I need to install an OS for someone whose first impulse upon seeing a screen is to touch it, because they are young and their first assumption is a touchscreen.
They know their way around Windows and Windows is probably tought to them at school, so Windows might actually be the smart move… but I fucking hate it.
Is ZorinOS or similar polished enough that I can leave it to someone whose tech literacy is centered around Roblox, TikTok and evading parental locks? I don’t want to normalize the Windows-bullshit. But I don’t want their first Linux-experience to be frustrating.
I daily drive Silverblue (and the terminal is not useless >:c), and in a vacuum I would probably install Silverblue or another atomic desktop. But I worry about Windows compatibility.
Imagine the feeling when “you just click the .exe and everything installs itself” works for everyone but you. It doesn’t matter that downloading executables from random websites is way worse than a proper package manager in pretty much every way.
It’s still alienating. Going along with everyones technical dept may still be a nicer experience, because at least it doesn’t require the effort of doing something different.
That’s what I’m worried about.
If this is your aim, you can’t really do that with Linux. Better stick with Windows in this case, as that’s the only place where this works.
Just want to add to the difference in experience:
I leaned Linux, because I wanted to learn Linux and as such I was fine with stumbling a bit from time to time. They want a working computer that does Roblox and homework and don’t care much about the rest.
I totally understand where you’re coming from, and I’m pessimistic that any flavor of Linux will be an acceptable experience for the person you’re describing. Something like Silverblue may be least obstrusive, but compatibility will still be a prominent problem.
Alternatively, you could show them surface level cool stuff that’s easier to do with Linux. Like blocking all ads, running your own Minecraft server, downloading YouTube videos, building your own PC with cheap parts (and maybe even pirating movies and TV shows, depending on your own practices and relationship to that person). There’s a lot to love about Linux even if you don’t care about privacy and open software as abstract values.
Then staying with Windows forever, no matter how shit it’s become and how much it’s changed even compared to just 2 years ago, is the only option.
I think the best solution would be to talk first.
Gather 10 reasons why it makes sense. For example, its wayyyyyyyyy cheaper to run linux, ethics, etc. Dont wait for them to get frustrated but approach them first and build up an ethical primacy. Thats how i do it and it works.
From there, you ask them what they need. “Just works tm” is sadly how autocracy works. Under hitler and mussolini, healthy, white, party loyal people had a “just works” situation. Dont ask, dont tell. But foss is democratic. It is messy at times.
Reality is, you can make linux work. If something is really stubborn, you make a vm. Shockingly easy! But if someone wants that polish, that plastic world with 14 year olds with pumped up lips and butt implants, you need to let them go. They are lost and need to face reality.