This is the problem with Linux. People that know how to use a PC and are not tech illiterate still can't use it very well. Just the fact that you offered means you know they are probably having some issues.
Until I can browse to a webpage, download a program and click on an icon and have it install and work, the OS is shit for the general user. It's not that fucking difficult of a concept.
I mean, for most distros you should be about to install and use the OS without touching the terminal. Yeah, you may want to use it for some things (idk what you were trying to do) but it's kind of the same thing in Windows with registry edits and such. It's a tool and if you don't know how to use it, you're probably gonna get lost.
Also how is it easier to go to a webpage to download an installer instead of using a store? Even microsoft is trying to move in that direction.
I don't want to say your experience is invalid because I definitely think Linux can improve in terms of user experience. But it's not very helpful to just complain about stuff vaguely.
You're right. It's not that difficult of a concept and luckily Linux works just like that. I will admit that Linux wasn't always user friendly but it's made leaps and bounds in that department. A bit less than a year ago, I decided one day to wipe my SSD completely and install Linux and I've been using it ever since. I'm doing everything I was doing for. Obviously this is going to depend on your specific needs but for me it's been just fine.
What kind of software do you use? I have never needed to install a tarball. Flipping the screen upside down seems like a very easily fixable problem compared to some of the stuff windows throws at you
The issue you're having is it sounds like you don't understand package managers. On your phone you go through the Play store or Apple store, and they manage your apps and keep them updated. It's the same for Linux. You download and install things through the package manager (using the terminal or through the Discover application, assuming your distro has that). On Windows you go to a website and download an application, and that application has to keep track of updating itself. It has to check online for updates every time it launches and then ask you to download and install it then. Package managers are much more convenient. It may take a minute to get used to, but it's better once you do.
Yeah. People new to computers in general have an easier time using Linux than Windows power users, because the latter expects the same experience as Windows when they are using an entirely different OS.
Then, when something Windows-esque doesn't work (like downloading software from a website), they blame Linux instead of their method.
That's not a problem with windows it's a feature. Even the barely tech literate people can use it to bumble their way through to get the job done, eventually.
They don't use it well but they still use it. They also rarely break it anymore.
Those of us who worked with these people with win 98 and XP... Shudder. They ways they screwed up the system was truly remarkable at times.
Pointing out significant flaws that are holding the systems adoption rate back is never popular. Most of them are very techy and don't have a clue what the average user needs. It's a great way to get them all riled up.
I spent a few years as a process flow and bug finder for some programmers building a proprietary internal system. Then I trained non-tech savvy people on how to use the system. One of the most difficult jobs I have ever done. Bridging the gap between the two of them was brutal.
Twitter sent me to Mastodon. Reddit sent me to Lemmy. Windows has sent me to Linux. These things are basically promoting the better versions of themselves by becoming shittier versions of themselves.
And how would a new user know to find this specific app in the repo? Have you ever actually searched "how to permanently mount a network dive in Linux"? I didn't see a single one saying dolphin.
I did, and it was fairly straightforward according to the documentation I found. This was a couple of years ago but I’m pretty sure I needed to figure out how to use nano, then type some magic words into fstab along with the IP and password, and I haven’t had to mess with it ever since.