Just a rant about how Microsoft has lost touch with it's retail customers and what you can do about it....=== Timestamps ===00:00 Introduction01:06 MS doesn'...
I get it, I walked into the den and poked the bear. But I think a reality check for this kind of “Linux will take over Microsoft” is necessary. 95% of computer users don’t care about their OS and would never imagine re-installing it or installing a different one. Just the idea of thinking about an OS puts that person in the advanced user category. It took Google to mod Linux and sell it to every public school in America to get it to a 4% user base. It is clearly not something for everyone, it isn’t even for most people who use Reddit or Lemmy, and those communities are def more closely representative of people capable of using Linux.
I understand that there have been many advances to make it a usable OS for the casual person. But it isn’t. Sure, your mom might be able to use it “out of the box” but it doesn’t come in a box. The two widely adopted versions of Linux had to be heavily modified by large dev teams of Valve and Google, for very limited numbers of devices. Would Valve make a version for a non-gaming focused device, or computer at large? Would Google make a version that wasn’t in direct support of Googles products? I doubt it.
It isn’t just lack of knowledge of Linux that is holding it back. Its main demographic is nerdy computer people who are willing to, occasionally, run a shell command or hunt down the necessary things to get their webcam to work. That isn’t what Microsoft aims for, they aim for the average computer user who wants to watching videos, play games, browse the web and check their emails without thinking about any part of how or why it works.
The point you seem to be missing is that it isnt that linux is too hard for average people, it isnt id even say its easier than windows to use for people who arent deep into using windows already.
Its that installing any os is too much for regular people and Microsoft have been fighting dirty and abusing market dominance to make sure they kill pre-installed linux machines.
I get your point. I also get that the average noob is now starting to hear about Linux. I also get that the average noob had been complaining about the windows bullshit, thinking that it’s a computer thing that is normal, is now learning that actually, no, it’s not normal.
I’ve seen many a noob dipping their toes into Linux, and quite a few staying. Call it Dad’s trying to fix the computer after he fixed the toaster, but still.
Also companies are more and more interested. Once people use Linux on their company computer and see how easy it is to get the same nice system on their own computer, you will see them switch
My point is: you need a critical mass and I feel (I might be wrong) that clinic is approaching that. 10 years ago many noobs didn’t even know what a Linux is, today they actually do and they keep hearing there are no ads, it’s free it’s safer, it’s easier, less bullshit… They’ll come.
I get it, I walked into the den and poked the bear. But I think a reality check for this kind of “Linux will take over Microsoft” is necessary. 95% of computer users don’t care about their OS and would never imagine re-installing it or installing a different one. Just the idea of thinking about an OS puts that person in the advanced user category. It took Google to mod Linux and sell it to every public school in America to get it to a 4% user base. It is clearly not something for everyone, it isn’t even for most people who use Reddit or Lemmy, and those communities are def more closely representative of people capable of using Linux.
I understand that there have been many advances to make it a usable OS for the casual person. But it isn’t. Sure, your mom might be able to use it “out of the box” but it doesn’t come in a box. The two widely adopted versions of Linux had to be heavily modified by large dev teams of Valve and Google, for very limited numbers of devices. Would Valve make a version for a non-gaming focused device, or computer at large? Would Google make a version that wasn’t in direct support of Googles products? I doubt it.
It isn’t just lack of knowledge of Linux that is holding it back. Its main demographic is nerdy computer people who are willing to, occasionally, run a shell command or hunt down the necessary things to get their webcam to work. That isn’t what Microsoft aims for, they aim for the average computer user who wants to watching videos, play games, browse the web and check their emails without thinking about any part of how or why it works.
The point you seem to be missing is that it isnt that linux is too hard for average people, it isnt id even say its easier than windows to use for people who arent deep into using windows already.
Its that installing any os is too much for regular people and Microsoft have been fighting dirty and abusing market dominance to make sure they kill pre-installed linux machines.
I get your point. I also get that the average noob is now starting to hear about Linux. I also get that the average noob had been complaining about the windows bullshit, thinking that it’s a computer thing that is normal, is now learning that actually, no, it’s not normal.
I’ve seen many a noob dipping their toes into Linux, and quite a few staying. Call it Dad’s trying to fix the computer after he fixed the toaster, but still.
Also companies are more and more interested. Once people use Linux on their company computer and see how easy it is to get the same nice system on their own computer, you will see them switch
My point is: you need a critical mass and I feel (I might be wrong) that clinic is approaching that. 10 years ago many noobs didn’t even know what a Linux is, today they actually do and they keep hearing there are no ads, it’s free it’s safer, it’s easier, less bullshit… They’ll come.
You’re absolutely spot on. Unfortunately no one here is willing to accept it.