this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2025
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Linux

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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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What are the best reasons people have given you for not wanting to try Linux? (distrowatch.com)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by VoxAliorum@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Heyho, recently someone asked for the silliest reasons, but as someone who has suggested linux to many people, I often encounter people having valid reasons for staying with Windows or switching back.

The most boring but valid one is "I have to use Windows for work. It is a requirement (of some software I have to use)". But there are also other answers that fit. My sister for example tried Linux, but while installing software constantly encountered issues that I helped her solve and eventually switched back because she felt like she had less control than over windows. While I am aware that this is fundamentally wrong, it is valid that some amateur users do not want to invest enough time to get over the initial hurdles of relearning how to install software.

What are the best reasons people have given you for not wanting to try Linux?

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[–] hayk@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I can give you reasons I have for not installing Linux on one of my laptops:

  • Intel graphics support, or the absence of it;

  • decent touchscreen support (Windows Ink);

  • WSL which I use with NixOS, and it does simplify most of my dev needs;

  • unfortunately, Adobe apps which I still heavily rely on (I'd wish I had an alternative),

  • PowerPoint (again, I'd wish I had an alternative).

If you want to comment: "oh but have you tried Affinity, Pixie, Only Office, Libre Impress, reveal.js, {enter your fav presentation/photo editing tool} -- yes I have, and no, unfortunately, it's not even close. Also, to be clear, I've never paid, and never will for the Windows/Adobe products.

[–] tooLikeTheNope@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

(e) PowerPoint (again, I'd wish I had an alternative).

Oh for ducks' sakes... just make pdf slides, do you really need animation and/or transitions? They are going to be a proufoudly horrible and disconcertingly awkward mind searing experience anyway

[–] hayk@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

i use neither animations nor transitions. but i do extensively use movies (which have a horrible support in Impress), and i use lots of equations (which you can enable using third-party plugins in Impress, but working with them is very difficult).

i've been bitten twice when i've been traveling on a conference and had to quickly put up slides in Impress, and ended up not being able to do what i wanted because of all of its limitations. i ended up using reveal.js, but that also has its own drawbacks, e.g., the lack of UI, which i can use to quickly fine-tune arrows, text positions etc.