this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2023
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Linux

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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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[–] [email protected] 133 points 1 year ago (4 children)

#1 is just not being the default for 99% of devices. If someone gets a new computer, why would they go through the effort of installing a new os when the one it comes with works fine? Hell, I bet at least 50% of people in the market for a pc don't even know what an OS is.

[–] jimmy90 45 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Agreed. Android and chrome os are used happily by 10s of millions without any idea it's a Linux distro

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I bet if small, cheap netbooks came out running mint or fedora or something people wouldn't even or know or care that it was Linux.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In middle school I had a USB drive with Linux Mint installed on it which I was using on school PCs. We only used those PCs for internet browsing and office. Not a single soul noticed it wasn't Windows. Teacher only noticed 2 differences, "You have different version of Office installed here." and also gave me a note for "Changing wallpaper" which was strictly prohibited for some reason.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

which was strictly prohibited

It was probably due to some goober like me changing it to Scarlett Johansson's bikini pics. I'm sorry.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] jimmy90 4 points 1 year ago

Absolutely. In fact i think everyone is hoping steam os will be the distro to make the big push onto desktop because of the gaming and another just works kind of interface

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago

...the steamdeck isn't a netbook.

[–] PlutoniumAcid 1 points 1 year ago

Indeed, many Netbooks come with a firmware dual boot. Besides the crappy Windows lite edition, there's a tiny instant-on Linux too. Most people don't use that, but it's there.

[–] PlutoniumAcid 1 points 1 year ago

Indeed, many Netbooks come with a firmware dual boot. Besides the crappy Windows lite edition, there's a tiny instant-on Linux too. Most people don't use that, but it's there.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

Which actually means Linux is being successfully adopted by the general public in a similar way to windows as a general use system that doesn't require a lot of technical knowledge.

Fully customizable distress will never be popular with the general public. They want systems that just do the general stuff and have it work automatically.

[–] DharkStare 17 points 1 year ago

Of course they know what an OS is. There's only two of them: Apple and Microsoft.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

I bet at least 50% of people in the market for a pc don't even know what an OS is.

70%*

[–] thecapyking 1 points 1 year ago

my first thought actually pointed to common OS on work devices, being Windows i’d assume a majority of the time, i’d imagine a large portion of the older population were introduced to computers in a workplace setting. But your answer makes a bit more sense.