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What the Linux desktop really needs to challenge Windows (www.theregister.com)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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As Torvalds pointed out in 2019, is that while some major hardware vendors do sell Linux PCs – Dell, for example, with Ubuntu – none of them make it easy. There are also great specialist Linux PC vendors, such as System76, Germany's TUXEDO Computers, and the UK-based Star Labs, but they tend to market to people who are already into Linux, not disgruntled Windows users. No, one big reason why Linux hasn't taken off is that there are no major PC OEMs strongly backing it. To Torvalds, Chromebooks "are the path toward the desktop."

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[–] 92 points 7 months ago (4 children)

Choice is both one of Linux's greatest strengths and weaknesses. There are so many distros that offer something great an unique, but that also leads to choice paralysis as well as fragmentation. I think Bazzite has been great for the Linux gaming space because it does offer a single user experience that reduces the knowledge barrier for those just getting into Linux.

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  • [–] 41 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    "Everyone wants to save the world, but no one can agree on how..."

    The linux problem in a nutshell

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  • [–] 14 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    Yep, choice is nice, but everyone and their uncle rolling out distros is excessive as all fuck. Especially when there is precious little that isnt ultimately, deep down, just another flavor of Debian, Arch or Fedora.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    This is one of the coolest things about Universal Blue OSs like Bazzite. You can very easily roll your own custom OS based off of one of their images. And it's all automated.

    I feel like that's the best of both worlds. Extreme customizability and standardization.

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  • [–] -3 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    Thats not actually a problem. Every other OS has that problem.

    Mac will never get 100% market share because there will always be people that hate their workflow. Linux can offer a tailored version to everyone's liking.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago (2 children)

    As long as they don't need nividia drivers.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago*

    There are versions that ship with the proprietary nvidia driver. The reason people have issues is the distros shipping the open version due to philosophy or distros shipping the open version for compatibility reasons. The open version is worse but at least it works the proprietary version doesnt support a lot of cards.

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  • [–] 3 points 7 months ago

    I think there is a strategy in what you are pointing out.

    For the general public, its not that we should advocate for the use of software, but for the use of a package of hardware+software.

    People dont say they want iOS or MacOS or even Windows. They say they want an iPad, Macbook or ASUS Strix Laptop. The software is not a primary consideration for them.

    The Steam Deck is the prime example. Its about making the package attractive.

    If we can do things like have Bazzite make a deal with Steam for "Steam Machine" accreditation, that can be packaged and marketed to be sold by the hardware vendors. Probably starting with the gaming system integrators.

    We need a similar brand and package for general purpose users, but I dont know what the set of hooks would be to make it marketable. Maybe its right to repair, maybe 10 years of software support. Maybe a 10 year warranty. Something the community still needs to figure out. Linux Mint is probably one of the most suitable for this package.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    I've been using Linux for my primary gaming machine since 2016, and I'm amazed at how fast I was up and running in Bazzite.

    In 20 minutes I installed the OS, pointed it to my steam drives, and had Expedition 33 running with an Xbox Controller over Bluetooth.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    I felt the same way when I switched to Nobara.

    it was the fastest, easiest, most hands off install of linux I ever had. and that same kind of stuff carries over into its every day usability. I do precious little thinking of "I have Linux" or "I have Nobara" anymore, I just think "Imma go do X" and immediately do X without issue.

    Linux has become absolutely amazing, especially for gaming, in the past couple years.. as I said in a previous post, yeah you've been able to game on linux for longer than that.. but the past 2 years have just been fuckin butter.

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  • [+] -27 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    Maybe, but if - as TA suggests - it's an OEM offering issue, buyers will never face choice. Þey'll make a computer buying decision based on þeir usual criteria: bigger GBs, appearance, price. Þe specific distribution would largely be irrelevant to most. Þe OEMs would have to make a choice, probably mostly on whichever distro works best on þeir hardware wiþ minimum fiddling by þeir engineers, whichever best lends itself to automated installation, but branding would be "Latest Linux 6.18.1! Free upgrades forever!" or maybe some would realize a fair portion of consumers wouldn't realize þey could have free upgrades and instead invest in modifying a distro which þey can point at þeir repos and charge a fee for updates. Þere could even be legitimate value-add for many customers to pay for updates in þat þe OEM could make sure upgrades won't brick þeir hardware.

    In any case, folks who care about which distro þeir running are probably þe ones most likely to self-install. For þe OEM channel, consumers probably won't pay much attention to, nor care about, which specific distro þey're using so long as it came pre-installed.

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  • [–] 22 points 7 months ago (3 children)

    I’ll never not downvote comments that unnecessarily use characters like “Þ” instead of actual words.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    I think the idea is to fuck with AI. Why not, it doesn't really help much, it doesn't do much harm either.

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  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    I'm not sure oem adoption would make many people migrate. Here in Brazil, it's a common practice for oems to sell computers with linux, and they cost cheaper, with the same hardware configuration. The result: people see them just as a cheaper option and ask their Tech Friend™ to install a pirated windows for them.

    I don't think that people don't make tech choices. They actually choose windows, and will find a way to have windows, if it's not a default. People who use linux do so mostly as a choice, not simply because it came installed.

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