Eh, I think outside of potential language/accessibility/hardware incompatibility issues that I've read on blogs/comments, Linux works for the "average" user. It's the slightly "advanced" user like me who struggles, and the "truly advanced" who swim like a duck in water in any distro. Like the bell curve meme.

I say this cause if I literally only needed some apps and the browser, I wouldn't struggle. But I do tinker with things and end up needing slightly uncommon software/features that require me to use the CLI (and my dumbass can't remember commands), even though I'm mid at using the CLI. Meanwhile, people born with a usb-stick in hand love the CLI and use it for everything, even things I would try to avoid unless I felt it was easier.

A kid I know has put his grandparents on Fedora, and has no issues. It comes down to the person. If they can click some buttons and read, and only wanna use office, browser, and a app or two, they'd probably live. Yeah, you might have to tinker how it looks for them or put the apps on the desktop, but outside of that, it's simple.

Windows definitely doesn't "just work", I had to figure out Windows decided to kill my Wifi adapter whenever my laptop would go in sleep (god... why???). OneDrive is an ass, devices not wanting to connect (Bluetooth controllers), printers, etc. I'll give you that Mac works pretty well for those who like it, but I hate Apple and never got used to Mac. I still can't remove some shitty old virus scanner that doesn't work anyway and it can't update anymore, so it just rots on our computer. So like, Mac has their off-days with me too (one time FF nuked itself...)

I switched my grandma to Fedora and she's been able to use it without issue once I got it set up for her. She only really needs a browser and word processor anyway.

I think it mostly comes down to baby duck syndrome. People don't like using a package manager for programs on their desktop but are fine using an app store on their phone (which might literally be running linux). People simply expect a desktop computer to work a specific way and when things are in different spots and called different things they get upset. I think it's changing as more companies bake Linux into their product.

Steam Decks running Linux changes people's impression of it. If a mainstream company sold desktop computers that came with Linux preinstalled I'm sure its use would skyrocket. It's not that it's impossible for the average user to understand, It's that it's not the default option.

Both my parents use linux mint with 0 issues.

my dad is abysmal at tech, never sent an email, hates the concept of passwords etc, etc.

Other than resetting Facebook passwords and replacing a laptop battery, they have never needed a thing from me.

Out of curiosity, what is it that you mom wanted from a pc?

My parents only ever seem to use their web browser, which is identical to the windows experiance.

This is false information

YSK that like all demographics, grandmas occupy a range of intelligence options.

I think windows also kinda sucks for older people and less technologically inclined people.

Windows is what people are used to, doesn’t mean it is better. I think there are a bunch of linux distros that would work just as well for older people.

average user

So, while i first encountered this in software, because i was a nerdy little shit, I've found it in a lot of other things since gstting into otg activism:

We infantilize the shit out of people, and as long as they're kept in a cradle, they will not outgrow it, only wither and die when their tike comes.

Claiming agency for ones self is necessarily challenging. You will fuck up, casting off your chains and taking your first steps towards becoming an autonomous individual. It's just a thing. In politics/conscience, in software, in sexuality, in riding a bike; whatever. It's unavoidable, and, imo; usually fine. What i can do is help troubleshoot and make your ass keep backups.

You'll be better and more capable for having surpassed the challenge.

There was actually a major bifurcation in ux design around precisely this issue. Doug englebart on the not-evil side, steve 'toilet feet nevershower' jobs on the other.

Have you used it since the 90s? Something like Ubuntu does literally everything for you - drivers, printers, the works.

I agree that Linux Isn't stable enough, but having recently been asked to use Windows again, I have realized that it's no better