Linux

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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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"This Linux thing is better than normal computers" (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

49 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A few years ago my wife and I built a computer out of old parts for her friend's then 10 years old son. Last month we were visiting them, and I heard the wife's friend say something funny that I thought I'd share with you.

They live on the other side of the city, this was the kid's first computer, and his mom doesn't have much computer experience either, so our goal was to build something that was easy to use and hard to break from the beginning. Originally I choose ElementaryOS since it seemed to fit the bill, but after a year or two it turned out that it couldn't be upgraded to a new major version without a full reinstall so it got stuck with an older version. We didn't visit that often, and the kid's games still worked so it wasn't a major issue until Factorio broke due to glibc incompatibility.

When his birthday was coming up last month we bought him a SSD to make the computer a little bit zippier without a major upgrade, and I thought I'd give him a brand new Linux experience too, so I asked for advice here and in the end chose Bazzite. While I was helping the kid with the installation, I overheard his mom saying in the other room:

This Linux thing.. We've never had any problems with it, he just clicks something to install it and it works. Unlike normal computers, where you always have to do things and fix them.

Perhaps not the most eloquent, but I consider it a very good review.

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[–] [email protected] 80 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I love this, because it's exactly the opposite of the received "wisdom" you'd get from many corners of the Internet. As long as you aren't mucking around the internals of a Linux install, it's going to be stable, and it will be adequate for common computing tasks. Arguably, even better than adequate.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

don’t forget the original comment though: unable to upgrade without reinstall, and glibc incompatibility

i’m not saying that changes the latter comment, but it’s certainly far from the experience for every single person every single time… windows is like macdonalds: it’s the same horrible thing every time but it’s consistent

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago

With Windows if you don't have a tpm you have to get a whole new computer lol

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

You mean consistent like: "Ah, you still on windows 'add version here'? Too bad, user experience/security/consistency/modern standards are our top priority so you have to have windows 'add version here +1' to be able to run our awesome app xyz"... Much better, right?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Exactly! For the majority of people it is easier yet many people will fight you to the death that the opposite is true

[–] [email protected] 4 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

The vocal people saying it's harder have a lot of experience with Windows, and know how to work around all of its deficiencies after being a power user dealing with it for 15+ years

With that mindset and not wanting to start over, Windows is easier

For casual users or someone who's willing to learn, Linux is easier

[–] [email protected] 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I disagree. If you're starting from nothing, and you buy a pre-installed, linux is easier by far. The general populace does not install windows themselves either so let's not compare that aspect.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I think you agreed with me?

I said the people who say Linux is so hard are the people that have learned so much about Windows that it's ingrained in them. So when they try to switch, they get frustrated that it isn't exactly the same

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 hours ago

Oh, got it. I thought you were saying the only people to like Linux are those who grew to hate windows. that describes me.