Then why isn’t Linux more mainstream … Many corporations use Linux for their server architecture and their computer operating systems … Linux is still at a 6% installed user base.
Sorry … even with my college degree in computer sciences, and my background in electrical engineering, I ended up moving towards the creative fields, so yep I accept the term “normie”
The non-server computers the enterprise customer buys is still mostly Windows 11 these days.
Why use Windows as it becomes more garbage like. Why not use Linux … what is lacking in Linux that stops it’s adoption. I know the ever growing abyssal mire that is Office 365, which is quickly becoming a web based system. Especially since both HP and Dell, the largest corporate outfitters offer Linux as an optional OS install to Windows … in many cases it even lowers the cost of the computer a few dollars.
All in good time. Just let windows keep getting worse, and watch what happens as Linux continues to get better.
The problem will solve itself 
One interesting way to look at the question:
What do MSFT and AAPL need to do to shed enough of their current user base for linux desktops to overtake, say, Apple? Maybe both those companies are already on the path…
I can’t think if anything I can do on a linux desktop today that I wasn’t doing in like 2005, outside of lack of applications - and that’s not really an OS problem. Maybe a toolkit problem, perhaps. But not an inherent OS problem.
Installation is easier than Windows. Performance is better than Windows. The cost is free.
Linux’s problem is decent apps.
There are some gems, but for example areas where support just isn’t there, that impact my day on linux:
That’s my niche where macOS just works better.
If I was (more of) an audio/video person, I’m sure that the apps I get for free with macOS (e.g., iMovie, GarageBand) are superior than what I’ve ever seen on Linux.
Basic video edits on the Mac are fine out of the box. On Linux, a new user will have to find/download a bunch of apps from the package manager and 90% of them will suck…
Ease of use, user friendliness, quality software made to be used by humans, it has to look nice, and no one wants to spend ages in a command line and adding obscure PPAs…
As far as Apple users are concerned … they have grown past the grass-roots-esque evangelism, and have gone full on zealot. Good luck with them leaving the walled garden. The Green Bubble, Blue Bubble debate proves that.
Yeah true, I have, but I have noticed comments by many saying they just can’t because their custom special sauce plugins are written exclusively for Adobe. They can’t get out!
that is a valid reason. power users will stick with the flow that works for them.
I am still stuck needing a windows or mac instance for ableton.
This has always been my opinion, the whole ecosystem is too fragmented to get the majority to move. It has always been that, and lack of software and game support. Because it is so fragmented is why I think the necessary game and software support has taken so long.
The software and games issues are somewhat fixed now, but as you also said, Microsoft needs to offer an office suite in order to get most businesses that use Windows to even consider switching. It will happen eventually I think, but still not for a while. And until then most places just aren’t going to consider learning new software. On the home front its same thing, people want their game to be compatible and things like Photoshop and random other hobby apps to function. Things which are just now only halfway there finally on Linux. Along the same vein of using software people are used to and know, I realize that quite a few issues can be worked through and made to work, but most people simply don’t have time for crap like that. They want their piece of software to be already compatible, available, and just download and function. And that is a big reason why the average user wont move.
I am in the middle of building a new computer and my old one is actually going into the same new chassis and I am really going to give it a best effort (again, for the 5th time) to try and use Linux as a daily driver, but I already did some basic tests on a couple distros and found half the games I want to play cant be installed and it is way too much work to be worth my time to try and make them function. So I feel like I am going to run into the same issues again and just give up. But that’s why my old PC is going in the same chassis as my new one and attached to the same monitor, to give this try the best chance possible for success by making it easy to jump back to Windows for the half my games that wont run on Linux.
Honestly, i don’t think linux will have to dooo anything. If Windows starts putting ads right into their OS, and continues to “improve it” with garbage choices. People will move. Especially if they can use any old piece of hardware. more and more people are being born into a less windows oriented world every day.
I think the current main driving forces would be
ChromeOS
Like it or not, it’s Linux and backed by Google, currently making big gains in the low end laptop segment. The cooperation between Valve and Google for Steam on ChromeOS leads nicely into the next point.
Valve and Proton
Gaming is a big usecase for windows and if Valve can get the vast majority of games working through Proton then that’s one big barrier down
How fast can Windows self destruct
How fast can Microsoft turn Windows into a steaming pile of crap no one wants to use (they seem to be making very good progress here)
Tech illiterate friendly Linux distros
Linux distros that are friendly to normies
The Chinese Government
The Chinese Government is putting a lot of work into migrating to Linux which will create a large user base for desktop Linux installs in the form of government machines.
The Paradigm Shift to Webapps
With more and more things done through a browser, the host operating system will matter less and less.
The main issue with Linux I think is the install base size. The more users we have, the more developers would be willing to make software for Linux, which would ultimately make Linux viable to more users and the cycle continues.
The masses will whine about ads/privacy and just suck it up anyway or install dodgy third party hacks to disable them.
Google/meta existing is proof of this.
In this completely unscientific poll with a sample size of only 14: the general consensus seems to be “I don’t care as long as it works”
I don’t have a clear answer, but definitely it needs to start to just work out of the box.
I don’t see myself changing to Linux desktop anytime soon. I have tried countless times and essentially gave up. It’s not even about apps - except for games, everything I use on desktop is either FOSS, or has a Linux version already. But the driver and general user experience… Let’s just say there’s a lot of room for improvement.
I’m no stranger to Linux. I’ve been experimenting with it since I’ve been 14 and I’m 32 now. But for the past 6 years or so, I’m only installing it in non-DE environments (servers, VMs) or as DE VMs. On desktops and laptops I’m going for win 10 + WSL (1) which gives me near native GNU/Linux(*) experience in console, and desktop experience that just works.
Display drivers that just work.
Controller drivers that work out of the box.
Printers that work by just plugging them in, or by providing local DNS names.
Power management that won’t kill the battery, but can provide the performance when needed.
Network that doesn’t just randomly stop working after an update.
Ads? Invasive AI stuff? Haven’t experienced it too much, but then again I’m avoiding any “Home” licensing like fire (it’s all pro/edu/enterprise for me). I do recall being furious about having to uninstall candy crush after an update, but I also remember being even more furious after an upgrade removed cinnamon due to a package conflict.
I’ll reevaluate my choices a year after Microsoft sunsets security updates for 10, but until then I’m not moving anywhere.
*) except not really Linux, WSL1 only “emulates” the kernel.
Run AMD and Printers that don’t suck and this has already been a thing for some years now.
AMD display drivers and printing are legitimately easier than on Windows.
