Say a friend is looking for a new system, and said person is not particularly savvy with technology, what system would you point them toward?
Linux mint
Stupid fucking answer.
I love Linux. I use it on multiple machines daily. It’s not for an average user.
MacOS if they can afford it. Otherwise Linux Mint.
If this average user doesn’t need to use Microsoft or Apple software, Fedora Workstation Linux. My dad, who is 78 and of average intelligence can use it, anyone can.
Linux can run on older, used hardware, has no AI, no Apple or Microsoft account required.
Bazzite. Fedora + drivers + immutable + gaming works out of the box.
I don’t get the appeal of immutability. System files are read-only for users for a reason already. Don’t modify them as root unless you know what you’re doing and you’ll be fine.
What am I missing?
(Also gaming for a 78 year old, meh.)
What you’re missing is that the question was what would you recommend to the average user.
Exactly, so there should be no reason to edit sensitive system files in either case. Great, further to my point.
Okay? I don’t understand this reaction in this context. I’m just making statements lol. Not yelling at you.
I fail to see how gaming has anything to do with my retired dad.
I didn’t realize OP’s question was ‘What desktop operating system would you recommend to Scott’s dad?’ I guess I need new glasses.
If you pick the correct hardware. Which is a crap shoot per distro, bazzite included.
People keep saying this but I’ve not had a single solitary issue getting Bazzite working on a myriad of older and newer devices.
I’ve had issues on multiple devices.
Which devices, if I may ask? I’m curious under which circumstances I should definitely not recommend it.
MSI tomahawk mags, one with a 10700, the other with a12700. Nvidia GPUs. Nothing out of the ordinary.
No, it doesn’t.
MacOS.
I hate Apple, and I do not like how they operate. But I cannot deny how user friendly their OS is, how affordable their machines are (Mac mini) and how even those who do not know how to use a PC, can pick them up and use them.
Linux Mint is my second choice
Only Linux which feels like a normal PC, and 99% of features can be installed via UI. There are holes, and I feel an immutable OS would fill this niche better, but for now this is my number 2.
Ya, I do like my Mac, the track pad is phenomenal as well.
But fuck everything about their prices, or at least the laptop prices…
If I didn’t need a mac for work (iOS development), I’d probably try a linux laptop next.
I literally installed mom and dad’s Mac mini yesterday. They need to be able to run commercial software. Moving to Mac was foreign enough for them, I don’t think people in their 90’s would do well with Linux. I will, however, work on getting my sister onto Linux. We will see.
I fell with the right desktop environment like Plasma and a locked down OS that can be used without a password, Linux can be for all. Especially when it comes to using it as a web machine. If they don’t need apps, it’s fine.
Mac’s are my go to if you need commercial software. And the one pain point for Linux as a OS.
Though Valve is bridging the gap
Linux. Hands down. Always.
New user? Try Kubuntu Linux
Power user? Eh, you can try anything but I’m still with Kubuntu because Ubuntu with KDE just works so damned nice
Fedora, now it’s shockingly easy to use.
I silently replaced windows in the home PC and it took 2 months for the tech illiterate SO to say “WTF, why you put Apple on this PC, I thought you hated them” (put same username/password, same wallpaper, even Microsoft Edge)
At work I was shocked that I could login directly as
user@windows.domainwithout any extra configuration. Plain vanilla fresh install, typed my active directory account for laughs, it worked 😲Also at work I was shocked to see that I could just run the exe of the windows-only accounting software and everything works. I even installed LibreOffice in wine, lol (the accounting software needs
soffice.exefor generating spreadsheets). I could even install foxit reader for windows 😂 (sorry, all the Linux PDF readers completely suck when printing, I need previews and booklet and all the extra features)Point blank generic recommendation? MacOS.
Otherwise, Linux is the endgame, so it’s a matter of talking to the person to see what software is essential for them.
I wouldnt dare recommending something that most cant use, simply because they cant buy, beyond that there ethical considerarions, Apple is famous for ecosystem lockin which is extremely unethical
Ecosystem lock-in is likely not a concern for the average person, though. If they just need a computer to browse the web and edit some basic documents, everything else is just fluff.
Whatever Linux is being sold pre-installed on a machine within their budget.
Told my dad to buy a Dell laptop with Ubuntu preinstalled after his last Windows laptop died. He’s been fine with that for the last 5 years.
Nice post to stir some shit, OP. 🍿
🍿
If you are mainly gaming, Bazzite. For everything else, Fedora.
iOS.
Linux only if they can follow directions.
Posts on linux mint forum asking for help Nobody answers Now how do you follow that direction?
I’ll just fucking say it. Windows. Maybe Mac if you want, but that’s gonna cost a fair bit more. Skip Linux. Everyone here circlejerks it like it’s the best thing since 3.25" floppy drives, but it’s a pain in the ass for the above average user, let alone someone who isn’t tech savvy. The first time they encounter a problem and have to open the terminal they are going to shut off their computer and burn their house down. Unless your friend wants to learn Linux, then I’d advise you to steer them clear, regardless of what the crowd here has to say about it.
Windows is clean and simple. People here will say otherwise and they’ll point to strawman arguments that don’t have anything to do with the average user, like user telemetry or shutdown/restart on update. Windows wouldn’t be dominant if it wasn’t user friendly. If my grandfather can figure out how to install his bible verse software on his Windows PC, then your friend is going to be just fine.
Edit: echo “⬇️” | figlet
Windows sucks more now, but it is still the top dog and I do not expect that to change soon. Linux is something you go out of your way to learn for the sake of absolute control and privacy over your system. Problems are to be expected on Linux, and you gotta be willing to deal with them. For the average person, they will want whatever works, and that will be Mac or Windows.
Ask them what they want to do.
Gaming? Windows. SteamOS is great but there are too many games that require Windows.
Creatives? MacOS. Yeah, you can do all that (and more!) on Windows machines, but the creative space is largely all Mac all the time.
Office Productivity? Anything. Libre Office is cross platform.
Want to complain about how you don’t fit in and it would be a better place if the world would just accommodate you? Linux.
MacOS combines user friendliness, easy learning curve, seamless integration with other devices, and reliability.
It’s what I’d recommended to anyone who wants to use a computer without having to deal with the aggravation of dealing with a computer.
You say Mac or windows unless you have a death wish to be their eternal tech support
