chris0101 wrote:What are your thoughts?
Well, as far as I can remember learning Windows for the first time was not that easy, I had troubles, problems and doubts. But as I had no other alternatives, I had to learn it. And I did it because I was willing to learn.
chris0101 wrote:Should Linux be for an exclusive group, or as many people as possible regardless of technological knowledge/proficiency?
GNU/Linux based operating systems can be used by anyone, it has the potential for this.
Now, the hardest users to migrate from Windows to a GNU/Linux based operating system, in my opinion, are not the average users but the professional people that uses specific hardware and specific softwares that simply does not exist similar for Linux or it is simply non-existent, and gamers.
Because everything the average user will need, they are all in most GNU/Linux based operating systems already: Google Chrome, Firefox, OpenOffice, LibreOffice, GIMP, VLC, and many others.
What we need to do!?
The answer is simple: People must know GNU/Linux based operating systems first. Do not bother presenting them to the Windows operating system.
That's the main thing that needs to be fixed. People are used to Windows because that's the first thing most of them are introduced to.
Got a new family member? Introduce them to Linux. Forget that Windows exist. Make Windows look like a stupid, inferior OS, that's what they do to Linux.
Have a school with computer? Install Linux to all of them and introduce the children to Linux.
Have an office with computers? Install Linux to all of them.
Will hire people to your office? Require OpenOffice / LibreOffice knowledge instead, do not mention MS Office.
Will pay someone to make an application for your office or work? Require them to make one compatible with Linux.
The game you were interested in buying is not available for Linux? Complain to the developers and do not buy it.
But the most important is that the introduction starts AT HOME. I am doing my part already.
And here is my case study:
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My brother and my mother did not like GNU/Linux based operating systems because they thought it was inferior compared to Windows and that there was no software available they could use.
Then I said to them:
Give it a chance, let me install it on your computer. You will still be able to do everything you did on Windows, otherwise, I re-install Windows on your computer.
Challenge was accepted!
After that, complains arose, of course. But I was able to show them there was a solution for everything they need.
Now they are happy with their computer running a GNU/Linux based operating system and they can still do all the things they did on Windows.
They are average users.