You know how it goes - after a while, nobody is replying to OP anymore. Just having a slightly ranty chat here.
OP never even logged in anymore after writing that - I guess they saw the error of their ways.

Well this is really every single linux user on his first start, even I had a bad opinion about linux, that was because i didnt try it, until i tried it i loved it, everything was easy i really thought that linux was for hackermans back then, i didnt have nvidia (actually i had no gpu drivers with linux and im still living with it), for nvidia you can go on mint and click a few buttons in the drivers program and select the proprietary, see! how easy is that, bash is easy i know a few stuff, if statments, yeah, very easy my bro dont worry you are gonna have a good linux experience if you dual boot.

Linux is not harder than Windows and Windows is not harder than Linux. It's just what you are used to, I use Linux for my primary OS and when I have to troubleshoot my wife's Windows 11 laptop there is usually a lot of cursing involved. (On a side note, anyone here know a good forum for Windows questions? Something similar to LinuxQuestions but for windows).

When I started with Linux it was the other way round, for the longest time I kept trying to do things the 'Windows way' and it didn't always work. However, once you take time and explore the system the flexibility it gives you is fantastic. Don't like the Desktop UI, change to a different one, don't like the file manager, use a different one etc etc.

I think modern forms of Windows are much harder than Linux. The last Windows I used was Windows 98 (that dates me!) and I liked it. Yes, it crashed rather a lot but it was easy to use. But if someone lent me a modern computer with Windows 10 on it, I don't think I would have a monkey's chance of maintaining it.

not sure if you are trolling or not.

1. My daughter would disagree. After 1 week with win10 she demanded I put Linux on her new laptop.

2. Check out PopOS! they have a kernal with NVIDIA drivers built in. Works great. Its the #1 reason I moved to it over 2 years ago.

3. Bash is bash, plenty of google sites out in the world to help with that. Do a bit of reading and dont be afraid to ask here for help. On more than one occasion I have started on a script, ran into issues, and came here for help and guidance. This forum is fantastic for helping with scripting.

I think the correct title would be: "Linux is not ready yet for the home user. What can we do to solve this problem?".
Unfortunately, the Linux Documentation Project is much outdated.

I use Linux for more than 10 years. I am happy with it but I cannot recommend it to the general user yet. The enormous number of distributions overwhelms the beginning users.

LibreOffice is not yet famous enough although it made a great shot as a replacement for MS Office. There are a lot of open-source alternatives to Windows applications but they lack a concentrated approach to dealing with the use cases. The wiki of LQ is a great resource. Another one is https://alternativeto.net/.

IMHO, you don't need to read about the command line anymore. A lot of software centres for Linux have emerged. Simplifying the way of dealing with Linux is much needed now.
Windows 11 will not be a great option for a great number of users after the Windows 10 update disasters. ReactOS and HaikuOS are in the making process and they aren't mature enough yet.

Linux has a great chance to take over in the following years but a lot of work has to be done to decrease its shortcomings.

Linux gurus need to listen to the newbies patiently. We are all in the same boat.

After Adobe changed its business plan to subscriptions, many Photoshop users tried GIMP as an alternative but it was too different for them. Glimpse project is not complete yet. It needs much time and effort to be ready. Thus the Linux community missed a chance to gain more users.

The eminent inflation is a great chance to showcase the Raspberry Pi devices.

The ability of Linux to run smoothly on old machines will be much needed in the future. Debian-based distros will be cheerfully received because they are lightweight.

Please, don't criticize new users harshly. They need Linux as much as you do, gurus. Let's work together to make the Linux community more favorable to newbies.

I have always suggested dividing the free software principle into two principles; open-source software and open-source OSes. Windows users need to be acquainted with LibreOffice, Pinta, Krita, OpenShot, Shotcut, Olive video editor, and Natron video editor. They can use them on their main Os (Windows or Mac) the move to Linux if they want to.

The upcoming inflation crisis and the Ukrainian War will create a great demand for open-source software.

