IMO the biggest problem is simply that not enough devices are sold with it.
The amount of people who want to/can be arsed to/even know they can install an OS on their PC is pretty small. And even then, most that can will just stick to what they know (this is obviously part of the mindset issue that you speak of).
If mainstream devices were sold with Linux on them, it would get over that hurdle, and also get over the daunting hurdle of “ok I want to switch to Linux, what’s a good distro?” hurdle, to which people online will say everything from Debian to fucking Arch Linux.
Chromebooks and the Steam Deck prove that Linux isn’t unviable. People just won’t install it of their own volition.
And even then, most that can will just stick to what they know (this is obviously part of the mindset issue that you speak of).
It’s the change. People hate change, in general, not just in IT.
IT workers are used to frequent changes and they usually adapt quickly, so it’s not such a huge problem for them. But, most people aren’t used to change, they like things pretty much static.
If mainstream devices were sold with Linux on them, it would get over that hurdle, and also get over the daunting hurdle of “ok I want to switch to Linux, what’s a good distro?” hurdle, to which people online will say everything from Debian to fucking Arch Linux.
I’ve seen people recommend Arch for a beginner, that’s a terrible choice… it will drive potential users away. I usually recommend Mint for beginners, LMDE mostly nowadays, since Ubuntu isn’t what it used to be and that will most probably leave a skewed picture to the user of what Linux is. Yes, there are tools that make things easier, but under the hood there is no UI, it’s all commands. You wanna jump in, go right ahed. You don’t feel OK with that, that’s fine as well, use whatever GUI tools you like, LMDE has plenty of them.
Chromebooks and the Steam Deck prove that Linux isn’t unviable. People just won’t install it of their own volition.
Yep, pretty much the truth. This basically means that if, oh let’s say, Debian cut a deal with some laptop/PC manufacturers, Linux could actually be used by many users.
And even then, most that can will just stick to what they know (this is obviously part of the mindset issue that you speak of).
It’s the change. People hate change, in general, not just in IT.
IT workers are used to frequent changes and they usually adapt quickly, so it’s not such a huge problem for them. But, most people aren’t used to change, they like things pretty much static.
If mainstream devices were sold with Linux on them, it would get over that hurdle, and also get over the daunting hurdle of “ok I want to switch to Linux, what’s a good distro?” hurdle, to which people online will say everything from Debian to fucking Arch Linux.
I’ve seen people recommend Arch for a beginner, that’s a terrible choice… it will drive potential users away. I usually recommend Mint for beginners, LMDE mostly nowadays, ince Ubuntu isn’t what it used to be and that will most probably leave a skewed picture to the user of what Linux is. Yes, there are tools that make things easier, but under the hood there is no UI, it’s all commands. You wanna jump in, go right ahed. You don’t feel OK with that, that’s fine as well, use whatever GUI tools you like, LMDE has plenty of them.
Chromebooks and the Steam Deck prove that Linux isn’t unviable. People just won’t install it of their own volition.
Yep, pretty much the truth. This basically means that if, oh let’s say, Debian cut a deal with some laptop/PC manufacturers, Linux could actually be used by many users.
From personal experience working in a Microsoft ecosystem, it’s mostly a matter of being able to hire the right people.
There is a near-infinite source of IT workers that have some expertise with Microsoft software and services. And those kinds of numbers simply don’t exist for the Linux world, especially with all the different configurations out there.
Medium-sized organizations have to employ a strategy of throwing enough idiots at a problem in order to keep things running. This also creates some of the issues they need the idiots for because no one has detailed knowledge of how things work.
My attempts at proposing a linux-based application server have been met with all sorts of “but our domain policy”, “we can’t guarantee continuity”, “none of my people know how to admin this stuff” type responses.
It definitely is a matter of mindset, but there is also a big commitment to make if switching systems to Linux. And that is a choice managers will only make if the benefits are clearly illustrated in a businesscase.
Medium-sized organizations have to employ a strategy of throwing enough idiots at a problem in order to keep things running.
Lol 🤣, that’s one way to say it 😂.
And I meant more as in computers for personal use. I completely get why most things are MS centered in the workplace, and that’s fine. If the workflow requires it, there is nothing wrong with that.
Actually, it kinda is… the mindset is mostly the problem IMO.
IMO the biggest problem is simply that not enough devices are sold with it.
The amount of people who want to/can be arsed to/even know they can install an OS on their PC is pretty small. And even then, most that can will just stick to what they know (this is obviously part of the mindset issue that you speak of).
If mainstream devices were sold with Linux on them, it would get over that hurdle, and also get over the daunting hurdle of “ok I want to switch to Linux, what’s a good distro?” hurdle, to which people online will say everything from Debian to fucking Arch Linux.
Chromebooks and the Steam Deck prove that Linux isn’t unviable. People just won’t install it of their own volition.
It’s the change. People hate change, in general, not just in IT.
IT workers are used to frequent changes and they usually adapt quickly, so it’s not such a huge problem for them. But, most people aren’t used to change, they like things pretty much static.
I’ve seen people recommend Arch for a beginner, that’s a terrible choice… it will drive potential users away. I usually recommend Mint for beginners, LMDE mostly nowadays, since Ubuntu isn’t what it used to be and that will most probably leave a skewed picture to the user of what Linux is. Yes, there are tools that make things easier, but under the hood there is no UI, it’s all commands. You wanna jump in, go right ahed. You don’t feel OK with that, that’s fine as well, use whatever GUI tools you like, LMDE has plenty of them.
Yep, pretty much the truth. This basically means that if, oh let’s say, Debian cut a deal with some laptop/PC manufacturers, Linux could actually be used by many users.
It’s the change. People hate change, in general, not just in IT.
IT workers are used to frequent changes and they usually adapt quickly, so it’s not such a huge problem for them. But, most people aren’t used to change, they like things pretty much static.
I’ve seen people recommend Arch for a beginner, that’s a terrible choice… it will drive potential users away. I usually recommend Mint for beginners, LMDE mostly nowadays, ince Ubuntu isn’t what it used to be and that will most probably leave a skewed picture to the user of what Linux is. Yes, there are tools that make things easier, but under the hood there is no UI, it’s all commands. You wanna jump in, go right ahed. You don’t feel OK with that, that’s fine as well, use whatever GUI tools you like, LMDE has plenty of them.
Yep, pretty much the truth. This basically means that if, oh let’s say, Debian cut a deal with some laptop/PC manufacturers, Linux could actually be used by many users.
From personal experience working in a Microsoft ecosystem, it’s mostly a matter of being able to hire the right people.
There is a near-infinite source of IT workers that have some expertise with Microsoft software and services. And those kinds of numbers simply don’t exist for the Linux world, especially with all the different configurations out there.
Medium-sized organizations have to employ a strategy of throwing enough idiots at a problem in order to keep things running. This also creates some of the issues they need the idiots for because no one has detailed knowledge of how things work.
My attempts at proposing a linux-based application server have been met with all sorts of “but our domain policy”, “we can’t guarantee continuity”, “none of my people know how to admin this stuff” type responses.
It definitely is a matter of mindset, but there is also a big commitment to make if switching systems to Linux. And that is a choice managers will only make if the benefits are clearly illustrated in a businesscase.
Lol 🤣, that’s one way to say it 😂.
And I meant more as in computers for personal use. I completely get why most things are MS centered in the workplace, and that’s fine. If the workflow requires it, there is nothing wrong with that.