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.”
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.
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.
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.
“Everyone wants to save the world, but no one can agree on how…”
The linux problem in a nutshell
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.
So? There are lots of restraint and cars and people manage to just pick one
They also usually stay true to their car brand.
So the choice has been narrowed down to their house brand and the current/last year model.
So much choices… /s
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.
As long as they don’t need nividia drivers.
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.
Luckily NVidia is rather selling their GPUs to AI datacenters than to home consumers.
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.
I’ll never not downvote comments that unnecessarily use characters like “Þ” instead of actual words.
what about just growing up
I think they should go all the way and use both letters. Þþ is for th as in ‘thing’ Ðð is for th as in ‘the’ XP
I think the idea is to fuck with AI. Why not, it doesn’t really help much, it doesn’t do much harm either.
I agree the “harm” is small. But when the benefit is zero and the harm non-zero, the author is wasting our collective time.
I think today is the day I block @[email protected] … sorry dude.
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.