Sorry for my lengthy sentences but I think it is much needed. Please, be gentle in your answers. I don't have any bad intentions.

Linux has been ready for a home user for 18 or so years. I have used it that long. Firefox v1 worked better than internet explorer v6 back then.

The man pages for your distro are up to date.
Look at
Also look a the wiki, instructions, guides for your distro.

Or the newbies need to study a little and learn how to function in a *nix environment. Linux does not want to be microsoft windows or mac. I'm glad of that. Search LQ with google, that is what it is for.
One of the greatest things about Linux. The ability to make a shell script, python script, awk script, perl script to do anything. And all the little cli tools that work in it. awk, sed, grep, cut, sort, curl, wget, etc. that will parse something and be done with it. The ability to run shells, sub shells, do redirects, make variables, do math, make functions, write to files, parse html/xml, just fabulous.
http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/

Linux works great and does not have shortcomings compared to microsoft. It works a lot better that windows. And without forced updates, proprietary formats, the expense, forced hardware upgrades, and the arrogance of microsoft.

I don't think Linux should worry about taking over. Just keep making a really good product that is open for anyone to use and expand upon. I sure am grateful for it. There are a lot of people that would rather use windows. That is what it is for.

Some users think that some windows software works better for them. They should use windows then. Or, they could run a copy of windows in a virtual machine. All modern machines gave jigabytes of RAM now days. I got a throw away machine last year, it has 24GB of RAM in it. No kidding.

Is that a joke? Linux will run on 20 year old machines. A 32 bit version will. Windows 11 may not run on a 5 year old machine. I've got a 5 year old HP notebook, I just looked, It does not meet this, TPM.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wind...specifications
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...7-ae6b0c90645c

And, if you have the Home Edition, you have to have a microsoft account. Nice.

Welcome to Linux. Might take you a year to get up to speed.

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The original post was obviously either by a troll, or some kid who was not ready to learn about Linux because they had not finished learning about anything else. Had they STARTED with Linux they would have been far more informed. Most of their post was not about Linux, but their own ignorance!


Can we just let it die now?

Perhaps @function_ is a function: someone's sociology bot, harvesting reactions to create advertising profiles...

Or perhaps @function_ is an LQ oldie, having fun on April 1st

I think there is some misunderstanding here. I love Linux. I want to spread the word but this attitude makes new users afraid of dipping their toes into Linux. I am talking adaptation.
Do you expect an architect, a physician, a journalist or a chemist to dedicate some time to learn the command line and discard the GUI tools available to them?

I don't know which country you live in but if you asked your neighbours or anyone walking in the street about Linux or Arch Linux don't be surprised to find them know anything about it. They may think it is a brand of a refrigerator or even a car. All of them have heard about Apple and Mac.

I am criticizing anyone. I am still can't single-boot a Linux distro on any machine I have because I am pretty sure that I may need Windows someday.

Still, Google drive doesn't have a desktop client for Linux. So do Onedrive. My point is: that Linux needs to leave the system-administration-only domain and enter the general-use domain.

Why don't major corporations such as Google, Adobe, Corel and Microsoft take Linux into account when producing their flagship products?


How many Windows users know about the Raspberry Pi?

Before Steam for Linux appeared in 2012, how many games other than open-source games were available to Linux users?

I use Linux since 2005. I still remember having to type some commands just to make a directory and mount a CD or DVD in it.

Linux has evolved over the past 10 years but it is still not popular enough.
I know that and I agree completely with you but this doesn't mean it doesn't need to be easier to use.
I have Linux installed on a netbook from 2010. I know for sure that Linux runs very well on old machines but how many Windows users know about Linux?

I know that for sure but when a Windows 10 user decides to switch to Linux, which distro will he choose? Of the overwhelming number of distros available, how many of them are suitable for a Linux newbie? Will it be vanilla Ubuntu or a distro based on Ubuntu: Linux Mint, PopOS!, Elementary OS, Linux Lite or Zorin OS? What exactly will represent the Word "Linux" here?

