Stop being elitist, spread Linux!

Linux needs to grow. Stop telling people it's 'tech-y' or acting like you're more advanced for using it, you are scaring away people. Linux Mint can be used by a senile person perfectly.

Explain shortly the benefits, 'faster, more secure, easier to use, main choices of professionals and free'. Ask questions that let you know if they need to dual boot, 'do you use Adobe, anti-cheat games, or Microsoft Office', 'how new is your computer', 'do you use a Mac'.

And most importantly, offer to help them install.

They don't understand the concept of distros, just suggest Linux Mint LTS Cinnamon unless they're curious.

That's it, spread Linux to as many people as possible. The larger the marketshare, the better support we ALL get. We can fight enshittification. Take the time to spread it but don't force it on anyone.

AND STOP SCARING PEOPLE AWAY.
Linux has no advertising money, it's up to us.

Offer family members or friends your help or copy and paste the below

how to install linux: 1) copy down your windows product key 2) backup your files to a harddrive 3) install the linux mint cinnamon iso from the linux mint website 4) use etcher (download from its website) to put the iso on a usb flash drive 5) go into bios 6) boot from the usb 7) erase the storage and install 8) press update all in the update manager 9) celebrate. it takes 15 minutes.

edit:
LET ME RE-STATE, DO NOT FORCE IT ON ANYONE.

and if someone is at the level of ignorance (not in a derogatory fashion) that they dont know what a file even is genuinely dont bother unless theyre your parents cause youll be tech support for their 'how do i install the internet' questions.

dylanTheDeveloper ,
@dylanTheDeveloper@lemmy.world avatar

Windows has fallen billions must use Android and IOS

jackpot OP ,
@jackpot@lemmy.ml avatar

grapheneos

Kristof12 ,
@Kristof12@lemmy.ml avatar

Billions need to switch to linux to save the planet

_sideffect ,

I was just about to install Linux mint (once I free up space on my drive, that is)

jackpot OP ,
@jackpot@lemmy.ml avatar

get the edge version if youre running new hardware and use the update manager the second you first boot

_sideffect ,

Im installing it next to my current install of windows, but I'm going to make a new partition

I never heard of the edge version

csm10495 ,
@csm10495@sh.itjust.works avatar

I wouldn't do this since I don't want to be even more tech support for people I know.

My mom has used windows for as long as she has had a computer and still doesn't know what the start button or the windows key are.

I've explained it millions of times.

I'm not signing up for more of that than we need.

Dra ,

Insert link to linus daily driver video

model_tar_gz , (edited )

I’m a Linux user and fan for a lot of years now. Software engineer by profession.

It’s not ready for widespread adoption to the less tech-savvy masses.

It misses some functionality that is really hard to get right but is absolutely expected to get right. For example: graceful suspend and wakeups. It happens so often even to me that I close my Linux laptop for the day, next morning open it up to a bunch of warnings and error messages about Bluetooth adapters or whatever the device of the day that wants to malfunction is that prevents a sound S2 S3 sleep.

I don’t get freaked out about it. But grandma sure would. And yet my 10 year old MacBook Pro gets it right every single fucking time; completely flawlessly. This is the bar of usability that Linux has to achieve for widespread adoption as a true, polished, personal computing experience.

edit: meant S3 sleep.

funkless_eck ,

It also doesn't help that doing anything in Linux requires weird little guys like "mv" or "mkdir" or "chmod 777"

Dirk ,
@Dirk@lemmy.ml avatar

I stopped having Linux discussions years ago. If people approach me and ask for my opinion I tell them to try Linux Mint and make backups before installation.

Gallardo994 ,

Ah shit here we go again

Squizzy ,

I got Linux mint and I'm shit at it, terminology and step by steps are lost on me. It definitely needs a significant time commitment.

randomaside ,
@randomaside@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

You know back in the day they used to sell Linux distributions on the shelf at software stores. I remember seeing a boxed copy of mandriva next to windows. Home computing used to be a hobby for some but that means there was commercial support at some point.

I do think that home users of "Linux" will need a commercial alternative that supports all their apps. ChromeOS looks like the current best alternative. If you can get people into chrome books, you're one step closer to getting them onto Linux.

jackpot OP ,
@jackpot@lemmy.ml avatar

what are the catches of chromeos

PseudoSpock ,
@PseudoSpock@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

You mean, besides being chromeos? ;)

force ,

everything. everything about it sucks. it's like the chastity cage of OSes, even moreso than Apple OSes

chepycou ,
@chepycou@rcsocial.net avatar

@randomaside @jackpot I'd disagree, chromeOS really is the worst

MrFunnyMoustache ,

As much as I want more people to use Linux and divorce from Microsoft, I don't want to be someone's tech support guy, I've done it as a teen and as a young adult; I never want to do it again. When my parents have trouble with their computer, they don't call me, especially since I live in a different timezone and it gets inconvenient... they take it to a technician to get it sorted. If they take a Linux computer to a technician, they will likely just install windows on it and call it a day.

luca ,

I see this more as a thought experiment. You can't really tell other people what they should use. I can't also do that at my workplace. If someone comes to me for help fixing their PC I can of course tell them just use Linux, but most of the time I need to reinstall the OS it came with. The Linux culture is intrinsically elitist, that's just the way it is. That's not to mean that you need to be a jerk about it, I use Arch btw, use whatever fits your needs.

Some time ago I got a mini PC for my dad who was curious about the web and stuff and I haven't hat a shred of a doubt that it would be Linux. To satisfy my own curiosity, I used it as an excuse to do some distro hopping and tried a lot of distros to try and find a balance between ease of use (from a standpoint of an elderly person) and my own nerdyness. I ended up installing a KDE based distro because the UI can easily be customized, resized and simplified for his needs. But let's be honest, not anybody is willing to spend hours searching and trying different operating systems and tweaking and stuff. Also the web sucks nowadays for people that are not used to it, for example how should I explain all the stupid cookie stuff, or the ads in between articles. Come on just be nice to people.

jackpot OP ,
@jackpot@lemmy.ml avatar

im confused, whats the thought experiment here?

luca ,

Well, you've said it yourself, don't force it on anyone.

nifty ,
@nifty@lemmy.world avatar

More users usually ruins things, that’s how we ruined and lost the internet.

Plopp ,

Sure, but I need more software and hardware to be Linux compatible, so I still need more people to come over.

AnUnusualRelic ,
@AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world avatar

Don't tell them, just break in their home at night and install it. They'll call you in the morning. Probably to thank you. Probably.

olbaidiablo ,

You do have a point. Most of the issues I've ever had on any of my computers has been with windows. Linux just keeps on humming along. Every one of the hand me down laptops I seem to get because they are "too slow", gets wiped, Linux installed and they work great after.

meekah ,
@meekah@lemmy.world avatar

My chromecast recently gave up.

So I went on our equivalent for craigslist and bought a cheap, old-ish laptop for 80€. It was okay with windows, but it feels snappy and like new with linux. Not only can I control it from my couch using my phone similar to the chromecast, but it also enabled me to consume media off of a USB stick. looking forward to playing around with this thing as a game server.

olbaidiablo ,

I have a laptop I bring all over just for media. It works great in hotel rooms too.

meekah ,
@meekah@lemmy.world avatar

good point!

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