What Linux Needs To Do To Reach The Masses.

[Jerry3904]

Not everybody uses a computer only to check their email and Facebook no matter what the commercials show.

<complete no-no>
I just watched The Social Network, speaking of Facebook...
</no-no>

[Paul..]

Linux has already reached the masses. We are surrounded by a sea of linux-powered devices, routers, set top boxes, phones (Android), servers...heck, IBM threw in the towel and bought RedHat because they were selling so many servers that ran Linux...why not get paid for the service...I would wager that Google's entire network of worldwide data centers and servers are all running Linux...they build all the network equipment and the all the server hardware themselves...they're sure as heck aren't buying the software from Microsoft! The last company I worked for built cellular base station software and we had a data center with 1,000 rack-mounted servers running Linux just to simulate the behavior of thousands of subscriber mobile phones.

[woodyb12]

In my most humble opinion, the basic premise that linux "is not" reaching the masses is based solely on the Author's opinion! Not any real factual basis. I believe this to be true because there is no way to track Linux Users the same way that Windows and MacOS does.
As far as I know the only Linux users who are "tracked", are those who 'opt-in' to the Linux tracking system. I don't remember what the name of the program is; but, I know that when I installed Linux Mint, you have an option to 'opt-in' to send information about your system, OS, and how you use it. That's it as far as I know. ( Maybe they get your IP address. ) But it is not used to track what you do online,or, whether or not your Licence is 'Activated', or anything that would compromise your system to suit their agenda!
So! If the developers and maintainers of all the Linux Kernel/distributions cannot really know 'how many' people are actually using Linux, then how does this guy determine, through 'one' instance, that Linux is not 'reaching the masses?'
Therefore, his most basic premise fails to impress me one bit. You would also think, that after all those years of using Linux, that he would tell his friend that, LINUX IS NOT WINDOWS!!!!
As many people have stated in many posts, in all sorts of forums; the Linux community has little-to-NO-support from the PC manufactures, Peripheral makers, etc.....! So! One has to do for oneself! Yes? I speak to the Kernel and Package programmers now.
Anyone who uses any version of GNU/Linux knows that it is not going to be just a 'point & click' software-install (drivers..etc.); so, it takes a certain amount of patients and perseverance and
ability to accept some failure(s) in order to use Software which was initially developed for use on Mainframe Computers.
I am 65 yrs. old and have spent a great deal of time trying to get a handle on Linux. ( The last three years ). I have used just about every Linux distribution out there; and Linux Mint was my favorite, but since I installed MX-18.3 Continuum I have been very happy with that distro! (My new Favorite!)
It may well be that Linux hasn't reached the masses; however, Linux is ONLY for those who are interested in doing more than a "point & Click" OS could provide.
Thanks to the Developers of MX-Linux for making such a powerfull, lightweight, easy-to-use distribution.
Sincerely,
woodyb12

[jackdanielsesq]

Woodyb12 ...

Amen to that - a very true statement - MX is simply world-class

Highest Regards

Jack

Thanks to the Developers of MX-Linux for making such a powerfull, lightweight, easy-to-use distribution.
Sincerely,
woodyb12

[TreylerGram]

Linux needs to become closer to the user, wind up a beautiful interface and do what will be close to the simplest users who do not know where the Power button is.

[hunghung]

Linux now is better as a desktop than Windows. If you have supported hardware, everything is just straight forward. Hardware support is always a problem for Linux. But this has improved very much compared to the past :)

p/s: lack of specialist software is a major problem, too. For example, engineering software.

[freemedia2018]

i am certainly more concerned about how it reaches the masses, than whether it does.

eventually, it may reach the masses via microsoft. that would defeat the entire purpose of the real operating system that some people conflate with the linux kernel. (why dispute that? because the actual purpose of that os is very, very different than the purpose of the kernel.)

as to whether it has already reached the masses or not, of course it has-- and most of the things that "reaching the masses" might prove have already been proven. but it certainly hasnt "reached the masses" in the sense that the author is referring to. for me, there is an ideal to found in these solutions, and while it is worth looking for ways to bring that ideal to more people, it isnt worth throwing that ideal away in the process.

[jj1j1]

It has reached the masses, though, in most cases, unknowingly. It's funny how many folks have there face buried in their mobile phone now a days.

[notfound]

I certainly hope Linux as a desktop computer OS doesn't reach the masses. It would turn into some kind of Windows bloatware Frankenstein. Let the masses keep using Apple and Microsoft, and we can keep our streamlined, high performance operating systems.

[Artim]

I certainly hope Linux as a desktop computer OS doesn't reach the masses. It would turn into some kind of Windows bloatware Frankenstein. Let the masses keep using Apple and Microsoft, and we can keep our streamlined, high performance operating systems.

Agreed! People I have shared Linux with were amazed and delighted - at first. But within about two years guess what: Back on Windows® or bought a new Mac. Never mind the freedom, never mind the no-cost, installs-in-minutes, immunity to most malware, etc. It's strange to me that people who have tasted and delighted in a perfect, free operating system with all those benefits would abandon it so soon after, and return to the expensive and insecure OS that frustrated them before.

I can see it for gamers, maybe, and people who must run software that isn't available except for Windows®, but for the rest, I'm dumbfounded. So now I'm like, heck with "the masses." I'm no longer the "Linux evangelist" I once was.