Just to clarify, I don’t think it’s a problem that hatred is minimal here, and I don’t just mean politics.

I feel like I very rarely see alternative opinions about anything, whether it be software, ai, news about companies, etc. it just seems like everyone universally agrees about anything with only a tiny handful of exceptions.

It makes me hesitant to believe I’m on the “correct side” and I never see any arguments from opposition. This makes me worried that I’m in some sort of echo chamber. In real life, I do see much more diverse opinions and, if I only used the fediverse for social media, would likely be weaker in defending my own since their arguments would be “new” to me.

I understand the reasons for which the fediverse has pretty collective opinion, but it does still worry me. I want to be able to see all the other people with their own thoughts (given it’s respectful) on the Internet, which should be the most capable tool to do so.

  • Wildmimic@anarchist.nexusEnglish
    3·
    1 month ago

    I must argue back, sadly. For someone like me who knows how to search the web for exactly the wording that is relevant for my issue, because i know how PCs in general work, how to scour through log files and how to formulate my search terms, Linux is fine, even if it has (still) some rough edges. (why the hell is there no graphical service manager installed on fedora per default for example? I know how to use the command line for this, others might not.)

    If someone just want to use their PC for gaming with no issues at all, don’t want to research workarounds if you run into hitches or want to play current multiplayer titles, windows still has an edge (even if it’s a bit of an artificial one regarding anticheats). If you leave the safe environment of Steam, Epic, GoG and Amazon (with Heroic), and want to just install a game with an downloaded installer, the learning curve gets steep pretty fast for someone who doesn’t know shit about computers. Under Windows it’s a doubleclick (or a singleclick in your browsers download manager) and clicking next/finish. Flatpak has helped here in some circumstances, but comes with it’s own limitations if you don’t know why your downloaded program can’t access anything outside your home directory for example.

    For someone who has used only windows in the last 20 years and is used to a specific workflow for whatever they wanna do (like people who digitize VHS tapes or similar “legacy” tasks), it will most likely be hard to switch over too - and why should they? (We both know why they SHOULD, but it will not be obvious or easy for those people)

    Then there is another aspect: if you can’t speak english most good sources for troubleshooting are out of your reach. I’m in a german language country - if i had to limit myself to only german language sources everytime i run into some issue, i would have given up pretty soon. Baby boomers in this country have atrocious english language skills in general.

    So you see: Everyone should consider Linux, but if you are old, don’t have technical knowledge, don’t speak english, do some task you have done the same way the last decade ,… the difficulty of switching might be too much without someone who helps them and is available when something breaks.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zipEnglish
      1·
      1 month ago

      Most of your “people who should think about staying on Windows” are not typical users, outside of AAA multiplayer specifically (currently, though it looks like EA at least is maybe changing). Yeah, it’s harder to play games from sources other than Steam, Epic, GoG, but how many are? If you are, then you’re also probably technically knowledgeable and you’ll be fine. No one who “doesn’t know shit” about computers is getting things from sources besides these.

      For someone who has used only windows in the last 20 years and is used to a specific workflow for whatever they wanna do… , it will most likely be hard to switch over too - and why should they?

      This is the point I made. It’s easier on Linux often (OK, maybe not that niche thing, but who’s doing that?). It requires relearning though. They probably dealt with a lot of shit setting the work flow up in Windows. I’m not saying they should change. However, I am saying comparing switching to Linux from Windows is not the same as comparing Linux and Windows. In a vacuum, for the average user, I’m almost certain Linux is easier at this point. Just compare the install process for most common distros to that of Windows. It’s crazy how much simpler and easier it is. Is that easier than just doing nothing? Obviously not, and that’s not what I claimed.

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
      1·
      1 month ago

      Debian is pretty plug and play. Ubuntu tries to be idiot-proof like Windows on top of it. If like most people you don’t do your own tech support it’s a non-issue for the most part. Either way you take it to the guy who set it up if something breaks or needs changing.

      Gaming would be the exception where you still need Windows. It’s getting better but support is not universal.

      Then there is another aspect: if you can’t speak english most good sources for troubleshooting are out of your reach.

      Yeah, I could see how that would be hard.