Why don't more people use desktop Linux? I have a theory you might not like - eviltoast

I’m curious to hear thoughts on this. I agree for the most part, I just wish people would see the benefit of choice and be brave enough to try it out.

  • vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de
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    1 year ago

    you only view those as positives because you are not the average user. for the average user those are actually negatives. The average user’s answer to “do you prefer systemd or sysvinit?” would be “why the fuck should I care? I just want something that works. And I want that something to work the same whether it’s on my personal machine or my work machine, or my mom’s.”

    If you force the user to have to choose, most times they just won’t. So they choose something that does not offer the choice at all. Other operating systems do not require them to give an honest try at being able to try them.

    • db2@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      Your hypothetical user could throw a dart at a list of distros and just install the one it hits.

      • vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de
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        1 year ago

        but how does one ensure that their dart lands in the same spot as their employer’s and their mom’s? consistency is very important for the average user, at odds with us enthusiasts’ joy at being able to change anything.

        I am not against linux, (I use arch btw) but I accept the fact that most people don’t find computers as exciting as I do.

        • db2@sopuli.xyz
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          1 year ago

          Their employer is probably using Windows because they’re locked in so that’s a red herring. Their mom, if not using Windows for similar reasons, is probably using some variant of Ubuntu.

            • db2@sopuli.xyz
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              1 year ago

              What is your point? That you’re more enlightened than us plebs or something?

              • vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de
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                1 year ago

                you keep saying that the average user can do this or that. when the point isn’t whether they could, but whether they want to. The average user does not want to choose. Look up the paradox of choice.

                It’s hard for a system to become mainstream when techy people keep boasting to them that its biggest feature is the one they specifically do not want

                • db2@sopuli.xyz
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                  1 year ago

                  Maybe that’s just another feature. Eternal September sucks, as evidence by this very interaction.