Ok I’m not a nerd. Grew up in the 90s and started on windows 95… switched to a Mac in 2007 as I went into design work. I always wanted to try Linux and I was gonna install it on an old windows based laptop during covid for fun but couldn’t find the charger for it.

What’s the big fuss about Linux? Is it just an alternative to the big two or is there something special about it that the other two can’t do?

[–] wholookshere@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Not the person you replied to, but I do use Linux (arch btw).

Linux is a free (as in freedom) and open source software that basically powers the internet.

A vast majority of servers on the internet are running Linux. It's powerfully but that's a double edge sword. It's easy to cut yourself too if your unfamiliar with the edges.

Because it's completely open source, there are endless customizations and optimizations you can make. The art is knowing what, how, and where. But that's true of windows and macos.

It's vertically less creepy with AI and logging garbage compared to apple and Microsoft.

It's popular with nerds because it's free and customizable. IMO that can come at a cost of user-friendly experiences. But it's all about learning the edges. The other two have plenty, most are just used to it.

[–] inv3r510n@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

It's vertically less creepy with AI and logging garbage compared to apple and Microsoft

So it’s safer from tracking? I have Adblock and anti tracker stuff on all my browsers on my Mac but idk if it really works

[–] wholookshere@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 hours ago

It is yes. There's no central server that logs are collected to or anything like that.

That's NOT the same as ad blocking.

Borswers will still be browsers just like any other OS and precautions should be made there.