this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux needs to grow. Stop telling people it's 'tech-y' or acting like you're more advanced for using it, you are scaring away people. Linux Mint can be used by a senile person perfectly.

Explain shortly the benefits, 'faster, more secure, easier to use, main choices of professionals and free'. Ask questions that let you know if they need to dual boot, 'do you use Adobe, anti-cheat games, or Microsoft Office', 'how new is your computer', 'do you use a Mac'.

And most importantly, offer to help them install.

They don't understand the concept of distros, just suggest Linux Mint LTS Cinnamon unless they're curious.

That's it, spread Linux to as many people as possible. The larger the marketshare, the better support we ALL get. We can fight enshittification. Take the time to spread it but don't force it on anyone.

AND STOP SCARING PEOPLE AWAY. Linux has no advertising money, it's up to us.

Offer family members or friends your help or copy and paste the below

how to install linux: 1) copy down your windows product key 2) backup your files to a harddrive 3) install the linux mint cinnamon iso from the linux mint website 4) use etcher (download from its website) to put the iso on a usb flash drive 5) go into bios 6) boot from the usb 7) erase the storage and install 8) press update all in the update manager 9) celebrate. it takes 15 minutes.

edit: LET ME RE-STATE, DO NOT FORCE IT ON ANYONE.

and if someone is at the level of ignorance (not in a derogatory fashion) that they dont know what a file even is genuinely dont bother unless theyre your parents cause youll be tech support for their 'how do i install the internet' questions.

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[–] abby@feddit.de 2 points 9 months ago

no one in my family or friend group is tech literate enough to follow most of those steps, let alone deal with all the tiny troubleshooting they're in for at every step.

[–] Dra@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago

Insert link to linus daily driver video

[–] Dirk@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago

I stopped having Linux discussions years ago. If people approach me and ask for my opinion I tell them to try Linux Mint and make backups before installation.

[–] dylanTheDeveloper@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Windows has fallen billions must use Android and IOS

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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (8 children)

I've been using Linux for 30 years now, certified to teach it and everything... Here's your problem:

"Stop telling people it's 'tech-y'"

Compared to Windows or MacOS, yes, it is very techy.

"offer to help them install." - If they need your help to install it they absolutely have no business running Linux.

"They don't understand the concept of distros" - If they have no understanding of distros, they have no business running Linux.

Think of it like this... if they can't wrap their head around a distro, what's going to happen when you try explaining a package manager?

I get the evangelism, but Linux simply is not for everyone, that's why Apple invented iPads.

[–] scratchandgame@lemmy.ml 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Compared to Windows or MacOS, yes, it is very techy.

Distros that have so much graphics like ubuntu and their linux mint isn't (much) :)

there's a guy even claimed "Linux is almost identical to Windows". That guy is a "masturbing monkey" that cannot care about anything other than privacy.

but Linux simply is not for everyone

correct. I think Torvalds would agree.

Many people have no concept of a computer, offer them running linux is destroying their business and render them jobless

And these guys are so hilarious: switching to linux but want to use windows app with wine !

Switching to linux only to decorate the desktop and neofetch!

They want to switch but never want to learn what a kernel is.

Switching to linux and claim about "free", "open source" but they hide their proprietary games

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[–] randomaside@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You know back in the day they used to sell Linux distributions on the shelf at software stores. I remember seeing a boxed copy of mandriva next to windows. Home computing used to be a hobby for some but that means there was commercial support at some point.

I do think that home users of "Linux" will need a commercial alternative that supports all their apps. ChromeOS looks like the current best alternative. If you can get people into chrome books, you're one step closer to getting them onto Linux.

[–] jackpot@lemmy.ml 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

what are the catches of chromeos

[–] force@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

everything. everything about it sucks. it's like the chastity cage of OSes, even moreso than Apple OSes

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[–] chepycou@rcsocial.net 1 points 9 months ago

@randomaside @jackpot I'd disagree, chromeOS really is the worst

[–] iriyan@lemmy.ml 1 points 9 months ago

In order for MS and Apple/ios to block people from booting linux on "their" machines, they came up with the secure-boot scheme. Commercial puppets and traitors of open free software rushed to be part of the scheme so all the rest of the linux distributions couldn't boot but their systems could.

Now we are accused of being elitists and not alarm new users of true garbage distributions?

If anyone is stuck trying to disable secure-boot and couldn't it is their own damn fault for buying garbage machines. Gigabyte (not Gigabit) has created some monstrosities of bios software that look like a video game and it is hard to count in how many places you have to disable the crap in order to boot open and free linux.

[–] scratchandgame@lemmy.ml 1 points 9 months ago

My own opinion, won't fit with post like this

Stop telling people it’s ‘tech-y’ or acting like you’re more advanced for using it, you are scaring away people

So lucky that OpenBSD never cared if anyone used the operating system or not

The operating system is for developers, to fit developers' need

That’s it, spread Linux to as many people as possible. The larger the marketshare, the better support we ALL get

the better support for single root partition... UNIX have a removable filesystem, you can use different partition for / and /usr and /usr/local and /var and /home but hardly any distro can offer that. They all use a single root partition for everything just like windows use a single C:. Spliting /home is just like spliting D:

quality is better than quantity... look at the current state of linux communities (and distros too!) make me switched to BSD

10 person knows how to code python or DOS' C (Turbo C, obsolete) might be better than 100 person that use linux like they would use windows (but think themselves smart)

And if everyone is going to use wine then you should use Windows instead. I think it is much more stable and secure to run windows apps natively

  1. copy down your windows product key

can't drop windows entirely? h-

[–] _sideffect@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I was just about to install Linux mint (once I free up space on my drive, that is)

[–] jackpot@lemmy.ml 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

get the edge version if youre running new hardware and use the update manager the second you first boot

[–] _sideffect@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Im installing it next to my current install of windows, but I'm going to make a new partition

I never heard of the edge version

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