Don’t get me wrong. I love Linux and FOSS. I have been using and installing distros on my own since I was 12. Now that I’m working in tech-related positions, after the Reddit migration happened, etc. I recovered my interest in all the Linux environment. I use Ubuntu as my main operating system in my Desktop, but I always end up feeling very limited. There’s always software I can’t use properly (and not just Windows stuff), some stuff badly configured with weird error messages… last time I was not able to even use the apt command. Sometimes I lack time and energy for troubleshooting and sometimes I just fail at it.
I usually end up in need of redoing a fresh install until it breaks up again. Maybe Linux is not good for beginners working full time? Maybe we should do something like that Cisco course that teaches you the basic commands?
No “average person” troubleshoots their own Windows machine, but they know someone who can. if you install Linux on someone’s machine, you are their tech support. Most of the time that’s fine, because Linux is pretty damn reliable. But when something goes wrong an average person is going to have a harder time finding support.
And on top of that, almost all people are familiar with Windows or MacOS, the chances of you being able to ask the person next to you about a problem and them being familiar with windows or mac is MUCH higher than with Linux. Their popularity is a massive advantage
That aside, almost every program you can think of has a windows version and 90% of the time also a Mac version. Linux support has gotten very good over the years but it’s still not close to Windows, and that translates to better support for Windows as well
Disagree. My entire family are average users who can troubleshoot their pc for the most part. If the problem is more complex, they will call me up, but they can handle their own. But I know a terminal still overwhelms them.