Linux isn't ready for casual users yet.
Linux isn't ready for casual users yet.
We've recently installed three dozen desktops. At home we have two daily-use ones, a third dedicated to installations, and a few in the workshop for disk wiping or web research. We also own three laptops—three of them are quite old running 32-bit Linux MATE. It has traveled with us worldwide. Our organization has about 70 members, likely with at least one-third having desktops. The person with the newest desktop recently purchased it for over $2000. We’re unsure why, as we could easily give away something similar for free. NOTE – these systems are all using Linux Mint, except the MATE and the newly acquired one.
Android could run on the Linux kernel, yet its smartphone context differs greatly from a desktop environment. Most users don’t encounter Grub unless they switch systems. On platforms like Ubuntu, you’ll notice their branding and some visual cues. Beyond that, people usually focus on the login screen before noticing details. Whether Linux functions well hinges on what someone anticipates from their device. My mother has used Ubuntu for years; she mainly browses the web, shops on eBay, handles emails, and manages documents—all smoothly. It’s performed just fine. Still, it hasn’t been completely flawless. I’ve needed help occasionally, like during stuck updates. Compared to my father, who uses Windows, I’ve only needed assistance about 10% of the time. He also faced virus issues, but not as often. I didn’t have to deal with virus removal or full reinstalls much. In my view, Linux tends to cause fewer headaches for beginners who aren’t eager to experiment. The challenges mainly hit those who are unsure and still want to try things themselves. Following simple guides is easier than navigating terminal commands. Yet, mistakes made without caution can lead to serious problems. My father’s infections came from clicking suspicious links and running unknown files—treating those prompts as genuine warnings was key. Yes, we discussed avoiding such actions repeatedly.
GRUB serves as a bootloader, while PopOS relies on systemd-boot, another bootloader common across many distros. Installing an alternative Windows version alongside is a smart approach. Pressing ctrl-alt-f2 in regular use isn't something you usually do—remembering it feels like a last resort when the desktop isn't accessible. Some may choose this path, but it often leads to frustration and wasted effort. While I'm not recommending installing Gentoo on someone else's computer, it’s clear that many won’t be able to fix it themselves. Running terminal commands directly is preferable to clicking through every "download now!" prompt, especially when avoiding malware. For most users, the focus isn’t on whether Linux suits everyone, but on people sticking to their OS without changing it.
While Linux keeps improving, it still feels like a long way off from fully replacing Windows for my needs. Because I mainly play games, switching seems unlikely anytime soon. Whenever someone shares their setup, they usually end up stuck trying to fix things instead of enjoying the experience. Another challenge is the overwhelming number of options—often dozens of distros are suggested for any given use case. Linux has some benefits, but in areas that matter most to me, it falls short. Many forum members tend to overlook a key point: once you start typing commands in the terminal rather than clicking icons, most users abandon the platform.
It's not just regular users. We've worked with administrators setting up our software, even when Linux is significantly simpler. They quickly give up with just a couple of terminal commands. In Windows, it's a much longer process—50 pages of PDFs, endless screens to navigate through, and countless clicks to install, despite the instructions being straightforward. The real challenge isn't complexity; it's the fear of not knowing how to start.
I had absolutely no problems. Just install Ubuntu like any other distribution and run it normally. Avoid changing settings and you’ll be okay. If you’re not tech-savvy and tamper with registry files, you might end up with a partially broken Windows version. You’re not familiar with Linux and experimenting could lead to a severely unstable system.