Linux definitely has a learning curve but
I’d like to interject here a bit.
For a “normal” user (read non-tech, perhaps even a bit lower on the “tech literacy” scale) any change requires a learning curve. While we Linux people don’t have too big of a problem switching distros and UI setups, someone “non-techy” finds the switch from Win7 to Win10 challenging, as well as from Win10 to Win11. We’re not in the 95/98 era when a “name” upgrade meant you don’t have to install USB drivers off a floppy - the UI stayed the same.
Nowadays, the move from 10 to 11 is anything but “painless” to me - and for me it’s just annoyances. For people less tech-savvy it’s an enigma at times.
So, my point is - the switch from Win10 to Win11 will probably be worse than Win10 to Mint for old people (mostly). Those deeply rooted into varous ecosystems aren’t the focus of this comment.
entwine413@lemm.ee 4 days ago
Modern Linux doesn’t have a learning curve for 99% of people. My wife’s 90 year old grandma picked it up with no trouble.
lord_ryvan@ttrpg.network 3 days ago
If anything, I think it’s people used to Windows or macOS that don’t want anything to change that tend to hate Linux systems; it’s not exactly Windows/macOS (and doesn’t run exactly the MS Office and Adobe suits) so they hate it.
DFX4509B_2@lemmy.org 3 days ago
Adobe’s been starting to get some pushback and people ditching them for FOSS alternatives lately, though.
Pirata@lemm.ee 3 days ago
If all you do is browser the web, the learning curve is a solid 0. The issue is when you want to install specific programs.
entwine413@lemm.ee 3 days ago
Anyone who is savvy enough to install an OS won’t have any issues installing specific programs, especially since most products that people would be using have a direct download for the deb/rpm.
And if you’re not tech savvy enough to install an OS, you’re probably already getting someone who is savvy to do computer work for you.
But, this isn’t the 2000s. Everyone knows the concept of an app store, and most mainstream distros have one featured prominently.
monotremata@lemmy.ca 3 days ago
The “specific program” I have trouble with is Autodesk Fusion (formerly Fusion 360). There are projects that try to run it through Wine, but there’s a specific function that isn’t implemented in Wine right now that Fusion relies on as part of its authentication service, so it won’t log you in correctly, at least on the default Mint install. I think at least one of the relevant functions is currently in the Wine beta, so it may work again in a bit–I did manage to get it working briefly at one point, but I somehow screwed it up again subsequently. (I may just have forgotten how I launched it…I think I have two versions installed at this point, the Flatpak and the Snap install.) But even when it worked it was slow and janky in a much more severe way than when it runs natively on Windows.
The “specific program” my dad is interested in is Hesuvi, a piece of headphone virtualization software that also does equalization and crossover. At some point I identified a program I though would work on Linux as an alternative, but I would want to test that before committing to switching his computer over from Windows, and I haven’t got around to that yet. Other than that he mostly uses Zoom, and I think I tested that and it worked okay in Mint, though my memory is a little weak on that too.
I dunno. Basically everyone has their own little patterns they use with their computers, and switching to Linux requires changes to those patterns. It’s an adaptation. That’s not to say it’s not worth it–for a ton of people it probably is. But I’m not sure my aging parents can do it, and thanks to Fusion, I’m not sure I can do it either, because I just don’t have a good replacement.
The other option I’m looking into is Windows IoT LTSC. That omits a LOT of the problematic bullshit.
I’ll figure something out before the end of support, anyway.
_LordMcNuggets_@feddit.org 2 days ago
oh yeah? well my grandma’s 212 year old great grandpa picked it up within seconds.