Why Linux is it's own worst enemy

[mikkh]

Just looking on 'Distrowatch' at the latest Linux offerings, and while I admire the selfless dedication (mostly unpaid) to bring us a free alternative to Windows. I also have to wonder how many live in the real World.

Linux is 'open source' i.e it's free to amend (if you have the skill/knowledge) free to copy, free in every way and you can build a whole operating system using it, which is what Linux purists do

There is also a category of software known as non-free which is total anathema to Linux purists because it's not open source and changing the code is not allowed. Non-free doesn't mean there's a cost involved, it's still free in monetary terms and while open source programmers are extremely talented, they can't improve closed source (so called non-free) software without access to the original code.

Back in the real World where high minded self imposed ethics doesn't matter at all, I want, no I *must have* access to the latest Flash player and the real graphics drivers for my Nvidia or ATI/AMD card which are made by the manufacturers, not some cut down version that fits into the open source category to please the purists.

Luckily there are a few 'distros' who realise this, and without them I would have abandoned Linux a long time ago as unsuitable for the job. I can't be stuck on the last officially supported version of Flash because a lot of popular sites like Youtube and most games on Facebook require the latest version. Fortunately Google have done some sort of deal with Adobe, and Linux versions of Chrome come with the latest Flash built in - hoorah!
It's a bit naughty of Google because they've basically cornered the market and are forcing Linux people to use their browser or have half the internet unavailable. I don't mind because it's a decent browser anyway and I didn't need my arm twisted to use it.

So if I see a new distro with Firefox (or anything but Chrome) as the browser, I know instantly that a) they've just made it unsuitable for newcomers and b) I've got to research if putting Chrome on is an option for me to consider it myself. Probably some are just anti Google, maybe it breaks some silly international laws, all I know is it seems pointless offering a crippled system if they want to attract new people to Linux

I said there were a few offering Chrome, but right now I can only think of my favourite (PClinuxOS) off the top of my head.

In a World dominated by Android phones/tablets - Yes that's Linux, it surely wouldn't be that big a step to get it more popular on desktops too? It could be so easy with a standard (Chrome included) version
But that's why Linux is it's own worst enemy, too many versions, no unity and too few doing a simple real world test like checking the popular sites actually work!

[mikkh]

Nearly 6 years on the situation hasn't changed much and it really should have with Windows 10 making a lot of old hardware obsolete. It seems people would rather buy a new PC/Laptop than try something different on their existing setup, which is probably fine for several more years if switched to Linux. Add an SSD to the mix (if not already equipped with one) and you get a computer faster than it's ever been. You can pick a small SSD up from less than £20 nowadays, even the bigger ones are not too expensive, compared to what they were as new technology.

I understand people don't like change and want familiarity but every new version of Windows is significantly different to the previous one and after howls of derision and many complaints, the dust settles and people stick with Windows! The learning curve for Linux is no greater than the one for learning a new version of Windows. Most computer users never master Windows much beyond pointing and clicking an icon to run the program they want and the same applies to Linux. You don't have to fully understand how it all works, if you can use a mouse, you can use Linux.

You'll be using a lot of the same programs - all the popular browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera etc are all available in Linux. Along with Skype, Spotify, VLC etc.

Another failing of Linux, well long term Linux users at least, is the inability to let go of geek speak and complicated commands when offering help to others. I find it intensley annoying that they can't let go of doing things the hard way, when a much simpler way of doing things is usually available. I use Linux exclusively and can't remember the last time I *had* to use the command line. There's either a program that will do it for you, or a fairly simple thing built in.

Consider this beauty I often see touted as the solution..... chmod u=rwx,g=rx,o=r myfile
Ouch ! Why don't I right click the file pick properties and choose the permissions tab instead?

It's like they don't want to let people into the exclusive geek club.
Linux is a mature desktop where you can do almost everything with a mouse, just like Windows. There are odd occasions when only the command line will do, but that's true of Windows too.

I have sold a few laptops (upgraded to SSD and Linux) because they weren't good enough to run Windows 10, so there are stil some brave souls about and there should be more considering the main use of most computers is doing stuff online, stuff you can do just as easily with Linux.