this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2024
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Until one of the RAM sticks went bad, my parents, who are in their 60s ran Ubuntu Linux for years without an issue. I set it up in 2016, as a dual boot with Windows. They almost never booted into Windows, and told me they preferred Linux.
My children ran Mint desktops for years without issue or complaint. When I bought them new laptops though I decided to let them run the default Windows.
(To preface, when I say "Linux", I'm referring to the effectively established colloquialism that "Linux" means kernel + utilities + distribution = operating system)
Right. In fact, at home, I run all three operating systems. To me, it's using the right tool for the job. Windows is a great OS for gaming (though Valve is working to make it as viable on Linux, it's still not...quite...there, but close). Mac is great for UX, media work, and as a work PC (software development or otherwise). Linux is great for tinkering, software development, and running services.
The "issues" that the OP even refers to are usually not so much real issues, but rather a person simply trying to learn. And that's what is great about Linux for someone who doesn't yet know it -- there's a LOT to learn. I've been using Linux since 1999 (big box Redhat 5.1!) and I still often learn something new about it.
Very much agree. In a lot of cases the problems people encounter are just a different and therefor unfamiliar way of doing things. This can sometimes be remedied by finding a GUI that is more similar to what they are familiar with, but this is also likely a different and unfamiliar task :)
I'm genuinely curious, what was their reaction to the OS change?
No issues really. They had used Windows machines at school as well as chromebooks so they were not married to any single interface. For them the GUI was a way to open a browser or art program. It was the tools that mattered.
That makes sense. My kids were exposed to Chromebooks at some point (when I was still a Google tool), but the freedom to break and fix whatever that want with Linux just dazzled them, which adds to my happiness 😏
Was it an LTS release? 2016 is a long way to go without a major update for Ubuntu.
Maybe I'm just spoilt as I have a rolling distro.
Yes, 16.04 LTS. And they updated as I helped them update, but never went beyond some patch level of 16.04. The point here is that they ran for many years with complete stability, no viruses or malware, and preferred it.