this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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I find it hard to believe you're having difficulty finding the information you want on Google. I've never had issues searching for Linux stuff of Google, it's not that niche.
When it comes to "what does Linux do that is better than Windows?", it's better to look at what Linux doesn't do.
Linux doesn't force updates on you while you are trying to work. It doesn't put ads in your start menu. It doesn't send all your usage data to Microsoft. It doesn't use all your system resources running countless unknown background tasks.
I find Linux is best for the kind of people who really care about exactly what their computer is doing. If you want to know exactly what applications are installed, where they are installed and how they are configured, Linux is great. If you want to know exactly what processes are running on your system, why they are running, who launched them, how much RAM and CPU they are using, if that stuff is important to you, then Linux is great. If you like to have the ability to look through the source code of every application, utility, and driver installed on your system, to know exactly what lines of code your computer is executing, for paranoia reasons or just because you find it interesting and fascinating, then Linux is for you.
If that stuff is not important to you, then you (like most people on Earth) are not the target audience.
I'd disagree with that last part. There's alot more that linux does which they may find useful. You can change the entire paradigm of how your computer looks and feels by installing another Desktop Environment while losing nothing, your original DE will still be there, all your apps will be too, and you won't have to re-install.
You can get some absurd amounts of customization from KDE Plasma too if that's your thing.
Also, in my experience, it breaks less. And when it does break it tells you exactly how. There's more info out there than "Error 1204, 483, and 2096 all mean that the update failed. If you see one, try running sfc scannow" or other generic codes that end up in the same three commands which only work 30% of the time. On linux, you tend to find helpful instructions with an explanation as to why it happened
On top of that, choice. If you hate change with a passion, you can install debian and only update every 5 years. It'll be completely secure and your system will not change how it works over that time. Also, xfce and trinity keep the same look and feel so many people liked alive. If you hated the transition from windows 7 and wanted to stay on it even to this day, that's impossible on windows, on linux there can be forks that keep it alive.
Also, theming for plasma can keep new features while still looking like the old.
There's more features to some of the tools as well. I hate to keep tooting the kde horn, but if you want to do it plasma very likely has a solution for it.
You can add entries to the file managers right click menu, add features to krunner the linux version of macos spotlight, change how windows work while moving them, zoom into sections, invert a windows colours, change how clicking on a window works at a fundamental level, add burn my windows effects to 'beam them up Scottie' or light them on fire (not my style but I'm glad it's possible), change out everything on the panel like I do with the clock; calendar; and start menu with ease, add new random stuff in like a colour picker; timer; now playing on spotify, your colour scheme will apply to many non-default apps too (gnome also does this), etc.
Or, you can get gnome, which is a very locked down by default but polished user experience.
Tiling windows managers, automatic or manual tilers, different docks and shells, and mixing them all together.
Easier sandboxing with flatpack for the security minded, a better experience while installing apps in my opinion, godly forums with very helpful people, and the penguin will jack you off once weekly. God I love linux.
But that's not most people. A lot of them don't bother or simply lazy to do these things. Majority users are not tech savy and they pay for something that already has windows installed and never bother changing anything beyond wallpaper. Sometimes that's one of the hardest part of trying to convince someone to remove the crap that came with their laptop and try linux for once. And when something doesn't work and they are too lazy to look it up, they just come to you asking doubts that are first page results.
you're correct, though I'd disagree with the idea of convincing people away from windows if none of what makes linux linux appeals to them. Some people like windows, some people just use what's on their system to browse facebook, some people couldn't care less if bill gates was in the room watching them get pegged by their wife, some people just hate computers and want to use them as little as possible. For those people I see no reason for them to switch and wouldn't argue they should. Not to say there aren't more reasons than I listed to switch those are just some of my favorites. When people ask me why they should switch to linux, I say because they want to. If they don't, eh, who cares, it's an OS. I'm more than willing to ramble about why I like linux but if none of that entices them I gain nothing from shoving it down their throats.
If windows gets sufficiently annoying (I think MS is giving it a good try), I may switch over to Linux for my main machine. I think that will be the main appeal for most users if Linux will ever have a large portion of the market share.