I ended up in Linux -- mostly for my preference couple years ago. But looking at the landscape today, simply there aren't any alternatives anymore.<p>I share the author's sentiment about Google, but for the other reason -- it's the fact their service often works better than their competitors, not only they have Chrome available for Linux, Google's Music, and movie service works better than many competitors out there. (I guess they have incentive to make it work on Linux, as Chromebooks are pretty much Linux-based -- which may not necessarily the QA objective other companies would look into.)<p>I really hope Linux will be able to break the 10% mark, if not becoming hugely popular. If 1/10 of people are not being access to certain content, it becomes harder for content providers to ignore Linux users.
Counterpoint:<p><a href="http://linuxfonts.narod.ru/why.linux.is.not.ready.for.the.desktop.current.html" rel="nofollow">http://linuxfonts.narod.ru/why.linux.is.not.ready.for.the.de...</a><p>Note: I use Mint. I'm just pointing out there's still so many issues that anecdotal articles have no weight due to variance in user's experience largely determined by hardware and apps used. I will also note that it disturbs me that some of these problems were in UNIX Hater's Handbook a long, long time ago. Still there.
Sorry to pick nits, and maybe this is a tired chord, but Purism does not make "laptops built entirely with non-proprietary hardware and software, or as much as can be done at this point".<p>The only big difference between a Purism laptop and other laptops (Acer, Asus, Dell, etc.) is that the CPU has been fused to allow running unsigned firmware. Unfortunately, since we still don't have free firmware to run in place of Intel's, Purism has no present advantage over buying most any laptop and installing Linux yourself.<p>There do exist true FSF-approved laptops, but the current best of these (Libreboot X60 and X200) are essentially refurbished ~2008 Thinkpads. They are so old because Intel was only beginning to sign firmware -- those are the most recent CPUs for which signing firmware has been cracked.<p>Purism loudly trumpets their roadmaps[0] and plans[1] so as to suggest a trajectory towards totally free software, but until they achieve it their product is not worth a premium compared to installing Linux on an ultrabook of your choice.<p>[0] <a href="https://puri.sm/posts/roadmap-to-a-completely-free-bios/" rel="nofollow">https://puri.sm/posts/roadmap-to-a-completely-free-bios/</a> Here they outline many things that need to be done. But note the language- "Purism’s goal is to publish a Free Software implementation ... as soon as an implementation is available." But who is responsible for implementing it?<p>[1] <a href="https://puri.sm/road-to-fsf-ryf-endorsement-and-beyond/" rel="nofollow">https://puri.sm/road-to-fsf-ryf-endorsement-and-beyond/</a> Note that the FSF hasn't actually endorsed them yet, although this page is supposed to convince you that they're awful close. Why not wait until they're actually endorsed?<p>In the meantime, you can buy Libreboot X200s here <a href="http://minifree.org/product/libreboot-x200/" rel="nofollow">http://minifree.org/product/libreboot-x200/</a><p>Or you can replace a Thinkpad X200's firmware yourself by following these steps (hardware required) <a href="http://libreboot.org/docs/install/x200_external.html" rel="nofollow">http://libreboot.org/docs/install/x200_external.html</a>
I currently use Debian for all the servers, and I cannot imagine using any other OS beside Linux for servers. I've also played with everything from ancient VAX mainframe, SUN OS, all kinds of BSD flavors, and my first experience using Linux was with Slackware distro on a PC with first gen Pentium.<p>The desktop is another story. Ever since Ubuntu came out, I was a fan, and I still remember being excited when I received each new release of Ubuntu on CD/DVD with stickers in the mail, all free from Canonical... Good old days...<p>Eventually, I went all-in to make Ubuntu my only desktop OS. However, I ran into few obstacles, which could be overcome with research and asking questions, but eventually I just didn't have enough energy or time to fix things. I really wanted it to work. I'd still like to start using Linux as a desktop for running just browsers/emails/shell/vim, but anything else, it is difficult. (Still looking for Camtasia/screenflow, Adobe Premiere alternative on Linux)<p>A non-technical friend decided to try Ubuntu because he was so tired of running Windows and couldn't justify spending money on Mac. But he ran into issues like audio not working. I'm sure he could've found solution to getting the audio working, or perhaps bought a compatible USB audio to make it work, but these "annoyances" were definitely not pleasant experience. I really wanted him to succeed, but eventually he bit the bullet and just got a Macbook.<p>Perhaps desktop for a common user is no longer relevant, as mobile OS (android/ios) have taken over some of this space. However, I agree that Linux as a desktop is important since it provides an alternative, but I still wish that things could be better.
For me, completely abandoning Windows at the moment is impossible. Obvious reason: PC game :p
Linux itself makes a excellent tinkering platform, though.
And for daily use I think it's relatively "user-friendlier" than
a decade ago. Of course I mean user-friendlier for the average PC users, not just hardcore geeks.