The artificial superiority of linux users is the main barrier to creating more linux users
this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2025
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I should move but I just haven't found a good time to uproot my main pc and have an extended period of downtime. I'm not really using windows exclusive stuff anymore.
back that data up
Who "won't" switch to Linux? Emigrating to Linux is just not as simple as these people believe.
Some of us have our entire lives on Windows that will take forever to migrate with all the obligations and the crushing weight of work that we have to handle in our day to day life.
How society would thrive if we had true freedom.
It's not moving to a different city or country lol. Upload what you need to a cloud and put linux on a usb and install. If this takes you longer than a week.... Then idk.
Only those apps that aren't linux compatible is a pain the ass
For a lemmy user it would probably take a night, like 4 hours
For people who don't know how to choose a boot drive it will take longer than a week to get the computer to where they had their windows machine, and probably like 20-30 hrs of work.
I literally don't know how to use Linux and I'm a moron
I am the smug well guy in this picture. You can complain and whine about Microsoft's shitty practices to people who have no way of effecting them..oooorr you can use a different OS. Kind of a "better to light a candle than to curse the darkness" deal.
Thereβs barely anything you βneedβ Windows for anymore. Especially as something like 99% of most peopleβs PC usage is web (including cloud-hosted Office type apps).
You say this, but you haven't met all the programs I have to use for work.
The solution to this is to organize with your coworkers and seize the means of production, and then vote to use only Free, Libre, and Open Source Software from now on. Easy peasy.
That's why the NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists.
I mean, at this point if you aren't already on a list you are probably a bad person.
Yeah, but if Microsoft spy on your work machine thatβs the companyβs problem. I still have to use Visual Studio, but not for anything out of work.
I mean, tbf, your other option is a violent takeover of the Microsoft corporation, complete with rifles and grenades and stuff, so like, by comparison "fucking install mint or fedora ffs" sounds a lot easier.
I mean yee I agree "microstof should just stop asshole," but good fucking luck with that..
Finally, someone is starting to get a hint of what needs to happen with all those monopolies.
"I wish I wish upon a star for a multi billion dollar monopoly to self-regulate"
My producer had used Linux for almost 5 years by now (on the 20th of this month), and I had used it for just around the same amount of time (shorter than him).
This is way truer than you think in my opinion....
As someone who considers themselves a "Linux-evangelist" and has run it exclusively on my devices for years, I really despise that the goto method for recruiting others is to shit on other OSs and claim that Linux beats them all. Whilst you're not wrong and all your arguments are true, nobody wants to listen to that.
The most succesful campaigns I have seen has been to gently introduce people to Linux and let them play around with it. Alot of people really just liked it, but where more open to adopt since they arrived at the conclusion on their own, instead of being force-fed it.
I think it highly depends on the person. I have never been a 'brand loyal' type person. It was very likely Linux users clowning on Windows and OS X that got me interested enough to check it out.
I do believe you though, some people even if you simply try to correct their misconceptions about Linux get super defensive. It's like Stockholm Syndrome, but for OS's.
The most succesful campaigns I have seen has been to gently introduce people to Linux and let them play around with it.
I think the Steam Deck is helping in this area. People turn on 'Desktop Mode' just to try it and see that it's not some scary esoteric thing, but basically works just like Windows or Mac.
Just today I had to explain to a coworker how I grew to love Linux because I was hating Windows, I don't hate Windows because I love Linux. And I don't want to hate Windows, I wish they were slowly becoming anti-user, but they keep adding (forcing) features that are so unfriendly to the user.
I had to help someone figure out why their new storage drive wasn't showing up, and it was because Windows has something called "Storage Spaces", turning "unused" storage drives into a sort of virtual raid local One Drive. It's a neat idea, but it hides the physical drive from File Explorer and Disk Management. That should be a feature you have to intentionally configure and enable, not something that can just happen automatically.
That is diabolical and gross. Definitely should be opt-in.
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Software and games.
No matter some people claims, there are always software/games that simply won't run on Linux or no alternative available.
My first genie wish is for the EU to declare Windows 7 public domain and set up a team to maintain security and driver updates for it.
What about instead working on react OS? (Not made in react)
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I mean, there are only ~~two~~ three realistic options (four if you are that one BSD user):
-
Either you use Windows and let Microsoft spy on you (or rely on unbloating scripts which might eventually break your OS and not even block all Microsoft spyware in the first place);
-
You buy overpriced Mac computer, that might also spy on you, who knows;
-
You use Linux.
Apple does spy on you, but unlike Google and Microsoft, they donβt sell your data.
But you still have to decide if you trust them with your info
Linux is the way to go* if you absolutely want to avoid any kind of spyware
*be mindful of the distro you choose. Some do have telemetry
If the telemetry is opt-in with a dialog window at first boot explaining why developers need telemetry, i don't see the problem. It's the difference between data freely given to help improve the system vs. data taken without consent to make you a better advertisement target.
edit: and i am pretty sure that the average FOSS-dev has way better ethics than the average microsoft data broker.
Apple does spy on you, but unlike Google and Microsoft, they donβt sell your data.
They are an American company though, so who knows how secure their data really is if a rich person decides they really want access.
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About 15 years ago I gave Linux a try, liked it and showed it to my wife who is less technical than me. She said she found it nicer than windows so I put it in the common computer and never looked back.
You can find as many excuses not to use Linux as I can give you reasons and solutions to try it... at the end of the day, try it, don't try it, it's your decision and you get to live with the consequences of those decisions. Me evangelizing about Linux is just as painful as hearing Window users complain about it yet unwilling to do anything but whine about it
If you do give it a try and have an issue, there are plenty places to get help for Linux better than the MS forums, this is undeniable.
Also, notice Windows is like bumper cars while Linux is like the entire vehicle fleet of the world, you want to drive a tank, you got it... wanna drive a super car, got it... wanna drive a hot air balloon that moves on good wishes, Linux has one distro just like that... you probably should not learn to drive in a Ferrari when you are late for work, choose a beginner friendly distro and move on from there at your pace if you feel like it
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Fair enough, but most solutions to restrict data gathering by windows are often worked around by Microsoft via eventual windows updates which is a perpetual risk. In my experience, using Linux is less of a headache in the long run.
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