StatCounter reported that desktop Linux reached over 4% market share for the first time. I've used Linux for years. Here's why I think it's finally catching on with more people.
A major reason that Windows is “popular” is because it’s pre-installed on desktops and laptops. Users don’t have a choice when they go to the store to buy a laptop for doing banking stuff or save pictures from their old camcorder.
It’s the same way with browsers. IE was “popular”, but only because that was the browser that was pre-installed on Windows. The IE browser was complete shit.
Imagine a “Choose your Browser”-style pop-up, but for your OS on first boot. I’d really love to see it, partially mostly for the amount of pure chaos it would cause.
Honestly, it really is. Lots of people prefer a specific browser, for different reasons. And a lot of people use more than 1 browser as well.
It could be similar to the ‘choose your search engine’ was supposed to help against googles monopoly (in eu) https://i.imgur.com/3wS6Sai.png
however i dont see this coming to windows or macos, because of those companies focus on being the only company in the world. but this could easily be used on linux. (even though most users of linux prefer firefox, i’d guess)
That’s not the segment I am talking about. I’m talking about “regular folks”, who know nothing about IT, but need a laptop for whatever reason. Checking their bank, mail… That’s the majority of Windows users. Not the PC builder. They probably don’t even know what “Windows” is, if you asked them.
If Linux were pre-installed on PC’s, most people wouldn’t even notice a difference, because all they need is a browser and maybe an office suite, for very simple work.
I’ve said this before, but if there was a basic distro that named programs things like Internet Browser and Letter Writer, a massive amount of normal computer users could be switched fairly easily.
The vast majority of people use their computer to launch a browser and maybe use a word processor every now and then. It’s why the Chromebook type laptops are so popular - they do everything that most people want.
Gaming PC means video games, video games have historically been Windows or maybe Mac compatible. Only in the past couple years have game makers started making Linux compatibility a priority, and even then its a small percentage.
Until all systems align, Windows will continue to dominate. But things like HTML5 over Flash are helping those efforts!
In theory, in the EU, as well as some other places, you have the right to get refunded for Windows if you don’t want it. In practice that’s often hard to pull off in most shops.
What needs to happen is that all the laptop makers, HP, Lenovo Acer etc. start having Linux pre-installed on their laptops in the stores. That probably won’t happen, as I imagine that Microsoft pays these companies to sell their laptops with Windows on them.
A major reason that Windows is “popular” is because it’s pre-installed on desktops and laptops
I think thats being a bit disingenuous
its also that Windows has always been easy to use because it has an good GUI thats easy to navigate and figure things out with. You can sit anyone in front of a windows machine and they can figure out how to use it and what to do in relatively short order without spending half the time in internet searches or trying to decipher esoteric terminal commands. Its easily one of the best point/click/discover UIs as far as OS’s go.
And its understandable that it easy, considering they’ve probably poured billions of dollars into making the GUI easy to understand and use for any layperson since windows 95 began development and the move away from dos command line.
Sadly their GUI started to decline with Windows 10, and I have not touched 11 with a 10 foot pole, so I dont know how good/bad it is…but I wouldnt be surprised if its worse than 10.
I think you are partially right, but I think the only reason Windows is easier for the user, is because they are pre-exposed to Windows.
If you took someone, who has zero knowledge of any OS or its GUI, I honestly doubt that Windows would be better.
It’s the same if you take a person who has only known MacOS their whole life and ask them to navigate in Windows… or vice versa… You won’t see positive results.
There was a time 10-20 years ago when what you said wasnt a joke, but a promise and a threat, lol.
Linux has come a long way in that time. Not just technically, but usability wise, and even in the mellowing-the-fuck-out of the community that, at a time, were very aggressively against making things more user friendly and letting people into their exclusive technical club.
and I’m glad for it. Its good for the OS, and its good for its future, and its good for the community.
A major reason that Windows is “popular” is because it’s pre-installed on desktops and laptops. Users don’t have a choice when they go to the store to buy a laptop for doing banking stuff or save pictures from their old camcorder.
