Mastodawn

Regardless of operating system—Windows, Mac, GNU/systemd/Linux (I had to), BSD, whatever—is desktop computer use niche in its own right?

I would normally never sub-toot like this, but the message this is about was probably auto-deleted; I can't find it. It was also so long ago that I feel like I would be taking it outside of the original context anyway, so it's probably for the best.

At any rate, someone said that; that even using a desktop in the first place is niche. They also said that Linux desktop use is even more niche, and I would have to agree with that, obviously; I don't know if I agree with the first statement or not, though, honestly.

I don't talk to enough people about computers, enough, outside of whatever context in which it's already assumed that said people are already interested in computers, so I have no real way to gauge this.

#AskFedi #FediPoll

Yes

49%

No

51%

Poll ended at Mar 12 at 3:53pm.

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Universal Basic Friend Mar 7

@the my class at uni is normally 100-300 people.

I always mention I'm using linux because it's an excuse to get out of things no one should be expected to do for privacy reasons. Often the teacher will ask if anyone else is on Linux and there will be 1-3 of us out of 100-300.

As for desktop vs laptop: hard to know. Last desktops I used were a onsite at workplaces (hospitals are full of them). Last personal desktop I had was built from recycled office dumpster parts and gave up decades ago. All my fellow students work off laptops, I don't know anyone with a current personal desktop except on the fedi.

Edit: as for neither desktop nor laptop: I know just one person who exclusively uses a 'smart device' (a tablet computer with proprietary software), they're in aged care. They have a limited use case and they specifically want limits to that the device does.

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Universal Basic Friend

@the Inb4 how does Linux get you out of privacy violations as a uni student? Like this:

Teacher: just hit this button and it will show us all your face and the inside of your dorm
One person: what about on mac?
Teacher: hit this other button
Me: I'm on Linux, it doesn't do that
Teacher: wow, really? Linux! Cool!! That must be so technical! Okay, you just watch. Well everyone else, hit this other button that opens your hard drive contents on the screen...