this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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No, regular people use Windows because that's what their device they purchased came with. If they bought a Chromebook instead for example, they'd be using ChromeOS which is based on Linux, and if they bought a Smart TV, it'd probably be running some sort of Linux-based OS as well.
Regular people don't know or care about Linux, nor what operating system their device is running - they just want a device that's easy to use, looks good, has a good price and can let them use Facebook, Zoom etc or whatever it is they're expecting from that device.
There's no need to learn about this stuff, Linux is already just point and click. The main hurdle these days is installing it on a PC, egular people don't mess around with the OS on their device, they just use whatever it is that came on their device. They shouldn't have any big issues using Linux (especially if it's a user-friendly distro like Zorin OS), as long as it's already installed on their machines.
It is already palatable, we just haven't gotten mainstream manufactures to sell preloaded devices to the masses. There are some OEMs like System76 that are doing a good job, but they haven't hit mass market yet. What Linux needs is a partnership with mainstream manufacturers and some big $$$ invested into marketing, plus partnering with retail outets like Best Buy etc. And maybe have a hardware certification program, like how Windows has the WHQL. Market the hell out of it, pass out shiny "Linux compatible" stickers to vendors, put Linux on sleek and shiny MacBook-like devices, and you'll find regular people getting into Linux.
also the front page of this very community has multiple posts from people whose systems aren't working, or who are worried about software being incompatible with linux. it's still not easy. and Ubuntu came pre-loaded on computers a decade ago and that didn't really do anything.
this is copium my friend. look at these forums, you don't find people talking about proselytizing ubuntu and mint, it's people circlejerking about how cool they are for using kali and arch and knowing whatever minutiae of computing