The "find someone to help you" call to action button feels totally out of place to me. If you're not technically competent enough to install Linux on your own machine, then you DEFINITELY shouldn't be using it as your daily OS.
janmarsal•8mo ago
Why not? Everyone's using it on their steamdeck with no problems. Outdated attitude. If you're not technically competent you shouldn't use windows because it's harder to use than linux or mac.
kapad•8mo ago
"If you're not technically competent you shouldn't use windows because it's harder to use than linux or mac".
Harder but easier and less challenging. The distinction I would make is for users who are comfortable interpreting the command line and those who aren't. That comfort level is what should dictate the user's decision to opt for linux vs windows/mac.
(PS: IMO, mac power use often requires the CLI, but macOS has built-in some guardrails to prevent noob users from completely messing up the system. Linux has no such guardrails).
beardyw•8mo ago
> users who are comfortable interpreting the command line
Why would you need to do that?
janmarsal•8mo ago
It's much easier to us the command line on unix-likes than on windows, but it's not really a necessity. I know linux users who say they never use the terminal because they don't want to, and they're doing just fine.
Have you guys even used linux in the recent years? Sure it's a bit janky sometimes but so is windows and only getting worse. You can get quite far with linux by using graphical package management apps only, and now with steam you can even install games as easily as on windows.
Linux is way easier and more intuitive to use even for a novice than windows. I don't get why people think windows is somehow easy to use.
JohnFen•8mo ago
> The distinction I would make is for users who are comfortable interpreting the command line and those who aren't.
The use of the command line stopped being mandatory years ago. Everything that an average user is likely to do can be done though the GUI, just like other OSes.
WalterGR•8mo ago
> Everyone's using it on their steamdeck with no problems.
How is that relevant to someone switching to Linux desktop? Android is also Linux and also not relevant.
brudgers•8mo ago
The graph of people who will be happy using Linux is a big bi-modal smiley face.
At one end are the people with the computer knowledge you mention.
At the other end are people with very little computer knowledge.
It's all the people in the middle with a little computer knowledge who will struggle when they try to manage files.
But the experts will expert and the uninformed will just use the computer to do the high level tasks they do (e.g. browse and email and store everything on the desktop). Modulo obscure hardware, Ubuntu will just work for them.
Which is not to say this is the year of the Linux desktop.
Reubend•8mo ago
janmarsal•8mo ago
kapad•8mo ago
Harder but easier and less challenging. The distinction I would make is for users who are comfortable interpreting the command line and those who aren't. That comfort level is what should dictate the user's decision to opt for linux vs windows/mac.
(PS: IMO, mac power use often requires the CLI, but macOS has built-in some guardrails to prevent noob users from completely messing up the system. Linux has no such guardrails).
beardyw•8mo ago
Why would you need to do that?
janmarsal•8mo ago
Have you guys even used linux in the recent years? Sure it's a bit janky sometimes but so is windows and only getting worse. You can get quite far with linux by using graphical package management apps only, and now with steam you can even install games as easily as on windows.
Linux is way easier and more intuitive to use even for a novice than windows. I don't get why people think windows is somehow easy to use.
JohnFen•8mo ago
The use of the command line stopped being mandatory years ago. Everything that an average user is likely to do can be done though the GUI, just like other OSes.
WalterGR•8mo ago
How is that relevant to someone switching to Linux desktop? Android is also Linux and also not relevant.
brudgers•8mo ago
At one end are the people with the computer knowledge you mention.
At the other end are people with very little computer knowledge.
It's all the people in the middle with a little computer knowledge who will struggle when they try to manage files.
But the experts will expert and the uninformed will just use the computer to do the high level tasks they do (e.g. browse and email and store everything on the desktop). Modulo obscure hardware, Ubuntu will just work for them.
Which is not to say this is the year of the Linux desktop.