this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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I used to use Ubuntu for a long time and had a similar experience where there were constantly annoying issues. I have since distrohopped around and ended up with fedora, which even though it is a more cutting edge distro, the experience has been a lot smoother and more stable, even compared to windows.
I mean any OS takes time until you get fully into it and I would say Linux does take maybe a little more effort simply because there are more options in terms of pretty much everything. First, you need to be familiar with the concept of having different distros and be familiar with the differences between distros. Then you need to actually figure out how to install a new OS, which can be tricky to most people who are not that familiar with IT.
Another thing is that an experience with an OS can depend largely based on what hardware you are using. That's why apple strictly controls the hardware on which their OS can run on. Microsoft has also started restricting this slightly. Linux goes the complete opposite direction by trying to allow running linux on any possible system.
A normal person should not have to deal with different distros. The difference in many distros is so small, people don't even notice. People care about the desktop environment. I started with ubuntu and if ubuntu wouldn't have ten thousand different ways of installing apps, and oftentimes you have to use the method the dev chose, I wouldn't have distro hopped until I got to fedora. Fedora is amazing but a normal end user who browses the web won't notice a big difference between the systems.
To run linux on a banana, you have to adapt it. To run macos on a banana, you have to crack it and fiddle around and get a psychiatrist and work on it full time. Linux makes it easier for you. Apple forbids you to install it on a banana. Fuck apple.
Ideally, clients would get shipped with linux of course, but at the moment, that's hardly an option. There could also be value in having clients shipped with different distros installed.
For this reason I would never buy an apple device again. However, I do see the value of having a super stable and controlled environment where it is super hard for users to fuck things up.