Finally did it, got my parent on linux.

Windows is just the micro kernel running the actual operating system: Firefox.

linux has 2 really good target audiences people using it as a near chrome book like experience, and ultra advanced users who want fine control of the system.

its everyone else in the middle that needs to play how much do i have to tweak in order to do what I want.

"What was Windows even doing for us?"

Providing minimal malware protection while being actual malware?

As a retired software dev, for me Windows is simply a longtime habit enforced by past work environments. I did use Linux for over a year on my main PC but went back to Windows so I could keep using my old copy of Visual Studio. My deeply conditioned shortcut keystrokes didn't work in VSCode - in fact, why did they change so much of the UI? But now that I'm used to VSCode, which I only use for hobby coding anyway, there's no excuse and I intend to go back to Linux by year end.

whatismypurpose

yourunfirefox

I’m having a very hard time accepting that your 60 year old parents, after seeing Linux, said something along the lines of “What was windows doing for us?”

I teach adults 40-80 on how to use Windows products. I’ve taught over 5,000 people this year so far. The vast majority didn’t even understand the concept of browser tabs or copy/paste. These are people well into their professions in corporate office jobs. They don’t even know what an operating system is.

I got my parents in their 70s to use Ubuntu for a few years now. All they use is a web browser and word processing application for .docx files. They used MS Word for years and I found Only Office has a similar UI and opens word docs.

At one point I gave them an older laptop running windows again and they hated it. They wanted Linux back.

Way to go, mister/miss!

“What was Windows even doing for us?”

Beautiful 🥲

I had my mom on Ubuntu for most of the 2010's, and then the macbook it was on had catastrophic hard drive failure around the pandemic, but then I was like, you don't work anymore, why exactly do you NEED a computer to begin with? So now she literally doesn't have a computer and just lives mobile/tablet OS life, which in a nonprofessional context seems perfectly serviceable these days.

What distro did you get them on?

Did the same thing. Got them using FOSS apps on Windows (Firefox, LibreOffice, Thunderbird), then switched them and made Linux look like Windows. They never cared, kept on using it like nothing changed.

Mine too didnd't notice. Non-tech savvy people don't even know what an Internet browser is :)

Last time I tried convincing em to install Linux, they said "I'm on it" to end up ghosting me after like I was a weird, random beggar they met on the street.

If either of my parents could use a computer it would run linux.

But then I have to do all of their online tasks anyway, so technically they are using linux.

Great! I've got my Dad on it, just need to get my mom off of her iPad now

This sounds about right. My parents only use their browsers. They literally do not use any applications outside of the browser. They would be just fine on Linux but change is scary and everything just works.

They’re in their 60s*

But lovely story ❤️