501
Big Tech is turning you into a digital tenant, but there is a way to evict them (www.neowin.net)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
145 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The shift to SaaS and Windows 11 updates means you no longer own your software. Here is how free software tools can help you reclaim control.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 8 points 3 months ago (7 children)

EndeavourOS was my first distro, and I had a great experience. Learned a ton (sometimes by completely breaking everything. Time Shift saved my ass many times).

I'm sure not everyone learns things the same way, but breaking shit and having to learn how to fix it was the best way I could have learned about how Linux works

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 7 child comments
    •
  • [–] 10 points 3 months ago (5 children)

    I'm happy that things did work out for you, and indeed, "breaking shit and fixing it" is part of the rites of passage on Linux.

    That said, I guess you're part of the "tech-savvy tinkerer" crowd. This demographic will handle these things gracefully and take every breakdown as a learning opportunity.

    Coming from this demographic, it's easy to forget that there are people out there that deem computers mere tools, not a hobby. These people expect things to "just work", and any breakage is an annoyance, a road block, a "this Linux thing sucks". Set them up with a tinkerer's distro, and you will make them thoroughly unhappy. Not because they're wrong. Not because we're wrong. Just because of a mismatch of expectations.

    So, dear penguins: let's not blindly advertise our pet distro to whoever asks (or doesn't). Let's look at who is before us, and provide them with the best experience possible. In a lot of cases, due to the influx of "just works" users, this may mean something stable in order not to put them off.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
    •
  • [–] -4 points 3 months ago (4 children)

    Skill issue. People cannot just passively expect to understand a complicated thing without applying themselves.

    If they can't use a computer, they can't use a computer.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago* (3 children)

    Using != fixing.

    Do you need to learn how to drive ("use") a car? Absolutely. Do you need to have intricate knowledge of its inner workings and be able to fix even the smallest component in case it breaks? No. That's for enthusiasts.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (2 children)

    Hard disagree. Less people should drive, they have no mechanical sympathy and scant grasp of what they're doing.

    Its just as a society we've decided to enable them because it meant we could sell cars.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (1 child)

    I whole-heartedly support helping people get more tech literate. I just doubt that the kind of elitism you're displaying is the way to get there.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago

    I don't think absolutely every sharp edge needs to be sanded off everything. I think certain things should require proficiency to be considered a learned skill.

    Computers are still a skill, and we sanded the edges off until it was playmobile pieces rather than a productive work tool.

    I wouldn't dare call myself an accountant even if I can competently file things. Why do people think they understand computers when they have reading comprehension failure and can't understand the computer is telling them what they need to do? These people don't know computers, they barely know windows. They were always going to have to learn something.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent