Windows 10 EoL is fast approaching, so I thought I’d give Linux a try on some equipment that won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 11. I wanted to see if I will be able to recommend an option to anyone that asks me what they should do with their old PC.
Many years ago I switched to Gentoo Linux to get through collage. I was very anti-MS at the time. I also currently interact with Linux systems regularly although they don’t have a DE and aren’t for general workstation use.
Ubuntu: easy install. Working desktop. Had issues with getting GPU drivers. App Store had apps that would install but not work. The App Store itself kept failing to update itself with an error that it was still running. It couldn’t clear this hurdle after a reboot so I finally killed the process and manually updated from terminal. Overall, can’t recommend this to a normal user.
Mint: easy install. Switching to nvidia drivers worked without issue. App Store had issues with installing some apps due to missing dependencies that it couldn’t install. Some popular apps would install but wouldn’t run. Shutting the laptop closed results in a prompt to shutdown, but never really shuts off. Update process asks me to pick a fast source (why can’t it do this itself?)
Both: installing apps outside of their respective stores is an adventure in terminal instead of a GUI double-click. Secure boot issues. Constant prompt for password instead of a simple PIN or other form of identity verification.
Search results for basic operations require understanding that what works for Ubuntu might not work for Mint.
While I personally could work with either, I don’t see Linux taking any market share from MS or Apple when windows 10 is retired.
I’m willing to accept, that without a “mentor” Linux is hard to get setup for someone on their own.
For someone resourceful, they can ask every question and hopefully find the relevant Linux answers online, sometimes make a few mistakes but eventually figure it out.
Some users who are decent with computers and Windows might find some Linux things harder to use, and also sometimes hardware drivers or other features are missing. If they aren’t willing to put up with it to get away from Microsoft spyware then I respect that choice.
For users that need help setting up Windows to begin with from their “computer guy” that get flustered anytime something goes the way they didn’t expect, Linux actually can be a little lower maintenance. Have all the apps they need in an obvious place, have the system either update automatically or have them do it once every while. Linux has been very stable in my experience for that type of user too.
Both mint and Ubuntu had issues with simple things like updating or running software, out of the box. Normal computer users won’t put up with that.
I did what the parent waz talking about to 3 children and 2 Seniors and one middle aged guy.
One child complained that he couldn’t install windows games his peers were playing but other than that no complains.
I installed Ubuntu on older laptops, made sure everything works. Turned on auto updates and installed VNC server software if help would be necessary.
I also have one person with windows I help remotely.
The only difference for me is that the windows user somehow constantly has some bullshit extensions or something which change the browser behavior.
Practically the only thing those people use is a browser.
Oh and nobody has a discrete graphics card which would require a driver. Each of those laptops worked fine from scratch, no hardware problems.
That’s just a straight up lie or an error on the part of the operator (you). Ubuntu is very stable with regard to running supported software, and rock-solid when it comes to updates not breaking things.
I wish it wasn’t true.
Also, let’s pretend it’s operator error. What should the typical user do? Reach out to a family friend that works in Linux?
Just thinking about my extended family, I can pick out 3 people that know windows, one that knows osx, and I would be the only one that knows anything about Linux. I suspect this is the norm.
do you not know how many linux support forums there are?? you can normally just search the issue and linux at the end and it will most the time get you there in the first page (outside of google that is).
Answers that say “paste this in your terminal” should not be used by people that don’t know what they are doing. Even if 99% of those solutions work, we should not learn non-it people to make a habit of pasting random shit in their terminal.
So actually there are almost no answers for Linux for non IT people.
I will agree on this. learning to use man pages, and just even looking up the pastes is something you need to do else you are running the risk reformatting your drive or even getting a tool that was good in 2018 but had a maintainer change and now its normally avoided. But you should be doing that with tools even on windows and most people fail the check there as well. It was part of computers just being the greatest thing ever and shoved into everyones home in a cow printed box.
“Normal” computer users have no idea how to install software. Most people need someone to do this stuff for them anyway. For those Linux has a lot less potential for screwing things up. Anyone who is reasonably competent can pick up Linux in a few hours. Anyone who doesn’t care about the enshittification won’t bother. Anyone who does should make the effort.
The discrepancy I find with your statement is you switch your target audience half way though.
““Normal” computer user” != reasonably competent
By normal computer user i mean your granny or any of the people I have on the phone on a daily basis. Most of those people have only very rudimentary IT skills. A reasonably competent user is a couple of levels above that.
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It’s not necessarily about asking questions or providing the right detail to someone who knows more than you though. After asking for help with the problems I’m experiencing, the answer turned out to be that the NVIDIA driver support for my hardware configuration just isnt there yet. It’s not Linux’s fault, but unless I spend hundreds to switch my GPU brand or start unlugging monitors, I’m stuck with Windows until Explicit Sync hits the stable release.
You make a good point, and I tried to encompass that in the quoted part of my comment. Stuff like fingerprint sensors is one thing, not having your video card supported is kind of difficult to put up with, admittedly.