this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux needs to grow. Stop telling people it's 'tech-y' or acting like you're more advanced for using it, you are scaring away people. Linux Mint can be used by a senile person perfectly.

Explain shortly the benefits, 'faster, more secure, easier to use, main choices of professionals and free'. Ask questions that let you know if they need to dual boot, 'do you use Adobe, anti-cheat games, or Microsoft Office', 'how new is your computer', 'do you use a Mac'.

And most importantly, offer to help them install.

They don't understand the concept of distros, just suggest Linux Mint LTS Cinnamon unless they're curious.

That's it, spread Linux to as many people as possible. The larger the marketshare, the better support we ALL get. We can fight enshittification. Take the time to spread it but don't force it on anyone.

AND STOP SCARING PEOPLE AWAY. Linux has no advertising money, it's up to us.

Offer family members or friends your help or copy and paste the below

how to install linux: 1) copy down your windows product key 2) backup your files to a harddrive 3) install the linux mint cinnamon iso from the linux mint website 4) use etcher (download from its website) to put the iso on a usb flash drive 5) go into bios 6) boot from the usb 7) erase the storage and install 8) press update all in the update manager 9) celebrate. it takes 15 minutes.

edit: LET ME RE-STATE, DO NOT FORCE IT ON ANYONE.

and if someone is at the level of ignorance (not in a derogatory fashion) that they dont know what a file even is genuinely dont bother unless theyre your parents cause youll be tech support for their 'how do i install the internet' questions.

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[–] EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (22 children)

In some contexts having people who don't know what files are, what a folder is, and some other basics, do lead to people dying or lots of damage done.

Of course you'd expect people in these contexts to be trained but that's not always the case.

Also having no idea what a file is and not knowing the bare minimum of how a computer works in this day and age is unacceptable. It should be taught properly in schools (instead of teaching some very specific stuff everyone will forget, like what a bus is, and then jump to what excel is and how to use it, like they did in my IT class back in high school)

[–] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

Don't get me wrong I'm very pro-tech literacy and education, especially with the tablet generation users that are becoming more abstracted from the system plumbing... but requiring licenses to use a computer?? Lol. If it's that important to the job, employer should provide training just like any other piece of equipment.

I'm not going to expect doctors to know how to get into a bios or cleanup a corrupted file system, they specialized in human biology - keep them focused on that, and I'll handle the OS management.

[–] EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

I don't expect anyone to know how to install an OS either, that's not the basics. But I do expect everyone to know what a file is, what file extensions are and what a directory/folder is.

[–] gianni@lemmy.ca 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Why? Those are just abstractions. Why do you get to decide at which level of abstraction is the baseline for a person to use a computer?

Especially considering most computer users are operating at a higher level of abstraction (i.e. phones/tablets).

You are not the average computer user anymore.

[–] EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Especially considering most computer users are operating at a higher level of abstraction (i.e. phones/tablets).

I don't consider them computer users because they aren't using a computer (yes I know they're small computers but they operate in a different way).

If they want to use a personal computer, the thing with folders and stuff, they should learn how to use that, otherwise, if they don't want to learn, they probably are better off not using a computer and use something else instead, like the aforementioned phone. If they absolutely need to use a computer, then they should (in absence of training or teaching at school) at the very least try and figure out how they can and should interact with this tool that costed you a couple hundred €s.

I never was the average user, even when I considered myself a dumbass who knows absolutely nothing about how to use a computer I was still considered a tech genius by people around me simply because I knew how to download something like a minecraft mod and navigate some folders to move said mod in the correct folder or simply install programs, while most other people around me couldn't even tell the difference between the browsers and the file explorer.

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