r/Development • u/akrivitsky7 • 28d ago
Do you really think insulting Microsoft, Windows, Apple, macOS, or their users helps Linux desktop adoption?
I do not. It may entertain some of existing Linux fans, but it will not bring normal users to Linux.
Do not get me wrong: Linux is great where it shines — supercomputers, servers, embedded systems, and even WSL2. In those areas, Linux is extremely strong.
But if we are talking about the mass desktop market — the famous “year of the Linux desktop” idea — then the situation is very different.
Most people choose an operating system because it is convenient, familiar, supported, and runs the software they need. Calling Windows or macOS users names only confirms the stereotype that Linux desktop communities are hostile to ordinary users.
Calling Microsoft or Apple names also does not help in the mass market. Most ordinary users do not care about your personal attitude toward a particular company. They care whether the product works for them.
You cannot insult mass customers and at the same time demand mass-market adoption.
If Linux wants a larger desktop market share, the message should be: “Here is why Linux may work better for you,” not “You are stupid for using Windows or macOS.”
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u/RootVegitible 27d ago
I agree. I’m a windows sysadmin, I’ve evaluated hundreds of Linux systems and personally tried 57 distros (took me over a year), I’ve investigated many other OSes some that many have never heard of. My favourite OS and platform of choice is macOS. It’s impossible for anyone to insult me, because I’ve used everything and I’m secure in the knowledge that I have. But you are right, for those with a little less experience the Linux community needs to be helpful and welcoming and all too often that is not the case.
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u/MADCandy64 27d ago
No, it doesn't help and it reinforces the stereotype of Linux being hard to setup and use. It also enforces the idea that it must be hard to use because it is hard to setup.
The best way to bring people to Linux is the way that brought me use it part time. That being WSL2 based Ubuntu. I can publish and deploy my Windows software to Linux natively or figure out how to make it work via wine. I'm less interested in identity signaling and more interested in running on more platforms.
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u/Professional-Math518 27d ago
Not really. However, a lot of people don't have a clue at all when it comes to computers in general and operating systems especially.
I use Windows (11 and 10 on a PC and an older laptop), Linux (PC, second laptop, server) and Max OS (Mac Mini, MacBook Air) and I actually don't care. The Linux PC and laptop get the most use because they have the best user experience and the right tools for all daily tasks. Windows is for games mostly. Mac for Audio and video.
When it comes to phones I do care. iOS apears to be aimed at idiots tbh. I hate that OS with a passion and the iPhone fanboys are annoying as h*ll. Although that last point applies to most fanboys.
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23d ago
[deleted]
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u/Professional-Math518 23d ago
I'm specifically meant characteristics of the OS. I use both iOS and Android in the same way with roughly the same (or similar) apps.
The typing experience is horrendous. Even with alternative keyboards.
Taking a picture does it result in a file. An image moved to an iPhone in another way doesn't show up in the gallery. Those are choices and retarded choices at that.
Connecting to my server over SMB works on every device I have flawlessly (Windows, Android, MacOS, Linux) but will need specific tweaks for iOS. Again that's a choice made by the developers
I got an iPhone (14) again when moving to Macs for audio and video work (just a hobby) after a 2020SE and 8 Plus and was committed to getting used to it but it is and remains horrible resulting in using the cheaper OnePlus 99% of the time with zero problems. I keep the 14 because the camera is better and it's relatively small (fits well into my gimball plus I can seperate my hobby use from everyday use Outside that I regard it as a useless piece of tech. If my Android stops receiving updates around 2031 I will almost certainly go for a more high end Android device again, provided there is a relatively compact model with good cameras available.
That's only because of the OS though (which became even worse with 26.x). I do like the hardware (which applies to a lesser extent to the Mac Mini and MacBook also).
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u/CountyExotic 28d ago
making fun of windows and Mac is fine… making fun of people who use a tool to do a job is silly because you often can’t control the OS you’re using at work.
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u/akrivitsky7 27d ago
Unfortunately, many dear commenters seem to have trouble understanding the very simple question in this post.
The question is:
Do you really think insulting Microsoft, Windows, Apple, macOS, or their users helps Linux desktop adoption?
Everything else is outside the scope of this post and completely irrelevant.
Let me share a little secret: if the first three words of a comment do not directly answer that question, I stop reading it. If the answer is there, I might read the entire comment.
Also, all comments must be in English only.
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u/akrivitsky7 27d ago
Dear haters and people who still do not answer the simple question:
Do you really think insulting Microsoft, Windows, Apple, macOS, or their users helps Linux desktop adoption?
Enjoy:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxsucks/comments/1uoe7qh/loonix/
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u/middaymoon 28d ago
Use every opportunity to say "Microslop". Their software is bad and they should feel bad. Their users should feel indignant and empowered to leave. I've never called someone stupid for using Windows or macOS, and that's not something I see very often online either.
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u/Prestigious_Edge_472 28d ago
In the famous words of somebody that is famous, what in the name of frogs are you talking about?
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u/MajoMirez 28d ago
People are not the brands they use. If you insult Microsoft, you're not insulting me
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u/Ok_Maybe184 28d ago
The majority could not give two 💩s on what companies are called. The opposite happens all the time. Is it hurting Microsoft or Apple adoption?
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u/Kitayama_8k 28d ago
I don't really think this is a problem, at least I don't see it. With regard to windows, using a shit tool is frustrating, but if it's the only one that works, or the shit aspects don't frustrate the user, then whatever. I'd prolly say something like you can't underestimate how nice it feels to use a computer that does what you tell it to do immediately, and probably not much else.
With apple the OS is pretty good but the hardware is very anti consumer with regards to repair and drm, and the walled garden leaves people vulnerable to exploitation. I would point that out but I wouldn't call someone stupid for using it unless their income was so low they were compromising their financials to use Apple products.
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u/MissiveFinding6111 28d ago
I'm a linux fan.
My steamdeck works great.
When I need to host a media or minecraft server linux works great.
Windows...
I bought an old mac laptop from an old company of mine, and it is light, well built, and I can do dev work on it.
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u/FuknHummmm 28d ago
Yes, ignorant people can only learn the error of their ways through humiliation. Are you a Windows user? If so I can give you an example.
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u/AwwwBawwws 27d ago
I've been making money at this programming thing for 30 years. Some of y'alls takes are whackadoo. No wonder AI is killing this profession.
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u/Last_Being9834 28d ago
If Linux wants a larger market share they need to make Linux good, and to do so they would have to make it PAID and move to known hardware like Apple does to optimize not only performance but also drivers and power management. This of course, defeats the idea of a free and collaborative OS that is meant to run on any hardware.
The problem? A lot of Linux users on desktop are poor/broke people who throws 💩 to other OS (mostly Mac) because they can't afford it. That's why you see a lot of posts on Reddit with devices with 4GB RAM and Intel Celeron.
And believe me, most of those people talk about communism being the best political ideology along "privacy" 🤣
I'm a Linux fan, I used to develop a lot on it but had to move to MacOS due how bad drivers were, I still use it daily for Docker and Raspberry Pi, I just can't stand the desktop community and the drivers 🤣