Subj : Re: Windows vs Linux
To   : Nightfox
From : boraxman
Date : Thu Apr 21 2022 23:34:47

 Ni> I'm not sure about that..  I think ease of use is always a good thing. 
 Ni> Even if a Linux PC is used as a server, you'll have a better experience
 Ni> with it if it's easy to use and configure.  I don't really see the value
 Ni> of making things difficult (at least, not purposefully).
 Ni> 

Linux is easy to use, my wife is using it with very little training.  The only thing I had to show her, was where to go to install software, and how to change the background image.  My pre-school kids figured out how to start and stop programs.

Some things can be hard, when they don't work as expected, but that is also true with Windows and Mac OS X.

 Ni> What about Linux makes it not appropriate for mainstream use?  To
 Ni> compare, Mac OS X is based on a *NIX type OS (Darwin) but Apple has
 Ni> added their user interface & things on top of it.  Although Mac doesn't
 Ni> have the amount of marketshare that Windows does, they're still popular
 Ni> enough that I'd consider Mac OS X mainstream.  I think Linux distros
 Ni> that add a nice UI are similar.
 Ni> 

Apple didn't just add their user interface, the system is locked so you can ONLY use their interface.  If you got a machine pre-installed with Linux, as you would with Windows, it is good enough for mainstream use.  My concern is the Linux community wanting to shut out options, incase users get confused.  Changes to the underyling system which may make it harder for people to build their own UI's, or make existing choices obsolete, or incompatible.

I don't see it as a huge risk, but I can see potential for devs to decide that a walled garden approach is now needed to prevent people from say, installing 3rd party repos.  I'm sure a "walled garden" would be something you could easily disable, but still...

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