No, your grandmother probably shouldn't run Linux - an answer to advocacy
First, I'll start off by saying that I actually run Linux desktops. I had Linux mint installed in a VM on my desktop and in dual boot on my laptop. I now have Solus Plasma dualbooting on both.
When someone is new to Linux, they get the idea that there is a desktop war... that they should try to switch everyone they know to Linux. If a friend has a problem with windows and asks for help, their "solution" is to get the friend to install Linux. I will address some issues concerning this attitude in this post.
The top two reasons given as to why people should switch to Linux are usually privacy and security. However, neither option is a slam dunk. Windows 10 has virtual secure mode using virtualization to separate the userspace from the kernel, it automatically updates (not installing updates was a big security issue in previous versions. Now, you can set active hours so updates and reboots don't happen while you're working or even pause for up to 35 days, but you must install security updates), and comes with built-in virus ransomware protection as well as a firewall, the user is no longer root by default, etc.
In order for someone to somehow have privacy in Linux, they have to stop trading their privacy away. Google, Amazon, Facebook etc. did not start out as huge multi-billion dollar companies. They got there because of the use and support of millions of people. Windows 10 now allows you to address privacy during install, but even if it didn't, you'd have to ask yourself: am I giving them more of my data than I give apps on my Android phone, Amazon with their echo installed in my house, Google with their dot, through searches, etc. Facebook through my detailing of my private life on their forum, etc. People say they value privacy, but show through their actions that they're not willing to give up something to get it.
So, we're left with less common reasons, such as the fact you have steam, Netflix, lutris has made gaming easier, etc. First, many of these are not reasons to switch because windows has them too. You don't switch to Linux from Windows in order to play steam games because you can already do that in windows and it's better supported/you have more games. Yes, Linux is getting better there, but it's still worse. For instance, Uplay recently gave away For Honor. Have you ever tried to play For Honor in Linux? As far as Netflix, it's 720p or less - to get 1080p or 4k, you need windows or Mac.
So, that leaves us with customization as another reason....aka more ability to break things. For those who like to tinker and fine tune, it's great and that's a legitimate reason to switch. Privacy is also a legitimate reason to switch. But, they are not reasons for the average person.
But what do you lose by switching? First, you lose the ability to KNOW any hardware you buy will run on your OS. You also lose ease of configuration/install. You can't just pop in an installation disk. Last night, I installed my HP Envy 5055 in Solus. HP printers are very supported in Linux. I installed it via printers in kde. It gave no errors, but would not print. So, I installed it via cups. It would print, but only black and white. Finally, I installed it via the hp software and it worked. Why did 3 ways to configure it exist? Because Linux is not a cohesive whole. Getting hardware to work and work well may be difficult or impossible. Laptop users can attest to that.
You also lose the ability to call a company up for support and have them actually support their product on your OS. You lose the knowledge that any software or service will work with your os because it was tested on it and, if there are any bugs, they will be given priority because people like you keep them in business. You lose the ability to install and use software that gets recommended by your friends or media.
Of course, people do switch every day. The percentage stays about the same, but people do make the choice either because of privacy, the ability to tinker and customize, or some
First, I'll start off by saying that I actually run Linux desktops. I had Linux mint installed in a VM on my desktop and in dual boot on my laptop. I now have Solus Plasma dualbooting on both.
When someone is new to Linux, they get the idea that there is a desktop war... that they should try to switch everyone they know to Linux. If a friend has a problem with windows and asks for help, their "solution" is to get the friend to install Linux. I will address some issues concerning this attitude in this post.
The top two reasons given as to why people should switch to Linux are usually privacy and security. However, neither option is a slam dunk. Windows 10 has virtual secure mode using virtualization to separate the userspace from the kernel, it automatically updates (not installing updates was a big security issue in previous versions. Now, you can set active hours so updates and reboots don't happen while you're working or even pause for up to 35 days, but you must install security updates), and comes with built-in virus ransomware protection as well as a firewall, the user is no longer root by default, etc.
