Why Many People Don't Switch Even Though Everyone Says Linux Is Better Than Windows

Many people have been stuck with Windows their whole lives and occasionally wonder if they should finally try Linux. But then they suddenly remember why they haven't switched.

 

6. Problems with terminal

Linux isn't bad. The problem is the Linux landscape - the culture and how it's presented to people considering switching to it. If you really want people to switch to Linux, maybe stop saying "you can do everything in the terminal!" That sounds fine, but. why would you want to do that?

Buttons simplified everything. You click; things happen. That's the relationship you're used to with your computer. Meanwhile, a lot of Linux discussions online basically say, "Just paste this command into the terminal and you're good to go." From the outside, if you're not comfortable typing mysterious strings of text into a black box, you're not cut out for the switch. No one says it outright, but it's often implied.

 

5. Do you really want to be a system administrator?

Many people don't want to be their own IT manager. Most people just want to open a browser, install apps, listen to music, work, and watch videos.

 

With Linux, there's a common perception that you have to choose one of five different installation methods, learn what package format your distribution uses, and maybe even consult a decade-old community thread to fix a missing dependency. Whether that perception is true or not is largely irrelevant, because that's how it feels.

4. The Attitude of the Elite Turns You Off

This may be a little harsh here, but some Linux users have the worst tech-savvy attitudes I've ever seen. You'll come across a forum where a newbie asks, "Hey, is there a way to install this without a terminal?" and the top comment will be "If you can't use a terminal, Linux probably isn't for you . "

It's not advice, it's prejudice. But it works because it has been successful in keeping Windows users from switching to Linux.

3. Time is of the essence

Even though Linux is the most user-friendly and easy-to-use operating system on the planet, switching takes time.

 

People spend their lives learning Windows—how to install it, how to install programs, how to troubleshoot minor issues, and so on. You probably use it unconsciously. Switching to Linux means having to learn everything from scratch. And while that knowledge will certainly be useful, there are better ways to spend your time right now.

2. Linux doesn't always have official software support

Another issue that makes people hesitate is that the software they use isn't officially available for Linux. Admittedly, there are alternatives, and Linux users often say that you can run the Windows version through Wine , or an open source equivalent, which is better. But sorry; many people don't want a "just tinker with it and it will work" solution . They want an official application, supported by the people who made it, with updates that don't break things.

1. So many people will still watch from the sidelines

So many people still side with Windows. They watch the Linux community from afar like someone admiring an exclusive club they'll never join—not because they can't, but because the process of joining is unnecessarily intimidating.

Beautiful desktop setups, endless customization, and speed. They believe all the stories about Linux's stability and security. It's great that people have some level of control over their systems.

But there's an implicit assumption that you should want to learn how to use it "properly." And that's not the kind of relationship you want with your computer.