I’ve been testing and/or using various Linux Distros since 1996, but none of them ever measured up to whatever the current Windows OS was during those years. Overall, Linux has certainly improved during the past 6-7 years, as a Desktop/Laptop OS, but Windows 10 and now Windows 11 have improved by ‘Leaps and Bounds’ during those same years.
Back on 1/6/2019 I had started the Linux Newbie – since 1996 blog (now private—headed for deletion), because I wanted to do some serious testing and experimenting. 747 posts were made from start date until I went Private with it on 6/24/2023. A lot of the info on older posts was no longer accurate or had become stale. However, just as much of the info was extremely relevant to the plaguing issues that had always held Linux back as a popular OS for ‘normal people’ – IMHO.
Some Examples: 1) the autoscrolling function of a basic wheel mouse doesn’t work in Linux, except in a Firefox browser – Settings > General > Browsing > Use autoscrolling. 2) Constant problematic issues keep popping up, e.g., ‘dreaded irq handler error message’ – “The error message “_common_interrupt: 1.55 No irq handler for vector” is related to the handling of hardware interrupts in the Linux kernel.” 3) Enterprise OS mentality slows down Work Flow for Desktop/Laptop users – one password at login is more than enough, but most Linux Distros require constant “sudo” requirements & annoying “Authenticate” popups throughout a computer session. Here are my ‘Top 10’ Distros that don’t have the Work Flow Enterprise related issues. 4) Open Source does not equal security – “source code is made available for use or modification as users or other developers see fit.” It is basically ‘False Advertising’ to claim that Linux is Secure. 5) lack of Device Drivers (especially for Printers) has always held Linux back, but with over 600++ Linux Distros one cannot blame OEMs for not investing their own money in such a fragmented operating system: ‘Fragmentation is Why Linux Hasn’t Succeeded on Desktop: Linus Torvalds’.
- NOTE: There are other Linux issues, but lack of Device Drivers is probably the Top reason for Limited Service from Linux as a Desktop/Laptop operating system. Also, some of the above links are from my Linux Muse—Orca Flotta’s ‘Thar She Blows!’ blog.
Secondary OS – ‘Specialty’ OS
Orca recently said THIS to me: ‘And instead of teaching those poor souls, helping them to get away from the Microsoft kraken, you’re doubling down, going full evil. 😮’
That is one of the main problems that most all Linux advocates have, i.e., they want Windows users to drop their Full Service Windows OS and take up a Limited Service Linux OS instead.
I doubt anyone tried to promote Linux to Windows users more than I have over the past 4.5++ years. I had almost 90,000 views on that Linux Newbie blog – don’t know if I was successful reaching any Windows users, since topics directed towards Windows users were not the most popular posts. Windowsfx posts were the most popular tho.
My focuses on promoting Linux were as a Portable OS (on USB), as a Secondary or ‘Companion’ OS to Windows, and as a ‘Specialty’ or “Special *PURPOSE* Linuxes” (turn older computers into a Jukebox or Music Server), “Build your own Steam Machine”, Portable OS on USB for Rescue, Penetration Testing, Clonezilla for making image backups, etcetera. There are many useful ways to use Linux other than just servers.
About 2% of Worldwide Desktop/Laptop users use Linux as their primary Desktop/Laptop OS, and it has stayed between 1.5 to 2.2% for decades.
Linux-based Chrome OS came out about 12 years ago, and is more popular than any of the 600++ Linux Distros—it is almost as popular as all of them combined: Linux 1.99% – Chrome OS 1.38%.
Linux-based Android had a Worldwide mobile OS market share of 70.8% this year.
Personally, I don’t care for Chromebooks Chrome OS, and converted my $314.57 Samsung 12.2” Chromebook Plus V2, Intel® Celeron®, 32GB eMMC into a Fedora Linux Laptop/Tablet/Sketchbook. Chromebooks have OEMs lining up to build them because Chrome OS is secure (one password at login), stable and reliable, and comes in a low priced well-made laptop.
I had also tested a $209.99 (no tax ‘n free shipping) new HP 14″ Chromebook – 14a-na0023cl – Intel® Celeron® N4000 – 14″ FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) display – Intel UHD Graphics 600 – Bonus Sleeve & Wireless Mouse – 4GB Memory – 64GB Storage (eMMC) – and some other ‘Stuff’. That one I couldn’t convert to Linux so I gave it to a relative. Well built laptop for just over $200.
I would consider Chromebooks’ & Chromeboxes’ Chrome OS to be a Secondary OS and/or ‘Specialty’ OS – also a Limited Service OS. It doesn’t need a lot of Device Drivers, but look at the list of compatible Chromebook printers.
Conclusion
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Too many choices overwhelm the consumer/customer/user.
Too many desktop choices held Linux back from succeeding as a desktop operating system? Linux creator Linus Torvalds certainly thinks so.
It seems to be that Chromebooks and Android are the paths towards the desktop.
Android & Chrome OS were both serious, and have become successful OSes both financially and in popularity. Android as a mobile OS is incredibly popular. Chrome OS as a Desktop/Laptop OS is not nearly as popular, but security, stability & reliability in a well built & low priced laptop or box (Chromebox) has top rated OEMs like HP & Samsung seeking to produce them.
Doubtful that any Linux Distro will ever be able to become a Full Service Desktop/Laptop OS like MS Windows, especially with the archaic Enterprise OS mentality that the Linux developers have – and of course, the fragmentation issues that plague every aspect of Linux. Not many Device OEMs are willing to invest their time & money in such unpredictability.