In order for someone to somehow have privacy in Linux, they have to stop trading their privacy away. Google, Amazon, Facebook etc. did not start out as huge multi-billion dollar companies. They got there because of the use and support of millions of people. Windows 10 now allows you to address privacy during install, but even if it didn't, you'd have to ask yourself: am I giving them more of my data than I give apps on my Android phone, Amazon with their echo installed in my house, Google with their dot, through searches, etc. Facebook through my detailing of my private life on their forum, etc. People say they value privacy, but show through their actions that they're not willing to give up something to get it.
So, we're left with less common reasons, such as the fact you have steam, Netflix, lutris has made gaming easier, etc. First, many of these are not reasons to switch because windows has them too. You don't switch to Linux from Windows in order to play steam games because you can already do that in windows and it's better supported/you have more games. Yes, Linux is getting better there, but it's still worse. For instance, Uplay recently gave away For Honor. Have you ever tried to play For Honor in Linux? As far as Netflix, it's 720p or less - to get 1080p or 4k, you need windows or Mac.
So, that leaves us with customization as another reason....aka more ability to break things. For those who like to tinker and fine tune, it's great and that's a legitimate reason to switch. Privacy is also a legitimate reason to switch. But, they are not reasons for the average person.
But what do you lose by switching? First, you lose the ability to KNOW any hardware you buy will run on your OS. You also lose ease of configuration/install. You can't just pop in an installation disk. Last night, I installed my HP Envy 5055 in Solus. HP printers are very supported in Linux. I installed it via printers in kde. It gave no errors, but would not print. So, I installed it via cups. It would print, but only black and white. Finally, I installed it via the hp software and it worked. Why did 3 ways to configure it exist? Because Linux is not a cohesive whole. Getting hardware to work and work well may be difficult or impossible. Laptop users can attest to that.
You also lose the ability to call a company up for support and have them actually support their product on your OS. You lose the knowledge that any software or service will work with your os because it was tested on it and, if there are any bugs, they will be given priority because people like you keep them in business. You lose the ability to install and use software that gets recommended by your friends or media.
Of course, people do switch every day. The percentage stays about the same, but people do make the choice either because of privacy, the ability to tinker and customize, or some
other reason. But, that doesn't make it a legitimate option for the average person.
https://redd.it/d525iu
@r_linux
https://redd.it/d525iu
@r_linux
reddit
No, your grandmother probably shouldn't run Linux - an answer to...
First, I'll start off by saying that I actually run Linux desktops. I had Linux mint installed in a VM on my desktop and in dual boot on my...
tcolors: commandline color picker and palette builder
https://github.com/bcicen/tcolors
https://redd.it/d536nn
@r_linux
https://github.com/bcicen/tcolors
https://redd.it/d536nn
@r_linux
GitHub
GitHub - bcicen/tcolors: Commandline color picker and palette builder
Commandline color picker and palette builder. Contribute to bcicen/tcolors development by creating an account on GitHub.
A handy console dictionary in linux
This console dictionary is based on Cambridge online website, so the explanation is excellent! If you like console, like English, like Cambridge Dictionary, this is absolutely for you!
[cambrinary](https://i.redd.it/tyjoxcqwlzm31.png)
And it support up to 7 languages translation, and multi-word check at the same time.
It is my pleasure if any feedbacks you could leave, [github.com/xueyuanl/cambrinary](https://github.com/xueyuanl/cambrinary)
https://redd.it/d53jls
@r_linux
This console dictionary is based on Cambridge online website, so the explanation is excellent! If you like console, like English, like Cambridge Dictionary, this is absolutely for you!
[cambrinary](https://i.redd.it/tyjoxcqwlzm31.png)
And it support up to 7 languages translation, and multi-word check at the same time.
