This is why Linux is not getting the market share it deserves.
For DECADES it has been too complex for the average non-geek to understand. Explain to Grandma which ‘distro’ she needs to install in order to email pictures of her grandchildren...
What makes you think "Grandma" will be installing anything? Are you seriously comparing installing a complex OS to just using one already installed?
This isn't about installing an OS--this is about using one.
Grandma usually never installs anything, especially the OS, that’s for her grandchildren to do. ...but, with Mint and Ubuntu, installing new software and keeping it up to date is just like installing software on an iPhone, iPad or Android device.
There is the functional equivalent to an app store and you just click install or update.
It all depends on the user. The average person would never install Windows either. It comes already installed and with a basic configuration.
If Linux were sold this way on a larger scale, already installed on pc’s with a basic configuration, it would be more popular.
If Windows only came as software that had to be installed, like most Linux distros, neither would be more popular than the other.
Linux is just as easy (or difficult) as Windows to install. Look at all the problems people are having going from Win 7 to Win 10.
It’s all in the delivery to the end user. Delivery as software only is more difficult than delivery as already installed and working on hardware.