Can you believe it? Proton, the compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Steam Deck / Linux PCs didn't actually have a proper logo for over 5 years.
Let's be honest year of Linux desktop won't happen until more company's sell computer with Linux already installed most people don't install their own OS this is why Windows is so popular until that is fixed by preloading Linux on more systems I don't think it'll happen.
It’s not just that. Prebuilt computers with Linux are probably the worst way to go, because the people buying prebuilt aren’t the ones who can troubleshoot their own systems, and like it or not, Linux requires significantly more and more involved troubleshooting. Windows/MacOS have abstracted that so far away from the user that most don’t even bother and just restart, because 99% of the time that fixes the problem.
I truly don’t think Linux can ever go beyond enthusiast desktops and web browsing machines. It’s such a steep learning curve where almost everything you’ve ever learned about computers needs to be thrown out and re-learned.
Most people can't actually use Windows. What they can use (barely) is a couple applications and utilities. Put them in Linux and they still won't be able to use the system, they'll still get by with a few applications and utilities which will use the exact same paradigms. So no big difference.
Also they won't dump data in random places on the disk but only in the user's home. Which is an improvement.
And for the few that want to understand something, unlike Windows a lot of the help is built-in. The error messages make sense. There's a logic to things. All in all, Linux is easier.
This is opinion is more than old enough to drink and gamble in the states and almost as senile as my grandpa. Current iteration of windows is fucked in so many ways and I grew up on 95 then used every version after it for at least a year or two each but mostly XP, 7, and 10. Mac os I have no idea as I only ever put the time in during the time of Netscape navigator and Mac os was different back then. Modern apple UI still seems unintuitive in the sense that I have no idea how to navigate some screens while shit ass windows I can albeit begrudgingly due to m$ enshittifying everything. Linux has it's factions though and they are just as different as m$ and app£€. I'm in the 'fuck gnome my desktop is not a phone and this doesn't even feel good on a touch screen' faction.
My senile ass grandpa bets on horse races online from his kinoite desktop. Man literally can't even communicate with us any more and somehow he figured that shit out after asking me for a computer by calling it machine and calculator and electrical box thing. I'm genuinely puzzled though it's a weird case.
The more realistic cases would be my parents who use computers for work and movie piracy. I switched them after saying they will use this or pay people to fix their virus problems, and since then I have done literally nothing apart from confirm that the update notification is indeed the real one and okay to click. Even the more boneheaded in my social circle have gotten steam decks and have nothing but praise for them, even though I have a number of gripes. I do love the thing though, it's like having a shitty child and someone has to love them, and thank dog at least they aren't as ugly and deformed as the neighbor's kid 'rog ally'.
Ok, but again, that’s you. Not the average consumer. The average consumer has been using windows and/or macOS exclusively for the last 20 years. They’re familiar with how the current operating systems work, and have a large number of habits, good and bad, to unlearn.
Modern Apple UI is very intuitive imo, so we’re just going to have to disagree there.
The online betting example is a good usecase for Linux, as it’s nothing more than basic web browsing. For someone who’s computer experience is turn it on, open a webpage and never leave the browser, it works (and I mentioned that in my original comment)
The problem is for the people who need to do a little more with their computer, but still aren’t what anyone would consider tech savvy. They’re going to have a much harder time with Linux than Windows/MacOS, and that’s the only perspective they’ll ever get.
The steamdeck is a weird case. I honestly find it more of a consoleOS, which have often been unix based than a full blown Linux distro. It’s still not a desktop, at the end of the day it’s a very good game console.
Apple is the worst, most unintuitive UI in the world. It's pretty, but it is not functional. The same shit you just said about Linux applies to macOS. As soon as someone wants to do something other than the most basic shit with macOS, it won't let you, will force you to jump through hoops or will require a higher than novice knowledge and skill with computers to make it do what you want it to. But I think Linux is ever more leaning towards mass appeal without losing it's flexibility and power. Something that neither of the corporations can claim.