If gramma cannot turn on the machine and get online without having to do an installation, it will continue to be only a fraction of the home computer market.
That is one of the biggest detriments to universal adoption.
But the even BIGGER detriment is that Linux geeks still need to be told this. After 4 decades.
Any time I question it, I get told “Gramma can download the Cinnamon Mint Distro” <~~~ STOP RIGHT THERE AND THINK ABOUT THAT.
Gramma does not know what those words even mean, when they are all put together that way... let alone having the ability to do it.
But linux geeks get to act all superior because they can do it. (another detriment)
“If gramma cannot turn on the machine and get online without having to do an installation, it will continue to be only a fraction of the home computer market.”
Gramma doesn’t have a techy gen X grandkid to help do the one and only one time install needed? I have helped about 25 boob Grandpas and Grammas here on the FR install Linux themselves with “click by click” directions. I have sent sticks preloaded and ready to rock. PM after PM with check in’s how it is working for them. That is what the Linux/Gates haters do for free...
“Any time I question it, I get told “Gramma can download the Cinnamon Mint Distro” <~~~ STOP RIGHT THERE AND THINK ABOUT THAT.”
If Gamma can download pictures from an email, she will have no problem hitting the bold link that says “Download here”. You do not give credit for understanding those simple words... lol
“Gramma does not know what those words even mean, when they are all put together that way... let alone having the ability to do it.”
Wrong... See above... You are discrediting and assuming something I have found to not be true. Once the meaning of the terminology is shared, they are right on top of it.
“But linux geeks get to act all superior because they can do it. (another detriment)”
Again not true...Linux Geeks want everyone to have the same freedom and independence from the machine that they have. And there is no end to folks who will jump in to give a hand in the Linux community.
With that said... The biggest obstacle is setting a machine’s BIOS to boot from an external USB drive. It is the only setback of the whole operation because of proprietary lock outs. They do not come from the factory with a friendly boot order. They do not come as USB/CDROM/Lan/Internal Drive. They come in the opposite order with several other settings needing changed before you can boot an alternative OS from external.
Time for a call to the damned manufacturer to get it right click by click. “I want to boot from USB!!!”
This is done on purpose to prevent folks from boot externally from USB and installing alternative Operating Systems. This is NOT the fault of Linux, BSD, or any of the others. I have found this is the only challenge “per box” so far. The Linux is the easy stuff...
But once it is done it is done. I have my first intall of Mint cinnamon 18.3 that is still working like new for 5 years now. And I never let it update once... Linux can keep on keeping on even without updates. :)