this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2025
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What the Linux desktop really needs to challenge Windows (www.theregister.com)
submitted 1 day ago by throws_lemy@reddthat.com to c/technology@lemmy.world
126 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

As Torvalds pointed out in 2019, is that while some major hardware vendors do sell Linux PCs – Dell, for example, with Ubuntu – none of them make it easy. There are also great specialist Linux PC vendors, such as System76, Germany's TUXEDO Computers, and the UK-based Star Labs, but they tend to market to people who are already into Linux, not disgruntled Windows users. No, one big reason why Linux hasn't taken off is that there are no major PC OEMs strongly backing it. To Torvalds, Chromebooks "are the path toward the desktop."

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[–] Jyek@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Preface: I am a Linux user

The Linux desktop needs to not require users to dig through config files to enable features that both windows and Mac have working by default. Fingerprint sensors, audio interfaces, broken bootloaders that you have to fix yourself. Requiring people to ever use a command line even once will keep people on Windows as the dominant platform.

Every time I have to look at a Linux forum to figure out why something isn't working and the answers are run these commands I am instantly reminded that this is the exact thing keeping Windows mainstream.

Driver support still isn't perfect. Software support as well. Linux needs to ship out of the box running exe files in compatibility layers. Linux needs to adopt executable installers for software packages that can be downloaded on the web. If Linux wants to be the way people use computers, Linux needs to fit the mould that windows has built for the people who have used it for the last 40 years.

Doing anything differently is enough of a deterrent for 90% of computer users. And of those 90%, 75% of them will give up immediately trying to fix anything that doesn't work and either call someone else or decide it's broken and do nothing.

Linux is incredibly powerful and I believe it should be the way we run computers, but I get exactly why it isn't.

[–] arararagi@ani.social 5 points 1 hour ago

Basically this, it's why it has worked from that gaming side since just installing steam and running a game is now a painless process thanks to proton.

[–] llama@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 hour ago

Plugging in a flash drive and having it just work would be a start. Linux beginners don't care about the plight with exfat support.

[–] MashedTech@lemmy.world 5 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Also, software vendors need to be able to build and target one thing instead of 10 and many other packaging types, built types and test platforms. And people are still arguing, flatpak, appimage, snaps etc. Instead of shit just working well and reliably.

I've ran Linux since 10th grade. Now, at work, I use a MacBook. I can get my Dev shit done, I can get my business work done. I can get work done. I want to get my work done and move on with my life.

The way I run Linux nowadays is by having a second laptop for the love of the game.

[–] webkitten@piefed.social 17 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

To Torvalds, Chromebooks “are the path toward the desktop.”

Please don't associate Linux with a close-source proprietary neutered web browser owned by an ad company.

[–] MashedTech@lemmy.world 6 points 2 hours ago

The average Joe doesn't care.

[–] davidagain@lemmy.world 8 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Exactly. I wouldn't touch a chromebook with a barge pole. Who wants Google to watch absolutely everything you do?

[–] MashedTech@lemmy.world 5 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

You won't, but the average Joe will.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Average Joe lives in ignorance and doesnt know enough to care.

and theres also a good chance they don't care enough to know.. until shit hits the fan of course.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Nothing is needed for me, I already replaced Windows. It's been a while actually.

[–] Mrkawfee@feddit.uk 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Same. Im a total noob and there are challenges to using Linux but Microsoft are assholes who treat customers like shit so screw them

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

Welcome to the family. 🐧🫂

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

I'm a Windows User (Hello, there are dozens of us)

My laptop is Kubuntu (KDE+Ubuntu)

My college laptop was Linux Mint

My main PC is Win-10 LTSE.

Why: I need exceptional anti-cheat support because I play competitive online PvP shooter games religiously, and Virtual Desktop (VR Streaming Application) doesn't run under Linux.

Should I think about not doing that and install Bazzite instead?

Well there's the problem, huh?

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 27 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

I need exceptional anti-cheat support

Say what it really is: a root-kit to hand your entire system over to a corporation. That is a line I wouldn't be willing to cross.

So yeah, the best scenario for you is a dedicated, nothing personal on it, non service connected windows machine for gaming. At least until they quit rooting your computer simply to play a game.

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

That's pretty much what I've got yeah.. Win-10 LTSE ran through WarHawk-DeBloat and only Steam installed

It might make sense for me to dual boot *Nix then at some point; last time I did was in the XP Era, and GRUB worked flawlessly

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Thanks for the tip about war hawk debloat. I am about to help a friend go back to win 10 via LTSE and I can use that information!

[–] CommanderShepard@lemmy.world 28 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (2 children)

Like mentioned in the article, another issue is that there are very few offerings of computers with Linux preinstalled in normal computer stores.

You know how a normal average persons buys new laptops? They go to such store and look at the prices and buy one according to how much they want to spend. The advanced buyers might consult their more tech-savvy acquaintances. Stuff like "Just install Linux", is beyond concept comprehension for a lot of people, even if they heard about Linux at all.

All to say is that it's not like they can't understand these concepts if you explain them (people are clever), but they should care about them in the first place.

Edit: typo

[–] arararagi@ani.social 1 points 1 hour ago

Ironically, the laptops that do come with Linux are always the shittiest stuff like that Lenovo distro.

[–] restingboredface@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Agreed. We are in an age where tech is spoonfed to people with slick UIs and automated installs. Linux needs that--some kind of easy onramp to get people comfortable and familiar with it--in order to have a chance of getting broad acceptance. It's not particularly accessible even for people with a small amount of tech knowledge and skill.

I tried to set up mint on an old laptop recently and immediately hit a roadblock before I could even get an install going. I did some research and found some options to troubleshoot it but gave up because the guidance I found online was a bit more complex than I felt comfortable acting on.

I really want to try out Linux, but if someone like me (with some technology knowledge and comfort) still gets this easily tripped up on installing it, I can't imagine the average person taking the leap successfully.

[–] unphazed@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Lemme guess, Secure Boot prevented installation?

[–] restingboredface@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago

I think it was something like that, though its been about 6 weeks so Im a little fuzzy on it now. I was following a guide I'd found online and reached something different from what the guide said, so I aborted install to check on somethings and that apparently set something that when i tried to restart installation it kept throwing an error. Something about starting the installation without completing it messed something else up that I havent been able to fix. I spent an hour or so looking through stuff, even wiped the PC and it still wouldn't work. I've been meaning to go back to it but haven't gotten around to it.

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