People online complain that Linux is hard to install for new users. But who are these people and why do they levy these complaints? The biggest barrier for the new Linux user isn't the installer; i...
It’s irrelevant to the user but for most people it’s an obstacle for trying out Linux. Most people won’t just buy a new Linux machine, not even considering the fact that they’re not easy to find. The way you get started is to install it in some old box you have lying around. That’s far too difficult for most people to do right now and therefore a barrier to entry.
That’s not most people no. That’s a tiny number of people.
Don’t get me wrong. Making the installation easier is a good thing. But thinking it will change anything to the usage rate of Linux is naive.
Most people do not install any OS and they will never do. Ever.
Installing Linux is not hard already. The single barrier is partitioning. Well, at least when everything works. Secure boot is also a barrier, as are bios configured to NOT boot on a USB key by default. Or Windows with its fast boot making accessing the bios and booting on devices harder.
If you want to consider people who want to try to install Linux without experience, there are a dozen of barriers, and the installer is not the biggest one, far from it.
I wasn’t talking about the Linux installer but the whole installation process. I agree that the things you mentioned are the real obstacles. Once you have the live system running it’s usually plain sailing.
The corrollary is that pushing Linux usage rate won’t happen through installer improvements but through politics and having access to preinstalled Linux.
The installation is irrelevant to the use of Linux. The vast majority of people never installed Windows. And they never will.
It’s irrelevant to the user but for most people it’s an obstacle for trying out Linux. Most people won’t just buy a new Linux machine, not even considering the fact that they’re not easy to find. The way you get started is to install it in some old box you have lying around. That’s far too difficult for most people to do right now and therefore a barrier to entry.
That’s not most people no. That’s a tiny number of people.
Don’t get me wrong. Making the installation easier is a good thing. But thinking it will change anything to the usage rate of Linux is naive.
Most people do not install any OS and they will never do. Ever.
Installing Linux is not hard already. The single barrier is partitioning. Well, at least when everything works. Secure boot is also a barrier, as are bios configured to NOT boot on a USB key by default. Or Windows with its fast boot making accessing the bios and booting on devices harder.
If you want to consider people who want to try to install Linux without experience, there are a dozen of barriers, and the installer is not the biggest one, far from it.
I wasn’t talking about the Linux installer but the whole installation process. I agree that the things you mentioned are the real obstacles. Once you have the live system running it’s usually plain sailing.
That means the installation is irrelevant to the use of Windows. The vast majority of people who use Linux installed it themselves.
The corrollary is that pushing Linux usage rate won’t happen through installer improvements but through politics and having access to preinstalled Linux.