the absolute dumbest thing linux users do

Since Microsoft laid down the boom with Windows 10 and cut off support (unless you pay for an extra year), there have been videos aplenty on YouTube from Linux people telling people DOWNLOAD LINUX AND SWITCH! SWITCH! SWITCH!

That's not happening.

It will never happen.

And I know why.

Trying to get Joe and Jane computer user to download and install an operating system, then create a bootable USB stick, then successfully install the OS after that is... well, it's not going to work. You completely lost Joe and Jane at "download".

Joe or Jane can buy a cheap mini PC with Windows on it preinstalled and ready-to-go. Plug in a keyboard, mouse and monitor, connect the power cord, turn it on, go. And guess what? Every printer works with it. All of them. No fuss, no muss.

And here comes Linux Dude, telling Joe and Jane instead to do computery crap. I know exactly what the end result of that would be. A computer that doesn't work. Or if somehow, magically, they were able to actually get the OS installed and connect to the internet, the printer they have won't work.

It absolutely does not matter how much you spout out PRIVACY! PRIVACY! or whatever other reasons Joe or Jane should switch to Linux. Again, you lost them at "download".

The absolute dumbest thing Linux users do is presume Joe and Jane computer user would actually know how to install an operating system.

I have never told anybody to switch to Linux, and I never will. And I am a Linux user.

Yeah, Linux Dude, I am fully aware of all the telemetry crap, ads and other bullshit in the Windows OS. I also know it doesn't matter how loudly I tell that to Joe or Jane computer user. They are not switching. At best, I would get a response like, "Oh, okay, thanks for the info. I'll think about the Linux thing." After that, they go right back to Windows.

Not only will they keep using Windows, but double down with something like, "I hear what you're saying about the privacy thing, but, well, they already know everything about me anyway..."

Yeah, that kind of reply will happen. Get angry about it all you want, because it doesn't matter and it won't change anything. Joe and Jane are staying with Windows. Deal with it.

Stop telling people to switch, Linux Dude. Just stop. It's not happening.

Published 2025 Oct 20