Why don't more people use Linux?
world.hey.com
A couple of weeks ago, I saw a tweet asking: "If Linux is so good, why aren't more people using it?" And it's a fair question! It intuitively rings true until you give it a moment's consideration. Linux is even free, so what's stopping mass adoption, if it's actually better? My response: “If exercising is so healthy, why don't more peo...

And Linux isn’t minimal effort. It’s an operating system that demands more of you than does the commercial offerings from Microsoft and Apple. Thus, it serves as a dojo for understanding computers better. With a sensei who keeps demanding you figure problems out on your own in order to learn and level up.

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That’s why I’d love to see more developers take another look at Linux. Such that they may develop better proficiency in the basic katas of the internet. Such that they aren’t scared to connect a computer to the internet without the cover of a cloud.

Related: Omakub

  • @[email protected]English
    7•2 months ago

    That’s less about Fedora and Linux than it is about Gnome.

    Coming from Windows to Gnome is a shitshow, honestly I think it’s the main reason there isn’t more Linux users. If that’s your first introduction to Linux, no wonder people yell screaming for the exits. It’s not an easy transition.

    Using DEs like Plasma or Cinnamon is a way more welcoming way to change over. Maybe eventually you’ll want try Gnome and it’s opinionated workflow, but I think its a terrible way to start out an already jarring transition.

    Nobara is a good distro to use Fedora and have KDE by default, with the option to change later. And it has a pile of video tweaks and fixes for gaming and editing out of the box or via the welcome screen tasks.

    • @[email protected]
      3•2 months ago

      Well, I think my experiment might have come to an early end.

      Yesterday, when I booted up fedora, I lost my wifi (like, it didn’t even give me the option to use wifi). Re-booted and it worked again.

      Then I decided to get a copy of Fedora with KDE Plasma loaded up. Seemed fine, started setting it up.

      Let’s try some Windows software through Wine (Bottles, I believe, is what the actual software was called). Program 1, installed, but won’t run. Program 2, installed, but wont’ run…

      Then, out of nowhere: Blank screen.

      After waiting several minutes, I hit the power button: FAILED FAILED FAILED messages “Failed to start plymouth-reboot.services” being the last. FFS…

      I just don’t understand how I can break Linux so quickly without really doing anything. My experience over the last 20 years of trying Linux has always ended the same. Are there no stable distros available? Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Elementary, Damn Small… none of them last more than a few days/weeks before they crash and burn.

      And when Linux crashes and burns, I really don’t know how to fix it.

      It’s extremely hard to go from Windows 11, which has been absolutely rock solid. Literally no problems, no crashes, no BSOD, no compatibility issues, etc. to Linux, even though I value Linux more.

      I would rather not use Windows, but I feel like I’m forced to at this point.

      • @[email protected]English
        1•2 months ago

        That’s the shits. Hardware can be finicky with Linux, especially laptops.

        I would try Nobara or Manjaro, both have some pretty good hardware detection and updated/non-free drivers. Fedora itself doesn’t have certain things in it that aren’t “free” by default.

        But you might not be destined to use Linux and no shame in that. Keep trying back if you change hardware.

        • @[email protected]
          1•2 months ago

          My laptop is a Framework and has official support for Fedora and Ubuntu. I wouldn’t expect these kinds of issue, TBH.

          I can probably try a few more distros, but I’m just disappointed that the experience seems to always be the same :(

          • @[email protected]English
            1•2 months ago

            Oh, man, really? You are absolutely correct, I would expect that to support either. Have you contacted them? Because it seems like that must be something faulty.

            • @[email protected]
              1•2 months ago

              Their forum is pretty good, and there’s a dedicated linux section there, too. They also have extensive support documentation.

              I’m sure I can get it working to be more stable, but man, it’s an effort for sure.