People say this but if you’re just using something like Linux Mint, it’s vastly simpler than Windows.
The search works.
All functions are done through graphical programs (terminal isn’t needed).
It’s laid out in the usual Windows UX, complete with a taskbar at the bottom, start button in the bottom left that opens a familiar menu, minimise, maximise, and close buttons in the top right of a window.
Apps are installed through an app store, rather than searching online, hoping you’ve downloaded the right installer, opening it, going through the installer, deleting the installer afterwards.
Auto updates can easily be enabled at first time setup, in the tutorial program that runs upon first boot.
A distro like Cinnamon is easier than Windows or MacOS. It doesn’t need to be made any simpler, it just needs to be available out of the box on more devices, because no average user will ever change their OS, even to an easier to use one.
Smokeydope@lemmy.world 7 months ago
My elderly parents in their 60s use linux mint daily and have never had an issue with it (admittedly I did have to set it up for them still). The hardest part isn’t using an alternative OS like mint or pop, its getting an average person to figure out how to install it. Getting into your BIOS to boot into the installation drive, re-partitioning your harddrive to free up space for dual booting or nuking windows off all together, those are the hardest parts for any first timers IMO. After youve done it a dozen times its no problemo but the first time is nerve racking at least it was to me.
HC4L@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Kinda disagree here, my parents also won’t install Windows or any other OS by themselves. An average person isn’t going to switch to an alternate OS. Because they do not care.
An average person however IS going to want that specific Windows only mail client, legacy applications that don’t run on Linux or use their bank website that isn’t supported by Linux.
This is a one way ticket to making yourself the sole family sysadmin.
brothershamus@kbin.social 7 months ago
Becoming the sole family admin is an inevitability. Unless your family are all people who read manuals, and they're not, you are the sole family admin already and probably don't know it.
Anomalous_Llama@lemmy.world 7 months ago
And as the sole sysadmin of my family I am going to prioritize keeping them in familiar environments to reduce my ticket load as I don’t have a tier 1 group to handle them.
jmankman@lemmy.myserv.one 7 months ago
What the fuck bank do you use that looks at your OS and says “fuck that guy”??
LemmyIsFantastic@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Plenty of banks, if not most, will keep you out just for using a known VPN.
thejml@lemm.ee 7 months ago
I had my Mom and Dad using Ubuntu like 12yrs ago. He was fine using it for like 6-9 months, I was impressed… Then he got a high end slide scanner that literally only worked with custom software in Windows XP. And then my Mom needed some windows only software for her hobbies and well, they both have Windows now and it’s somehow reduced my tech support and they’re happy, so whatever. I’ll stick to Linux/Mac and everyone’s happy.
It really comes down to “use the right tool for the job”.
theherk@lemmy.world 7 months ago
originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 7 months ago
there is an 'oem setup' you can run. so ive been taking old desktop PCs, running them through the oem setup where i can configure the drivers and everything, and then shut it down.
Then on first boot when i hand it to a new end user, they just follow the instructions. i tell them to leave most things default and theres never really any issues.. printers sometimes i spose
thefartographer@lemm.ee 7 months ago
I propose an “e-printer.” It’ll just be an e-reader that you can send images, documents, any non-moving media to via a “print” icon. It’ll have options on how to format the file browser, including a view called “piles” where it shows a disheveled layering of whatever files are in that directory instead of a folder icon. Previewing items in the “piles” view would let you “thumb through” the corners of the “printouts” until you find the one you suspect is the right file. The first select shows an image preview of the file, the second select fully opens the file. Extra points if we can open the file using a voice command such as “ahhhh, there it is.”
ares35@kbin.social 7 months ago
so, a pdf 'printer' basically. anything you print gets dumped to pdf files... which can be previewed, searched, annotated, organized into directories (piles) etc. as well as sent to and shared with others, or even printed on a dead tree.
nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de 7 months ago
OSX had stacks, and has quick view that does all that piles stuff. I tried them out for about a week when they were first introduced. Grids are better for a reason.
And the print dialogs all have save PDF instead, but automating an eReader upload is a neat idea.
Melpomene@kbin.social 7 months ago
Age is no barrier for Linux adoption, but some people just... don't have the bandwidth to dive into something new. If you use Windows at work, all of the programs you own (or really, license) are Windows, your files are tragically stored in OneDrive... you really have to WANT to branch out to move to something that for your use case is comparable.