this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2023
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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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Oh, totally. I've lost count of the times I've helped folks with their computers and most of their problems seem to be from using Windows: "I'm confused about antivirus," "I keep forgetting to check on updates for the program I use so much," "I'm unsure if I'm on the correct site to download an exe file from," "I keep getting ads in my taskbar," "I was going to find a different browser to use but my computer dissuaded me from doing so," and on and on, and I just think "If only you'd simply try Linux."
For the 'average' user you're suggesting to be helping none of these are remotely difficult to address..
"I'm confused about antivirus," Windows handles it
"I keep forgetting to check on updates for the program I use so much," The apps you use will ask to update when you use them
"I'm unsure if I'm on the correct site to download an exe file from," The website for the application
"I keep getting ads in my taskbar," Disabled in literally 3 seconds at install and never think about it again (yeah it's dumb it happens at all, fine)
"I was going to find a different browser to use but my computer dissuaded me from doing so," getfirefox.com. install & run. Click set default browser when it pops up.
If you can't answer a simple one sentence answer to an easy question I don't think it's Windows fault. I say this as somehow who has helped tech illiterate people of all sorts on Windows, Linux, and Unix systems over the past 25+ years.
Oh, trust me, it's the fault of Windows. It's garbage. Linux all the way.
I too have taught tech, to a lot of older people, and with substantial success. And I try to emphasise that "there are no stupid questions" - and that their concerns must be listened to, and understood.
It can be very disheartening to hear these very valid concerns just because they're using an overpriced piece of unethical garbage spyware as an operating system. All of these questions can also be answered with "Use Linux instead." Indeed, a colleague of mine literally emphasises that the only reason she retains access to Windows at all is because our learners are using it still (and she plans to use Linux 100% of the time upon retirement).
Because telling such users that "Windows handles it" with Defender or whatever often doesn't cut it when they've been sold antivirus all their lives and have family and friends tell them they must spend (even more unnecessary) money on "top-notch" anti-virus software. I'd rather say "Linux handles it" than "Let Micro$oft handle it."
Telling them all programmes will make it clear when an update is available is much more daunting for them when they barely trust and/or understand a lot of notifications they get anyway, when they could literally be using a Linux software centre that resembles what they use on their smartphones.
Simply informing them that - rather than said software centre - they need to go to the website for the programme to download an exe file, is unhelpful when they do a search for a programme to use and get different search results.
I wish it took them 3 seconds to disable disgusting ads in their taskbar that they never asked for on their operating system and lends nothing to their user experience, but sadly it takes them much longer, assuming they do of course remember how to do it since last time, seeing as this trash seems to reappear.
Telling them which browser to use without first explaining browsers and enabling them to make informed decisions is, in my view, morally questionable. And yet speaking of which, Micro$oft apps frequently do just that.
And what else I've realised? If we teach so that people can make informed decisions, with patience, in plain language, Linux will have a larger user base.
Because people, at their core, are good. Digital capitalism doesn't sit well with people. They distrust these big data-gathering, closed-source, greedy corporations.
Pretty sure what you just explained is that people are idiots, and Windows is fine as an OS
Yeah Im confused how any of those issues are the fault of the OS, aside from the ad one
Because those issues wouldn't exist on a simple Linux distribution. That was my point. Wait, did I stumble upon a pro-digital capitalism, pro-Micro$oft, pro-Windows Reddit by accident? Because this place seems flooded with the defenders of all things evil. jfc.
That's really mean.