Linux

Off the top of my head things that Ive run into over the years that would have caused 99% of computer users to throw Linux in the bin:

*Having to edit xorg.conf to set the graphics driver

*A typo in the sources list that prevented any packages from downloading (distro upgrade)

*A bug in systemd that resulted in the OS not booting (fresh install)

*The wrong graphics card driver being selected and not being installed correctly because Ubuntu kept back 5 packages necessary for it to function (fresh install)

*A bug in how Ubuntu handles the disk platter that causes hard drives to fail far more rapidly than they should (that bug has been there for years and probably ruined a few hard drives)

*Having to recompile the wifi driver after every upgrade (broadcomm chipset) before the driver was included in the kernel and having to reinstall the OS after the driver was included in the kernel because something went wrong during the upgrade. ie recompiling didnt fix anything and the native driver wasnt working either.

*failed drive encryption

*grub being installed incorrectly (no boot)

*dealing with UEFI to maintain a dual boot for programs that cannot be emulated or virtualized effectively (lag sensitive non-native games)

*Audio output defaults being incorrect (no sound, no mic)

But the one thing that above all else, will drive newbies away is how the general linux community tends to respond to things.

The absolutely never ending jank. My latest grippe, Ubuntu 22.04 . Remote desktop needs password reset after every reboot, no idea why, grdctl set password doesn't help, only doing it in the Ubuntu settings UI works. Never ending stream of tiny annoyances like that

Exiting Vi/Vim 😂

Funding. Nobody has figured out how to fund development for large open source OSes outside of the enterprise realm. You crack that, you can have linux be installed by default on Desktop/Laptop computers, and patches that come as a result of that funding benefit the rest of the ecosystem as well. People will use the default, they will complain about it, just like they complain about Windows Update randomly restarting their computer, but they'll use it.

But also the share of people who own laptops or desktops continues to dwindle. Many people don't have and see no need for a computer. So they run Android, which is Linux, so I guess we're winning there?

Intimidating to install and then an unfamiliar interface and applications.

It might be more accepted if it came preinstalled and simply had a browser like Chrome and an app store, where all the other 'helpful' but confusing apps like Libre office were kept out of the way.

I install it for my family and it would only be accepted if it looked and worked just like Windows or MacOS. All they really need is a browser to get to GSuite or Office365.

Ok, so I have an ASUS Zephyrus M16 with a Core i19 12th Gen and an rtx 3070. I was able to install fedora and able to get it mostly 100% working, but my two biggest issues where I could not play Destiny 2 (because they didn't want to support Linux and actually would ban players who tried), and the switch between egpu and the discrete gpu that you have to reboot for the changes to take effect. Every once in a while the display wouldn't work and I had to reboot multiple times before it would start to work again because of the aforementioned issues with the gpu. All in all I love Linux but I can't spend any time troubleshooting and just need a laptop that just works.

it need to work like how your microwave works. You don't don't have to know ANYTHING about how any thing related to computer. Just click stuff to make it work. Also get more companies to ship things with Linux

IMO one of the main problems is eliminating the workflow of older commercial operating systems and having to build a new habit of using a new system. There are various Linux-based distributions that manage to give the user everything they need without having to resort to using the specific terminal.

Creating a new habit after spending years developing one for an old system, for me, is the main problem that leads many users to leave it.

I'm a new user. How do I disable being prompted for a password every time I want change/install anything? I just want password requirement at logon and not when logged on.

The average user doesn't give a shit about what OS they're running. They also don't know what tools they need. I remember a client who dropped $700 on Photoshop because "How else can I resize my photos?"

Linux is to hard for someone who doesn't know why it's bad to install multiple antivirus suites. People who don't know the difference between a web browser and a search engine.

Linux will only ever be for hobbyist because they the only ones who give a damn.

The main challenge is resisting the urge to install Linux on your own. Because you will need help at some point, so start now by asking for help.

And then, when you don't find the solution by yourself don't waste time and ask for help.

In time you will get it enough to know what you're doing.

I’m an artist who is never switching to linux unless they fix my major gripes (which seem like it’ll never happen just looking at the answers here lol).

Allergic to GUIs

• Devs and most Linux users act allergic to having intuitive GUIs. It’s already a pain to use a lot of small programs that don’t have them on windows. I’m familiar enough with using terminals for stuff but I am so incredibly disinterested in using it All The Time or even often.

Not having easy to access and understand toggles/settings are actually a friction point for most users—I think people who are tech inclined seriously need to remember and understand this. Needing to dig for a command to do simple things IS the OS getting in the way in my experience. I’ve seen screenshots of elementaryOS which seems to get this but my next issue is:

Software and hardware compatibility

• A lot of things I use for work like CSP, Adobe suite, Live2d, etc aren’t natively supported. I also don’t want to be risking encountering possible bugs or errors trying to get it to run them. Not all my games are from steam either, and I don’t know if those would run. There’s simply too many things I use daily that don’t have native support.

I also keep hearing about AMD driver issues which is no good for my pc.

Overall, as much as I hate windows and microsoft, it’s easier to put up and debloat the garbage that comes up over dealing with the issues above. Because when it works, It Actually Just Works. There’s more google-able tech support answers for it too instead of me needing to ask for help every time I encounter something.

Things that are easy to do does add up eventually, which again, is why needing to use the terminal often is not at all an ideal average user experience especially if this could be cut down with some mouse clicks. I think distros could address this if the devs actually care about the non-tech nerd user experience, but I don’t know if the software support/compatibility will ever be fully dealt with.

edited to fix formatting

Fragmentation, there is so many WM, DE, Distros, package managers. This is the beauty of open source but it is also the plague.

Toxic communities, where people are thrashing you if you don't understand sometimes the overly complicated wiki and you dare open a thread in one of the forums to seek for help.

Driver support, sometimes installing your OS requires a lot of manual configuration to make everything work ok your machine the way you want it.

commercial, immutable distro with professional support team. Easy desktop env. like cinnamon, budgie or kde Preinstalled on new devices