Linux has made significant strides, and in 2023, it’s better than ever. However, there are still individuals perpetuating a delusion: that desktop Linux is as user-friendly and productive as its mainstream counterparts. After a few discussions on Lemmy, I believe it’s important to provide a clear review of where Linux falls short as a daily driver for average users.
EDIT: can I just make it clear I don’t agree with this article one bit and think it’s an unhinged polemic?
I think the biggest issue with linux on desktop/laptops is simply that most computer users are just not savvy enough to be comfortable installing themselves and feeling like they can fix it if something goes wrong and most come with Windows.
Steam deck has entered the chat.
Steam deck is proof that it is possible to sell linux based devices, but so is chromeos and android. Steam deck is more of a Switch alternative. I doubt most are using it’s desktop mode.
Some major manufactures sell Linux laptops/desktops running linux, but you usually have to buy those directly from their website and you won’t find them at local retailers and mostly targeting those who already run linux and want a linux compatible device out of the box.
Linux is definitely a suitable os for most these days as the most widely used use cases are web based. Even Edge is on Linux now and MS’s biggest non-windows product is Office and Office365 which has web based options. The ads on windows are getting to the point that I could see an opportunity for a company though.
I think the steam deck is becoming the first computing device for a lot of young people that had iPads, and it’s going to be a desktop computer for a lot of aspiring and broke college students. It’s definitely a gateway device.
It can definitely be used as an inexpensive computing device. I wonder what percentage of people use a docked devices in general which is really the only practical way that works with a deck on a regular basis. Screen is really too small for serious usage as a general computing device without docking. Linux will get some users from steam deck, but I wouldn’t expect a large percent and those are the more confident computer users.