Linux needs to grow. Stop telling people it’s ‘tech-y’ or acting like you’re more advanced for using it, you are scaring away people. Linux Mint can be used by a senile person perfectly.

Explain shortly the benefits, ‘faster, more secure, easier to use, main choices of professionals and free’. Ask questions that let you know if they need to dual boot, ‘do you use Adobe, anti-cheat games, or Microsoft Office’, ‘how new is your computer’, ‘do you use a Mac’.

And most importantly, offer to help them install.

They don’t understand the concept of distros, just suggest Linux Mint LTS Cinnamon unless they’re curious.

That’s it, spread Linux to as many people as possible. The larger the marketshare, the better support we ALL get. We can fight enshittification. Take the time to spread it but don’t force it on anyone.

AND STOP SCARING PEOPLE AWAY. Linux has no advertising money, it’s up to us.

Offer family members or friends your help or copy and paste the below

how to install linux: 1) copy down your windows product key 2) backup your files to a harddrive 3) install the linux mint cinnamon iso from the linux mint website 4) use etcher (download from its website) to put the iso on a usb flash drive 5) go into bios 6) boot from the usb 7) erase the storage and install 8) press update all in the update manager 9) celebrate. it takes 15 minutes.

edit: LET ME RE-STATE, DO NOT FORCE IT ON ANYONE.

and if someone is at the level of ignorance (not in a derogatory fashion) that they dont know what a file even is genuinely dont bother unless theyre your parents cause youll be tech support for their ‘how do i install the internet’ questions.

  • randomaside@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    0·
    5 months ago

    You know back in the day they used to sell Linux distributions on the shelf at software stores. I remember seeing a boxed copy of mandriva next to windows. Home computing used to be a hobby for some but that means there was commercial support at some point.

    I do think that home users of “Linux” will need a commercial alternative that supports all their apps. ChromeOS looks like the current best alternative. If you can get people into chrome books, you’re one step closer to getting them onto Linux.

  • jordanlund@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 months ago

    I’ve been using Linux for 30 years now, certified to teach it and everything… Here’s your problem:

    “Stop telling people it’s ‘tech-y’”

    Compared to Windows or MacOS, yes, it is very techy.

    “offer to help them install.” - If they need your help to install it they absolutely have no business running Linux.

    “They don’t understand the concept of distros” - If they have no understanding of distros, they have no business running Linux.

    Think of it like this… if they can’t wrap their head around a distro, what’s going to happen when you try explaining a package manager?

    I get the evangelism, but Linux simply is not for everyone, that’s why Apple invented iPads.

    • scratchandgame@lemmy.mlTiếng Việt
      01·
      5 months ago

      Compared to Windows or MacOS, yes, it is very techy.

      Distros that have so much graphics like ubuntu and their linux mint isn’t (much) :)

      there’s a guy even claimed “Linux is almost identical to Windows”. That guy is a “masturbing monkey” that cannot care about anything other than privacy.

      but Linux simply is not for everyone

      correct. I think Torvalds would agree.

      Many people have no concept of a computer, offer them running linux is destroying their business and render them jobless

      And these guys are so hilarious: switching to linux but want to use windows app with wine !

      Switching to linux only to decorate the desktop and neofetch!

      They want to switch but never want to learn what a kernel is.

      Switching to linux and claim about “free”, “open source” but they hide their proprietary games