My only weakness was not being cynical enough.

If I haven’t heard of it, then the average Windows user definitely hasn’t heard of it.

The issue starts at the fact that it’s difficult to find a computer sold by a common major distributor with Linux already installed, nor does Linux have any marketing aside from word of mouth to compete with the aggressive Microsoft/Apple duopoly.

The threshold to entry begins at simply having the technical prowess to install an alternative operating system on one’s computer, which I don’t believe a good majority of people are even capable of. Before that, people also need an incentive to transition in the first place. They’ve probably been using their current OS for a good portion of their life and are more than comfortable with it without putting themselves through another learning curve.

The average person isn’t considering an alternative to what they’re already using, and if they are, it usually isn’t Linux. The biggest problem isn’t appeal or ease of use; it’s exposure and immediate accessibility.

That said, performance and simplicity would be an excellent selling point for Linux. It would be absolutely worth banking on the open-source nature of it to appeal to a growing demographic of people interested in privacy-oriented tech as well.

Bots don’t upvote. There’s so much voting activity here as a ratio to actual contributions that my first impression was that the votes might be faked.

Could you get me up to speed on what part of AP’s report is fake?

They tried to search my laptop when they went through my car at the border, and were greeted with an encrypted boot screen. They tried to interrogate me twice. Glad to know nobody else will have to deal with that now.

“So, you’re a tech guy, huh? I bet you’re smart.” 😐 …

“Are you into politics? Who’d you vote for?” 🫤 …

“I’m just trying to have a friendly conversation with you.” 🤐 …