Here’s the thing that a lot of long-term linux users don’t seem to understand: If it involves typing out a command in a terminal, or editing a configuration text file, 99% of casual users are already out. It doesn’t matter if they just copy-paste a command or have change a single number in a text file, they literally don’t even want to try, they consider that “too complicated”.
I feel like the gap between windows and more user friendly distros like Ubuntu and Mint is pretty narrow now. Linux still has to shake off the reputation of being difficult to use though. I’m not sure what that will take.
Microsoft has held onto the market with a variety of tools, even some downright anti competitive practices. Even if Linux was hypothetically a better OS, in every way, for every user, toppling MS as the dominant player would be still met with some resistance. That’s what happened with OS/2, and that was backed up by IBM.
There was a long time when a casual user would have been better off on Windows, but I don’t think that’s true anymore, at least not on every distro.
Just as you can use Windows for years and never need Group Policy or Regedit, you can do Linux just the same without terminal.
This is the area where I feel Linux has come the farthest since I became interested in it.
Here’s the thing that a lot of long-term linux users don’t seem to understand: If it involves typing out a command in a terminal, or editing a configuration text file, 99% of casual users are already out. It doesn’t matter if they just copy-paste a command or have change a single number in a text file, they literally don’t even want to try, they consider that “too complicated”.
and that’s why catering to casuals is a loosing game that shouldn’t be bothered with.
Except Windows does cater to it, and despite Linux’ supposed superiority it is still by far the dominant desktop OS.
I feel like the gap between windows and more user friendly distros like Ubuntu and Mint is pretty narrow now. Linux still has to shake off the reputation of being difficult to use though. I’m not sure what that will take.
Microsoft has held onto the market with a variety of tools, even some downright anti competitive practices. Even if Linux was hypothetically a better OS, in every way, for every user, toppling MS as the dominant player would be still met with some resistance. That’s what happened with OS/2, and that was backed up by IBM.