this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
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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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[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, once you have the install medium, i.e. today a bootable USB, it is just a question of clicking to accept defaults. So, back then, unless you got a CD-Rom delivered to you by mail, you must have done much more than "press the spacebar". I also managed to install Linux back then as a noob, but it was not a easy process, I only managed it because I was very motivated.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So, exactly the same as windows.

Can you even order windows on a CD anymore?

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Sure, but an ordinary user does not have to install Windows since it is already there. This is Linux's burden. IMO a lot of techies in this discussion are underestimating it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Who is going to pay Dell, HP, Acer, etc to install Linux?

Just because MS can throw billions at these OEMs doesn’t make that “Linux’s burden”.

See also Dell & Lenovo sell laptops with Ubuntu.