Mike Stone

Why is it these guys always seem to want to install Linux on hardware that goes out of it's way to be Linux hostile?

"I had a hard time installing Linux on a Microsoft Surface, so Linux is hard to install."

Sheesh. There's a metric shit tonne of hardware you can't install Windows 11 on. Does that mean we can all agree Windows isn't for novices or for anyone who wants a PC that is easy to operate and troubleshoot? Based on the standards defined by the author, seems so.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-replace-windows-with-linux/

I replaced Windows with Linux, and there's only one feature I miss

Switching from Windows to Linux is easy, they say. But here's what they don't tell you.

ZDNET
Feb 16 at 7:39pmWeb
Show threadBenediktFeb 16

@mike @BrodieOnLinux had a video about that recently (can't link it, no YouTube time left for today). The issue there was the picked distro, but kind of the same thing.

On a sidenote: I have a 4 year old XPS. Can't install windows 11 in it because of missing drivers.

Show threadBruno Fontes Feb 16

@mike Sometimes the idea is that one, make a video that says "hey, I wanted to do that, but you see, it's hard! Keep using your Windows!". Or yet just use it a click bait to get us going there to read/complain it is not hard, etc.

But yes, I completely agree with you.

Show threadKeith Wagner Feb 17

@mike why can’t I install Linux on my iPad?!??

/s

Show threadhuna   Ψ▦Feb 17
@mike The only tricky bits i found were getting rid of Windows entirely, related BIOS stuff, and using just the one usb-c port. Otherwise Debian 13 Stable installed without any issues on my Surface Go 1 (and it runs great, of course).
Show thread👑Henry Morgan Feb 17

@mike Linux/Unix have holes. There're basically Windows 11 on a theme. If you really want your own Personal Computer, use 10. The rest is an open art gallery. Don't lose you Monalisa.

#gamerunbloc 🎱 #and1mixtape

Show threadAdamFeb 18
@mike It's unfortunately all related to lack of knowledge and understanding. Making assumptions without spending the time to learn. It's frustrating.
Show threadJosh MaxwellFeb 19
@mike It seems natural to me that they would try that. If they are tech savvy in the Windows ecosystem, they probably bought the Surface because it’s a good Windows machine. We’re telling them to get off Windows and install Linux. So they tried installing Linux on the hardware they already have instead of going out and buying new hardware. That’s exactly what we implicitly told them to do. Seeing this example makes me rethink a bit how I go about sharing Linux, thank you.
Show threadMike StoneFeb 19

@cctechwiz Here's the thing, the author says "I decided to try for myself." "...to identify the kind of issues you, dear reader, are likely to run into..."

The trouble is the author made no effort to attempt this on hardware the typical user would have. Obviously it's important to consider the type of hardware in use. That's true of every OS. But most people don't use a Surface. The issues installing Linux on a system tailor made for Windows are NOT what the reader is likely to run into.