I installed Debian + KDE on my mom’s laptop. She hasn’t had a complaint since. How tech-savvy is she, you ask? I’m sitting with her right now, so out of politeness she put on headphones to watch her favorite soap opera. Mind you, the headphones weren’t plugged into the laptop. She was sitting there, headphones on her head, sound coming through the speakers, watching her soaps like this is how it’s meant to be done.

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[–] BottleOfAlkahest@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago (3 children)

I feel like this gets so close to understanding why non-technical people don't use Linux. I had a class once in college I had to use Linux for so I have used it. It wouldn't be hard at all to use Linux for what I use my computer for everyday. So if my laptop come with Linux or someone else installed Linux on it I'd be fine. I might not even notice right away honestly.

The barrier isn't using Linux, the barrier is installing Linux in the first place. Windows also works fine for the random low level stuff I use my laptop to do, so why would I go out of my way to install Linux when it would improve my life 0% and be a huge boring hassle for me?

[–] strawberry@kbin.run 5 points 7 months ago (2 children)

install process for Linux is easier imo. no bullshit licence agreements, just give it a disk to install onto, set your language, and it handles the rest

[–] btr_fan87@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

I agree it's easy now. For non-technical people who aren't interested in tech, even that would be too much. They're not building their own computers, and prebuilts almost always come with Windows. Going out of their way at all and learning to switch from Windows, which works fine for their needs, to something else doesn't make sense to them.

[–] BottleOfAlkahest@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I buy a new laptop and I open it. It's running windows as soon as I turn it on. How is that easier than having to go find something to install? If I turned on a brand new laptop and it was running Linux then I'd just use Linux. I wouldn't bother going to find windows to download it either.

[–] strawberry@kbin.run 4 points 7 months ago

yeah I misunderstood. windows being preinstalled definetly makes it easier to use windows lol

[–] alyth@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Sooner or later, a non-techy user is going to ask their techy friend for advice because their Windows PC is slow, full of spam, or they can't find anything after an automatic update.

At that point you might just offer to install Linux for them.

[–] BottleOfAlkahest@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I have never had to ask someone for help with my laptop even after an update. As far as I can tell my PC isnt slow and Ive never noticed spam. I just don't use/push my laptop enough for that to have ever been a problem.

That said, if someone installed Linux for me and set it up? I'd use Linux. The operating system really doesn't impact my use of the laptop. The point I've been trying to make, and that seems to be largely being lost on the angry Linux bros on lemmy, is that using Linux isn't the barrier and most people would use Linux- if it came pre-installed. Installation is the barrier, not use. If you put it on family/friends computers they'll probably use it just fine. They just aren't gonna bother learning to install it themselves.

[–] alyth@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

using Linux isn't the barrier and most people would use Linux- if it came pre-installed. Installation is the barrier, not use.

That's a very important and apt analysis. Thanks for sharing your perspective!

As for spam, I was actually referring to things that Windows decided to build into the interface that the user may not like: Low quality news, Cortana, Copilot, calls to create an online account.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Kinda shows you haven't actually installed Linux, if ever, in the last 10 years

[–] BottleOfAlkahest@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, that's kinda my point. Why would I? If it came on laptops out of the box? I'd use it. But as someone whose job description lists excel as "a plus, not required" Why would I have installed Linux in the past 10 years?

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

Windows is trash