Another Linux post which misses the point.

I don't know why I let these posts bother me so much. But here is another one.

My biggest overarching concern with the article is that it never makes a real argument in support of the title. The article spends it's time, mostly trying to argue that Linux is simply as good as Windows. Which is, of course, subjective at best and makes arguments which don't stand up to ridicule.

Before I start. I use Linux on my primary computer and have been running it there for a little over a year now. My other computers including my work laptop are all Windows 10 based and I have a decent amount of experience working with installers for Windows, and with a number of Linux distros and their installers as well. And, all within the last year or so. So, I do consider myself knowledgeable enough to comment here. In fact, those other computers in my household were all running Linux at one point or another. But, various compatibility issues forced me to go back to Windows.

In no way am I Linux hater or a Windows lover. Though, Windows Phone was pretty cool while it lasted.

Firstly, the "Linux doesn't have as much software" argument. I think the author missed an opportunity. I would speculate that Linux may actually have MORE software than Windows. But, that was NEVER really relevant. In fact, it is the same problem Windows Phone had. It is true that WP had a smaller app store. But NO ONE has installed every app in their app store. It is much more about having SPECIFIC applications and games.

Frankly, I've seen a hundred or more articles and posts by people who say that literally the only reason that they can't give up iOS is because of Facetime and Apple's messaging app.

The article also makes a glaring mistake. By arguing that equivalent Linux apps exist for these Windows apps, you're also conceding reverse. That Windows has it's equivalents of those Linux apps. In short, the argument both missed the mark AND fails to make any argument why this might mean that Windows has no real future.

On the "Linux is too hard to install" it once again makes several mistakes. I don't know when the last time the author ran a Windows installation, but, I've never seen a Linux distribution which was easier than the Windows install of the same time frame. Including now.

That isn't to say that many Linux distros are difficult to install. They have gotten substantially less difficult over time. They simply aren't easier than Windows.

The easiest Linux distros are those that come on Live distributions with a graphical installer. This means that you need to boot into the OS before you begin the installer. The Windows installer is both graphical and boots directly into the installer. Quicker, easier. Microsoft wins on getting the installer up and running.

Next we have partitioning. Both system allow some advanced level of control here, or the ability to just allow the OS to make it's own decisions. The difference is, Windows has never let me install with an invalid configuration here. Linux has many times. I would say that the complexity is similar around partitioning, but Windows does a better job of making sure you don't bork your system. Win again for Windows.

After the partitioning, things get a little more straight forward. But, Linux is a philosophy as much as an operating system. And it does nothing to educate new users on that philosophy which leads the supreme failure of all failures; proprietary drivers. Most Linux distros will either default to not installing them, or not even give the option.

Given that after partitioning it is basically just clicking next a few times it SHOULD be hard for anything other than a tie. But, once again, Linux invents a way to fail; Proprietary drivers. Linux is both an OS and a philosophy. But, that philosophy is something the average PC user doesn't comprehend. Hell, I see strong evidence that many Linux users don't understand it.

But, if you want the easiest, best installation for the AVERAGE user, you need to default to the decisions which provide the best experience. And this means proprietary drivers in most cases. While open source variants of drivers are often as good or even better than their Windows counterparts, there are also several high profile cases where they are worse. Namely, the single largest provider of GPUs; NVidia. And so, Windows somehow manages to win a competition over a process where you just bash the "next" button every time it pops up.

After the OS is up and running the only thing left is applications. And Linux is fine for the average user if the app is in the store, or is delivered via the web in a format like a .deb file which by all accounts acts like an EXE or MSI downloaded over the web. But, unfortunately, I still find a lot of software which requires command line installation. So, I still can't give it to Linux. Frankly, I would only be able to tie them if this weren't the case.

And PLEASE don't mention the community. It is a truly great aspect of Linux. But, the average person wouldn't even think to search such things. Let alone know how to phrase their query or even understand the primitive of jargon required to get the tasks done. Go tell your Windows or Mac using friends to "open a terminal". I dare you.

I don't really get the "toxic" point. I've never heard anyone suggest this as a reason for choosing Linux over Windows or vice versa.

So, in summary, Linux is good. Great even. And getting better. But the average person needs to do ZERO to get Windows on their machine. So, Microsoft could have the most convoluted installation process and it still wouldn't move the needle. The app and game arguments are pointless because needing an alternative is often a deal breaker. Community support is also a weak argument, because once again, Windows users almost never find a need for that.

I don't see myself stopping my Linux usage. But, I also don't see my friends or family ever using Linux. Well, with one exception. I setup a Raspberry Pi as a device my brother could cast stuff to at work to show customers products without them coming around the counter to stare over the employees shoulders. But, this literally requires my brother to do nothing except provide power to the device. The rest happens over a Chrome extension. In Windows.