UnkindlyDisagree t1_ixiscxi wrote on November 23, 2022 at 7:23 PM

Reply to comment by lubits in Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux just hit a major milestone by CrankyBear

I feel that the only barriers for Linux are:

Why so many distros? And
How do I get this on my machine without risking a panic attack?

At least for your average non-savvy user. Having Linux programs run on Windows removes these barriers, yes, but also removes the hassle of changing OS, which is kinda the only way Linux can survive.

A person out of ten that yesterday would have made the switch now won't do it. And that's one less user for Linux.

tapochkis t1_ixj4ys9 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 8:47 PM

WSL2 isn't equivalent to running Linux programs on Windows though. You're running an actual linux kernel so the linux environment still benefits. I find it covers 95% of dev needs for Linux and actually is a good gateway to making the switch to full linux from windows

MentalOcelot7882 t1_ixjq8c3 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 11:18 PM

I just recently installed ChromeOS Flex on an HP thin client that figure claims it will support until 2030. I prepped this machine for a client whose HR manager is a security nightmare ("If I see it, I'll click on it"), as well as someone who just won't learn the basics of Windows and miraculously crashes her home PC on a regular basis. After reviewing her app usage and what she needs, I threatened to replace her computer with a Chrome device the next time she broke something. So when she did, I quickly replaced it and showed her how she would work from then on.

It's been almost 2 months, and nary a peep. I think that, as more stuff becomes web/cloud based, the need for the average user to use Windows is going to diminish. Does this mean we can peel those users off and put them in front of a Linux distro? No, I think ChromeOS is going to be a prime example of what they will flock to, be it as a tablet, Chrome stick, or when they figure out that their Android phones can use a docking station to simulate a desktop (think Samsung's Dex). While it will be Linux, per se, it won't be the Linux desktop that we've been evangelizing for over 20 years.

Everyone will interact with Linux, but never realized they are. We're already there now.

Mediocre-Roll7189 t1_ixmjp38 wrote on November 24, 2022 at 4:10 PM

There's the fact that shit breaks and most shit that professionals use doesn't work.

I run fedora desktop as my daily driver at home but I would absolutely never recommend it to anyone that isn't a developer.

I dual boot for games and camtasia. Although I'm just debating going back to windows at this point.