It’s the same way with browsers. IE was “popular”, but only because that was the browser that was pre-installed on Windows. The IE browser was complete shit.
Imagine a “Choose your Browser”-style pop-up, but for your OS on first boot. I’d really love to see it, partially mostly for the amount of pure chaos it would cause.
This is a good idea.
Honestly, it really is. Lots of people prefer a specific browser, for different reasons. And a lot of people use more than 1 browser as well.
It could be similar to the ‘choose your search engine’ was supposed to help against googles monopoly (in eu) https://i.imgur.com/3wS6Sai.png
however i dont see this coming to windows or macos, because of those companies focus on being the only company in the world. but this could easily be used on linux. (even though most users of linux prefer firefox, i’d guess)
That’s actually a good idea.
Especially imagine it showing the price. If you buy a laptop with windows pre-installed, you also paid for a license.
When people build new gaming pc they still choose to install windows, because everything just works.
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You can hate microsoft telemetry and bloatware all you want but Hardware and software compatibility is better on windows. It is a fact.
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That’s not the segment I am talking about. I’m talking about “regular folks”, who know nothing about IT, but need a laptop for whatever reason. Checking their bank, mail… That’s the majority of Windows users. Not the PC builder. They probably don’t even know what “Windows” is, if you asked them.
If Linux were pre-installed on PC’s, most people wouldn’t even notice a difference, because all they need is a browser and maybe an office suite, for very simple work.
I’ve said this before, but if there was a basic distro that named programs things like Internet Browser and Letter Writer, a massive amount of normal computer users could be switched fairly easily.
The vast majority of people use their computer to launch a browser and maybe use a word processor every now and then. It’s why the Chromebook type laptops are so popular - they do everything that most people want.
Gaming PC means video games, video games have historically been Windows or maybe Mac compatible. Only in the past couple years have game makers started making Linux compatibility a priority, and even then its a small percentage.
Until all systems align, Windows will continue to dominate. But things like HTML5 over Flash are helping those efforts!
Most things*
Definitely not everything.
In theory, in the EU, as well as some other places, you have the right to get refunded for Windows if you don’t want it. In practice that’s often hard to pull off in most shops.
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What needs to happen is that all the laptop makers, HP, Lenovo Acer etc. start having Linux pre-installed on their laptops in the stores. That probably won’t happen, as I imagine that Microsoft pays these companies to sell their laptops with Windows on them.
I think thats being a bit disingenuous
its also that Windows has always been easy to use because it has an good GUI thats easy to navigate and figure things out with. You can sit anyone in front of a windows machine and they can figure out how to use it and what to do in relatively short order without spending half the time in internet searches or trying to decipher esoteric terminal commands. Its easily one of the best point/click/discover UIs as far as OS’s go.
And its understandable that it easy, considering they’ve probably poured billions of dollars into making the GUI easy to understand and use for any layperson since windows 95 began development and the move away from dos command line.
Sadly their GUI started to decline with Windows 10, and I have not touched 11 with a 10 foot pole, so I dont know how good/bad it is…but I wouldnt be surprised if its worse than 10.
I think you are partially right, but I think the only reason Windows is easier for the user, is because they are pre-exposed to Windows.
If you took someone, who has zero knowledge of any OS or its GUI, I honestly doubt that Windows would be better.
It’s the same if you take a person who has only known MacOS their whole life and ask them to navigate in Windows… or vice versa… You won’t see positive results.
Watch out son, don’t you know your in Linux land (Lemmy)? You’re likely to get shot for them thar words. /s
There was a time 10-20 years ago when what you said wasnt a joke, but a promise and a threat, lol.
Linux has come a long way in that time. Not just technically, but usability wise, and even in the mellowing-the-fuck-out of the community that, at a time, were very aggressively against making things more user friendly and letting people into their exclusive technical club.
and I’m glad for it. Its good for the OS, and its good for its future, and its good for the community.