Question directed to Linux users: What do you think GNU/Linux should improve in order to have a greater share of users?

4 months ago · 👍 bavarianbarbarian, fab

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6 Replies

Most end-user uses of an OS are browsing, gaming, and office suite software. If LibreOffice was 100% compatible with Office365, in the way that like, pdfs are interoperable, it would reduce friction to buying a preinstalled linux device. I suppose the same goes for emulating hyper specific programs... is there any way to streamline emulation? Is there some kind of "windows XP flatpack" that works even easier? (okay so maybe that is a technical issue). Also: the skinning the OS so it looks like Windows XP/7/10/whatever-avg-enduser-learned-on won't hurt at all, but help. Then they can switch to linux instead of windows 11. · 3 months ago

I don't think the issues are technical. It's the difference (IQ? interest?) between end-users and people who like to fiddle. Installation is awesome now, it justwerks. Drivers are mostly good, unless you (like me) have heavy FLOSS committments, and even then it's not hard. But for the average user? You'd have to get spokespersons to line it up as the default preinstalled OS on hardware devices sold. Does MacOS count? Who's gonna negotiate with hardware makers/sellers? Make it the "free as in beer" option. Market it to conservatives as a way toward liberty. To progressives as if it was an advancement. But never ever stop being customizeable. · 4 months ago

Let them start by unification of the package control system for starters.

https://www.reddit.com/r/voidlinux/comments/1mqiqzd/just_installed_void_and_its_great/ · 4 months ago

@melyanna I think gaming on linux isn't a problem anymore (except those games requiring anticheat). If you have a relatively decent computer/laptop, you should be able to play a *lot* of games on Linux. There's Lutrix or Steam and some other things which make it really easy to play windows games on Linux. I've even heared that Linux performance *could* be better on Linux than on Windows. For things like Adobe Suite or something, well yes. You're stuck to Windows. · 4 months ago

IMHO: Some distros are as easy to use as Win / MacOS, but it is very difficult for general users to know which ones and how to access them. Gaming is not as easy as fewer games are supported and performance isn't always as good as on the other systems. Many proprietary software applications for professional use aren't supported (though this is not directly an issue of GNU Linux). · 4 months ago

nothing, unixlike OSs should be something for the nerds... · 4 months ago