this post was submitted on 04 Sep 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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Ubuntu is much less user hostile than windows. My parents only used Ubuntu for the past several years because they inherited my old laptop. They just want to Google stuff, so all they need is a familiar browser.
Oh for the love of Linus, block all notifications requests from websites at the browser level. Comon people accept all notifications requests and get inundated by them.
It's an interesting angle, the hostility thing. People in the know have largely fallen out of love with Ubuntu but imho that's not necessarily because Ubuntu fell in quality but just because so many "better" things have come up since Ubuntu 04.10. It is definitely a sound choice for non-techy people, maybe more than ever. Personally I'd prefer (almost) any contemporary desktop over Gnome these days, but I can definitely see the appeal for others in terms of simple design language.
Basically you can turn any old laptop into a Chromebook these days using Linux, and most people just like your parents most definitely do not need more than a functional webbrowser. Basically a smartphone with a larger screen and physical keyboard. Even if you don't care about your privacy (or freedom from notification-spam) why still pay the Microsoft-tax.
The reason I still choose Ubuntu, or sometimes Mate, specially for other people is because I know it's highly likely to just work on any laptop I throw it into. Most people don't care one single bit about the downsides of Ubuntu.
What downsides though right? "We" object to Ubuntu over matters like Canonical being a for-profit company or their choice of Desktop Environment. At the end of the day, who cares? If it works it works, right?
The downsides you would only read on Linux communities. My mother couldn't even begin to understand what snap is about.