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this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2023
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Did not know Balena Etcher. Looks good - 1, 2, 3, professional-looking site.
But IMO even this is too involved. After all, by comparison, installing Windows is "Step 1. It's done!"
Let's say I know nothing about, say, Ubuntu, except that a techie friend told me to "have a go, it's easy!" Well, personally I am going to want Ubuntu to do everything. I should not need to download stuff from random third-party sites that my friend never mentioned.
Basically, IMO there needs to be a FOSS clone of this Balena Etcher tool, which all the distros can rebrand and reskin as necessary. Then step 1 of "Install" is a native experience, just it is on the corporate OSes.
Maybe one of the slicker distros already does it, perhaps Pop_OS. If so, they deserve all the new users.
For Fedora, there is Fedora Media Writer. Maybe other distros can follow in its footsteps
Indeed. I just checked and IMO Fedora is doing it exactly right: a big button "Get started" with the Media Writer as step 1. Now this is Linux for dummies! Meanwhile on the supposed dummy distro Ubuntu.com, you get "Follow this tutorial" and a stodgy bunch of howtos. And Debian all but screams "go away if you're not a nerd" 😭
A long time ago, Ubuntu actually had a interesting way to install Ubuntu on your PC through Windows. It was called "Wubi" if I remember right.
It was definitely... Odd in how it worked. I believe it created a Windows virtual disk image, stored that image on your Windows filesystem, and then added an entry into the Windows Boot Loader to somehow boot into that. On first boot, it was like Windows where it asked you to create an account and then boom - all done.
And if you no longer wanted Ubuntu, you could just literally uninstall it from the Windows "Add or Remove Programs" menu and it'd remove the boot loader entry, and delete the virtual disk image.
Super super new user friendly. Unfortunately I think the reason why it was discontinued was there was an I/O performance cost from running it in a virtual image - and of course just as it sounds, it was a hacky way to do things. And of course, you couldn't get rid of Windows because Ubuntu was living inside it.
Reminds me of how nowadays I believe Asahi Linux for M1 PCs is installed from within macOS - you don't need to create a boot USB and load it at startup.
Ha! Amazing, had no idea. Maybe that explains Ubuntu's early success. But yeah, in the grand strategy, better not to settle for being a Windows .exe app
Indeed. And I think more distros, like Mint, should take this approach.