of the reasons people love it are also reasons why it will probably never be a viable mainstream option.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

My great-aunt asked for a PC when she was 85 and her grandchild moved abroad. I installed Linux mint with a few scripts and shortcuts to ease her life, and she picked that up (check email, Skype, nothing super sophisticated ofc). I guess if it's a new thing, windows does not the advantage of being already familiar, and Linux is more stable in my experience, which leads to less random errors.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Im not saying it’s impossible, but it’s not “the best”. Even in your example, you set everything up. But if something goes wrong, will you be there to fix it? With a Mac, which is lately idiot-proof, if something breaks there’s an easy number to call or places you can take your machine.

Again, not saying it’s unusable, but just being usable wasn’t the claim.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I find Mac to be extremely unintuitive in how things are organized tbh, but that's just me.

Anyway, you are right, but she wanted to spend just 3-400 euros for a laptop, which is incompatible with Apple prices. Obviously this means being there to support if something goes wrong, but with a minimal install and Linux being stable, it doesn't happen often (I also have my mom's laptop running mint). I do have a reverse tunnel script configured that allows me to SSH in their machines using a "panic" icon on their desktop.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

But you get that not everyone has you on speed dial to fix things, right? That’s my point.

Also, you can get a used MacBook Air in great condition for that price. Or a slightly older Pro. You just can’t get the absolute latest and greatest, but for that price you were never going to anyway, so it’s sort of moot.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Of course, but I assume elderly people getting familiar with a completely new technology need anyway some kind of personal support and introduction from someone close. I don't think anybody would plan to throw a Mac at some elderly person and say "if any issue call Apple support", right?

I get your point though, and I am just saying that there are situations where Linux might work totally fine.

Also, the used market for apple product is not that big where I lived. Nobody in the family had a Mac also, which means she wouldn't have had anybody to ask for support at all. It's a specific situation, but my point is that having an official support is not going to help that much in some cases.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

To be clear, I didn’t say Linux is never suitable for elderly people. I said it’s not the best, which is the claim the original article made.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

The whole point in "Linux for elderly" is that they can't go clickety-click on everything they find and screw things up. You hide everything relating to system config from the graphical UI.

Worked fine for my father for years. I got tired of him skrewing up his Windows. Malware and desktop highjacking was also less of a problem, because Linux is a niche operating system.

Same worked for my cousins son, who mostly played on PS3 back then, minecraft being the only PC game.

...but for the elderly flying solo with no help from anyone, Linux in a no-go.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Even in your example, you set everything up.

No shit. Have you installed Windows 10/11 recently? Do you seriously believe a 85 year-old will get this done on their own?

I share your overall opinion though: Linux is not "the best for most people". That would be phones nowadays. Many people don't even have computers anymore (I don't get how they organize their finances or write documents but I guess I'm just old).

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

It's more likely that someone will buy a laptop or PC with Windows installed. Installing Windows on their own is hardly the experience most users go through.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

I have, but that’s not the point. There are places you can take a computer and say “hey, I’d like one Windows installation, please.” There are exceedingly few places that would help an old person set up a Linux installation, at which point theyre at the mercy of whatever nerd in their life will do it, and then just hoping they don’t move or die.

Im specifically not expecting them to do it themselves, which is why I think Linux is not a good option.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Most anything can and is run in the browser these days. Linux is fine for that. Most settings are fairly intuitive and fully featured.

Anything beyond that and things start to fall apart quickly.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Yeah I agree, when old people have trouble using an iPhone which is one of the simplest OSs to use, there's no way that they can use Linux, yes it's good but it's not as simple to use as an iPhone. And they can get help with their iPhone from anyone, or at the Apple store, there's no Linux store they can get help from.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Linux is clearly great and can even be used by non techie elder people, but only if you can stick around in case they encounter any difficulty. Why? Because they can ask anyone to get some help on windows, but most people would be scared to even approach something they don’t know, so they wouldn’t help these old people on Linux.

Is it a shame? Yes, but that’s the reality.

I guess that if you put an elder on a prepared Linux computer with nothing more to setup, the elder would be perfectly fine using it. But if they want to add a program or anything, that’s when they gonna need your help and presence.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Since getting a steam deck, I legitimately wish I knew way more about Linux than I do now. The thing is basically a grown up toy in many ways more than just video games.

If anyone has recommendations to resources I could use to better familiarize myself with accomplishing basic tasks with (arch) Linux, I’d appreciate it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Linux academy used to have a free course for beginners.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I used it for gaming until I found that face tracking on Linux (mostly on the output side) is a pain in the butt. It's great for most things these days and I still keep it on my laptop but it's now the niche things it doesn't do well.

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