It is my pleasure if any feedbacks you could leave, [github.com/xueyuanl/cambrinary](https://github.com/xueyuanl/cambrinary)
https://redd.it/d53jls
@r_linux
FOSS game engine Godot is less than $500 on Patreon of being able to hire their third full time contributor
https://www.patreon.com/godotengine/overview
https://redd.it/d56f8n
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https://www.patreon.com/godotengine/overview
https://redd.it/d56f8n
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Patreon
Juan Linietsky & Godot Core Contributors are creating Godot Engine | Patreon
Become a patron of Juan Linietsky & Godot Core Contributors today:
Read 93 posts by Juan Linietsky & Godot Core Contributors and get access to exclusive
content and experiences on the world’s largest membership
platform…
Read 93 posts by Juan Linietsky & Godot Core Contributors and get access to exclusive
content and experiences on the world’s largest membership
platform…
Lxd team is planning to add virtual machine support
https://github.com/lxc/lxd/issues/6205
https://redd.it/d55gyi
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https://github.com/lxc/lxd/issues/6205
https://redd.it/d55gyi
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GitHub
Add virtual machine support · Issue #6205 · lxc/lxd
As some may have figured out by now through looking at some of the database and devices refactoring we've been doing for the past few months, we'll be adding support for virtual mac...
Skidmap Linux Malware Uses Rootkit Capabilities to Hide Cryptocurrency-Mining Payload
https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/skidmap-linux-malware-uses-rootkit-capabilities-to-hide-cryptocurrency-mining-payload/
https://redd.it/d59x54
@r_linux
https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/skidmap-linux-malware-uses-rootkit-capabilities-to-hide-cryptocurrency-mining-payload/
https://redd.it/d59x54
@r_linux
Trend Micro
Skidmap Malware Uses Rootkit to Hide Mining Payload
Skidmap, a Linux malware that we recently stumbled upon, demonstrates the increasing complexity of cryptocurrency-mining threats. This malware is notable for how it loads malicious kernel modules to keep its cryptocurrency mining operations hidden.
Richard Stallman resigns from MIT "due to pressure on MIT and me over a series of misunderstandings and mischaracterizations."
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-jul-oct.html#16_September_2019_(Resignation)
https://redd.it/d5a4dz
@r_linux
https://stallman.org/archives/2019-jul-oct.html#16_September_2019_(Resignation)
https://redd.it/d5a4dz
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reddit
Richard Stallman resigns from MIT "due to pressure on MIT and me...
Posted in r/linux by u/CAP_NAME_NOW_UPVOTE • 43 points and 32 comments
Richard M. Stallman resigns — Free Software Foundation
https://www.fsf.org/news/richard-m-stallman-resigns
https://redd.it/d5aiuu
@r_linux
https://www.fsf.org/news/richard-m-stallman-resigns
https://redd.it/d5aiuu
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www.fsf.org
Richard M. Stallman resigns
Custom pull-down terminal in Linux
[https://lesnyrumcajs.github.io/linux/2019/09/16/pulldown-terminal-linux.html](https://lesnyrumcajs.github.io/linux/2019/09/16/pulldown-terminal-linux.html)
May be useful for some that didn't try it before, for old dogs something to skip. :)
https://redd.it/d533ve
@r_linux
[https://lesnyrumcajs.github.io/linux/2019/09/16/pulldown-terminal-linux.html](https://lesnyrumcajs.github.io/linux/2019/09/16/pulldown-terminal-linux.html)
May be useful for some that didn't try it before, for old dogs something to skip. :)
https://redd.it/d533ve
@r_linux
Leśny Rumcajs Blog
Pulldown terminal in Linux
Motivation My preferred setup is (and was, for the long time) a pulldown terminal I can call with some key binding. Because of this, for some time I was stuck with terminal emulators that support this either out of the box or via plugins.
Linus Torvalds had to quit because of his "harsh attitude" and now RMS was forced to resign for one statement taken out of context, are we being fair to the founders who created the base on which today's FOSS rests?
https://redd.it/d5cc4b
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https://redd.it/d5cc4b
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reddit
Linus Torvalds had to quit because of his "harsh attitude" and now...
Posted in r/linux by u/county_sheriff • 1 point and 9 comments
NordVPN Linux
I’m trying to install NordVPN on Elementary os by following the instructions provided on nords website but it doesn’t work. I get unable to locate package {/path/to in the command line. Please help
https://redd.it/d5djlq
@r_linux
I’m trying to install NordVPN on Elementary os by following the instructions provided on nords website but it doesn’t work. I get unable to locate package {/path/to in the command line. Please help
https://redd.it/d5djlq
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reddit
NordVPN Linux
I’m trying to install NordVPN on Elementary os by following the instructions provided on nords website but it doesn’t work. I get unable to locate...