Will this user try a Debian-bassed distro? Is vanilla Debian suitable for him? Will he decide to use MX Linux or AntiX? Which DE will he use? XFCE, KDE or Fluxbox? Is openbox WM a suitable option? Is it worth trying Crunchbang++ or Sparky Linux? Will he give a distro from BunsenLabs a shot?

First, he will need to know what a DE is? What is the difference between a wm and DE? Before that, he needs to understand what is a kernel first? Don't forget, he is a physician, chemist or a journalist. He has to ditch a mouse-controlled PC with Windows and start to use the command line which he doesn't need. And of course, he needs to understand what an iso file is, and how to flash it to a USB drive to be able to install Linux on his machine. A general understanding of filesystems will be very useful.

It took me "years" to get up to speed, not one year. How many like me are ready to invest time and effort to learn Linux the hard way?

After more than 10 years with Linux, no one of my neighbours, friends or acquaintances knows anything about Linux.

GIMP is the embodiment of the principle: "difference for the sake of difference only".

I am not asking every Windows user to use Linux or been try it. General recognition of Linux is much appreciated these days.

Not every Linux user is ready to be a guru nor does he have the time to be.

I suggest recognizing one or two distros as suitable candidates for the newbie.

Again, I love Linux. I am very good at using it but it needs to be more popular. Using it in the context of networks, corporations, and system administration use cases is not enough anymore. Because of the wrong belief that it is server-only operating, many companies are not interested in making Linux drivers for their hardware. Many application doesn't have Linux ports because of that wrong belief.

Still, you can't tell from the box the printer or the MFP if it will be Linux-compatible. You can easily know if it will be MacOSX-compatible from a single look at the box. You will need a thorough online search to find out whether it is Linux-supported or not.

Remember how many years did it take to make USB ports work in Linux. Do you remember the Fax modem dilemma?

Can you buy any printer online or from any computer mall and be sure 100% it will work with Linux? You will be pretty sure it will work on Windows and sometimes Mac OSX if this was printed on the box.

Does that include PulseAudio having problems with audio on HDMI/DP? This is the reason Fedora is using Pipewire now. Many users (including me) had problems with PulseAudio.

As long as Linux is not widely recognisable to the general user as a viable option, software companies will not take it into account when making software or drivers for their hardware.

When I talk about Linux outside CS circles, I feel like I am a space alien. No one knows what I am talking about.

I say that out of my love for Linux. I am sad because Linux offers great solutions to many of Windows problems but it is still underrated.

Sorry, I meant Fax modem not usb modem.
Linux has evolved over the past 10 years but it is still not popular enough although it is good enough.

I'd say the only hassle in linux is getting office to work, but that is not a hassle anymore as office is now on the web, you just need a microsoft account.
Also for windows 11 you can disable tpm using a registry hack, thats just too much for the newbie, they just like murdering their reputation (rep moment) this is what companies exist for, killing themselfs by using existing trends that are popular, but are cringe rn, thats why panos put tiktok on the top of the microsoft store, ill just say microsoft was great on the xp era, but started to fall down on the later versions.
Also its april fools
and this is not an april fool, why would i do an april fools for info ?

Interesting statement.
Are you, perchance, OP with a new account?

1 members found this post helpful.

Im kinda new to LQ, i use GNOME 42 on Arch and I use Windows.

Wait wait.
The original poster "Function_" did not answer the whole time.
He did not confirm he got an "F" (we should not speculate.. warf warf.. my dog is laughing while I am writing.. I dont understand why).
I was expecting he would find a drunken idiot for making his homework (see post 24). No one came in? Thats not fun.
So, girls and boys, if any movement or sign of the original poster, hopefully we will give our best to help.
Or, the most positive speculation is, her/his dad helped and there was no reason to ask again here.
Then, I am happy.

1 members found this post helpful.