What are you trying to argue here, mate?
We're talking about OSes for the average user. You said that Windows with 128 GB is "not stable and not ready out of the box, unlike Linux".
Then you said "if it doesn't work on that, then it's not for the masses".
So what exactly is your point?
Empirically, you are getting Windows and Linux mixed up
I'm honestly not sure you understand what "empirically" means... But I might be wrong! Please elaborate!
Also more end user devices are Linux than Windows
Yes, nowadays especially, when people are trying to "stick it to the US". Which doesn't change the fact that most of these will return to Windows within 6 months, and even with them it's still an insignificant minority compared to the hegemony of Windows and MacOS.
Linux is ideal for people who don’t want to spend all day troubleshooting and not getting anywhere
I'm sorry, WHAT?
It’s for people who want things to just work without extra effort
You have GOT TO be joking right now...
Sure, mate. 128 GB of RAM is clearly "for the masses". :D
To quote the classic: "the best thing about Linux is the community. The worst thing about Linux is the community".
Rebooting Windows doesn’t remove the advertisement, data collection
We're not talking about any of that.
AI integration
No such thing exists.
TPM requirements
And thank goodness for that! I like my devices secure and sound, thank you.
which is driving people to switch to Linux
[citation needed]
I’m not talking about the average user
But... Everyone else is?
The OP is about Linux replacing Windows. That means: "Linux for the masses". THAT means: average users having to deal with all the Linux shit.
The average user needs to be coached on how to double click or to open a PDF. Holding a conversation about any software or technical topic from the point of view of an average user is a fools errand.
Correct. Which is why the issues I listed in my comment make Linux impossible for the average user.
The difference is that even given access to an expert
THAT is also part of the problem. If I'm a noob but know someone who "works in IT" and "uses Windows", they'll be able to help me.
If I'm a noob but know someone who "works in IT" and "uses Linux", I might get help, but I might be shit out of luck. Maybe my issues is unique to KDE and they use Gnome or Xfce? Maybe I have a problem with my Ubuntu, but they've been sitting on Fedora for the past 20 years?
if an average user was involved they’d immediately give up and post on Reddit about how their computer is dumb.
That's false. And, again, I'm saying this as someone who's worked in IT for the past 20 years - if you have a problem with Windows (nowadays - this is critical), 90% of the time rebooting fixes it.
And sure, a lot of people post about how their computers are shit, because something happened, but the amount of people who can help in the case of Windows is just immeasurably larger than in the case of Linux - because of the massive fragmentation between DEs and distros.
Hey, thanks for being the voice of reason in this thread!
Windows is, by all means, not a perfect OS. But people claiming that it's "easier to use" for the average user are just detached from reality.
Linux at least gives us useful logging
Mate, don't take it the wrong way, but you're living in a fantasy world if you think an average user has any semblance of idea as to where logs are or how to read them.
The Linux community support can actually fix your problems without boilerplate copypasta
LOL, nice one! :D
I've read "just recompile the kernel" together with "just switch to [distro_x]" more times than I can count to... :D
Randomly change registry settings, delete files, install software on the advice of random Internet people/LLMs until the software works or the randomware kicks in.
See? Here's your problem. You're doing random stuff without understanding what it does or even without a guide. Try that on Linux and tell me how well your OS works. :)
In general, seems like you've been sheltered from Windows for the past, I don't know, 15 years? In terms of reliability and stability, 10 and 11 are on par with MacOS.
You seem to be confused. We're talking about an "OS for the masses". What you're talking about is so far beyond the "high end for the top tier enthusiasts" that it's not even funny.
Could that be because he’s had fewer issues with Windows and hasn’t had a need to troubleshoot it?
It's actually the opposite. Worked in IT for 20 years, had to troubleshoot every conceivable issue with Windows.
Here's the difference: 90% of the time, once you've installed the OS, it's smooth sailing*. If it's not, reboot, and it will be fine. For the fringe cases, just search online to find help.
This last bit is what kills Linux as "user-friendly OS" - you have one distro, but solutions you find are for five different distros and each one looks and feels slightly differently, so things are in different places.
EDIT:
* I should've added: TODAY. It used to be VERY different, but these days? It's mostly "fire and forget".
Here's the problem with sweeping statements on the Internet like the one you just did - you never know who you're talking to.
You have no clue how hilarious your comment reads from the perspective of someone who's worked in IT for the past 20 years. :D
Here's the difference between Linux and Windows TODAY (that's a CRITICAL point) - the average user gets the OS installed, fires it up and just uses it. If there's a problem, a reboot will fix it 99% of the time. For that 1% there's a bajillion different forums where they'll find help.
Now, Linux? You install it, fire it up, and it runs without issues. Or it doesn't! You use an app, and it works - or it doesn't! You start searching for solutions online and find that the issue you've had has been resolved but on a different distro, things look different on yours and you have no clue how to proceed.
Windows is not a perfect OS, but it's as good as it gets (next to MacOS) in terms of "I'm John, this is my first computer, I just learned how to log in and now I want to have some fun". Linux is FAR from that, still.
Right. You can't say "empirically [based on my hands-on experience] YOU are getting things mixed up". That's not how reality works.
It's like saying: "I just ate great breakfast, therefore world hunger doesn't exist".
ESPECIALLY with things as fragmented as Linux.
More and more people are getting interested in /e/OS, GrapheneOS, and LineageOS, turning away from Google. Valve is always considered to be "that one good company" so they're in a pretty good spot, but even with that, more people are showing interest in GOG than before.
I'm really glad you had a great experience with Linux, truly. Now go and read my first comment in this thread to see the other side of the fence.
See above.
When was the last time you tried Windows? 20 years ago? 15 years ago? Because "always blue screening" suggests something like that.
Windows 10 and 11 are on par with MacOS in terms of stability, mate.