Linux and gpu unexpected experience
I almost used linux with intel igpu and i had no trouble, i always read on the web amd it's the way to go for open driver, now i need a discrete gpu and i've bough an rx550 and after a day trying almost everything i discovered this gpu run only with closed driver, i've tryed different distro and different version of the distro and kernel but proprietary driver where the only way to make it work. I also have another pc with an rx580 running windows and i tryed to run a debian livecd to try what does happen, this live is without non free firmware, and the system has booted and loaded the DE, but the resolution was not native, while with other live cd containing non free firmware it boot in fullhd. I didn't dig on it because i don't need to run linux on this systen yet, but i'm curious to know if will be possible to run my rx580 at fullhd with amdgpu open driver.
So after years reading amd is just the best option for open driver on linux i had a really bad experience on it, and i'm guessing what kind of amd gpu is running out of the box on linux at this point.
https://redd.it/d5dvr8
@r_linux
I almost used linux with intel igpu and i had no trouble, i always read on the web amd it's the way to go for open driver, now i need a discrete gpu and i've bough an rx550 and after a day trying almost everything i discovered this gpu run only with closed driver, i've tryed different distro and different version of the distro and kernel but proprietary driver where the only way to make it work. I also have another pc with an rx580 running windows and i tryed to run a debian livecd to try what does happen, this live is without non free firmware, and the system has booted and loaded the DE, but the resolution was not native, while with other live cd containing non free firmware it boot in fullhd. I didn't dig on it because i don't need to run linux on this systen yet, but i'm curious to know if will be possible to run my rx580 at fullhd with amdgpu open driver.
So after years reading amd is just the best option for open driver on linux i had a really bad experience on it, and i'm guessing what kind of amd gpu is running out of the box on linux at this point.
https://redd.it/d5dvr8
@r_linux
reddit
Linux and gpu unexpected experience
I almost used linux with intel igpu and i had no trouble, i always read on the web amd it's the way to go for open driver, now i need a discrete...
Stop defending Richard Stallman
There have been tons of influential figures in history with awful dark sides. from Mother Teresa, keeping the donations to herself and claiming it was God's will; to Gandhi writing fan mails to Hitler. My point is nobody is perfect and just because you like someone doesn't mean that you have to blindly defend them.
for past few days after the whole RMS's controversy, I see tons of post here on Reddit and people are defending him. It's not like his first time making these comments. he made same comments in 2003/2006/2012 defending pedophilia, bestiality and incest. in his mind everything is about freedom! even being free to have sex with a minor. to me he is just a neckbeard hippy. but sadly he has gotten so big of a public figure, enough for people to blindly follow him and defend him.
And it's sad and can seriously hurt our community.
https://redd.it/d5eknb
@r_linux
There have been tons of influential figures in history with awful dark sides. from Mother Teresa, keeping the donations to herself and claiming it was God's will; to Gandhi writing fan mails to Hitler. My point is nobody is perfect and just because you like someone doesn't mean that you have to blindly defend them.
for past few days after the whole RMS's controversy, I see tons of post here on Reddit and people are defending him. It's not like his first time making these comments. he made same comments in 2003/2006/2012 defending pedophilia, bestiality and incest. in his mind everything is about freedom! even being free to have sex with a minor. to me he is just a neckbeard hippy. but sadly he has gotten so big of a public figure, enough for people to blindly follow him and defend him.
And it's sad and can seriously hurt our community.
https://redd.it/d5eknb
@r_linux
reddit
Stop defending Richard Stallman
There have been tons of influential figures in history with awful dark sides. from Mother Teresa, keeping the donations to herself and claiming it...
The Internet Relies on People Working for Free
https://onezero.medium.com/the-internet-relies-on-people-working-for-free-a79104a68bcc
https://redd.it/d5f4le
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https://onezero.medium.com/the-internet-relies-on-people-working-for-free-a79104a68bcc
https://redd.it/d5f4le
@r_linux
Medium
The Internet Relies on People Working for Free
Who should be responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting open-source projects?
Why are those system monitors (Gnome&KDE) showing entirely different ram usage?
https://redd.it/d5fdqo
@r_linux
https://redd.it/d5fdqo
@r_linux