If you’re trying to figure out who this is for, the answer is “My clients.”
We deploy systems that have to run as servers, but need a UI because the people maintaining them are brain dead idiots. Windows Server isn’t an option because each system sells at a fairly low price point; adding on the cost of a server license would kill our margins. So we need an OS that runs like Linux, but looks like Windows.
Now you might be thinking “Just use KDE? It’s got a start menu, everything is still in basically the same places, and the only software anyone runs is a web browser.” And you would be vastly underestimating the degree to which moving any component of the UI even the slightest bit causes the average user to shit their pants in terror and freeze up like a deer in the headlights. You’ll point to the start menu and they move the mouse towards it like you just instructed them to defuse a bomb. Eyes closed, they’ll instinctively lean back from the screen in sheer terror as they click.
These Windows alikes are useless for any Linux user, but incredibly helpful for people like me who have to turn Windows users into Linux users.
I remember once seeing an explanation of how us tech people magically know what to do with any program that was like “We don’t. We just look for something that seems vaguely familiar and try clicking it.” Three bars in a hamburger shape? That’s a menu. Oh, look, a cog, that always means settings, what we want is probably a setting. Etc.
Meanwhile give root access to a CEO because he demands it, and he’ll happily copy and paste “sudo wget piped to bash” commands copied from some forum into your production server
idk, I’d rather have users fear a bomb is about to go off than people exploding a bomb without even hesitating to think if they should proceed
But OP did really meant that people who can’t use PCs are braindead idoits, which is very harsh. People who are using PCs at their workplace for the first time or have learnt using Windows for the sake of getting a job do be very cautious like that. They only used them in constricted way and never got to play around with it. You can never learn how a device works without playing around with it imo. Just because you had more experience with PCs doesn’t mean you have right to call who are inexperienced brain-dead idoits.
in part I agree with you. However, OP has called brainded idiots those who’s job is to manage the windows server systems, and can’t even imagine doing the same on linux without a GUI
While it might seem interesting for your usecase, please be careful which specific distro you use, especially when it comes to “windows-like” distros. Wubuntu (previously LinuxFX) has terrible security for your payment info, and the developers have made a ton of questionable decisions.
If you’re trying to figure out who this is for, the answer is “My clients.”
We deploy systems that have to run as servers, but need a UI because the people maintaining them are brain dead idiots. Windows Server isn’t an option because each system sells at a fairly low price point; adding on the cost of a server license would kill our margins. So we need an OS that runs like Linux, but looks like Windows.
Now you might be thinking “Just use KDE? It’s got a start menu, everything is still in basically the same places, and the only software anyone runs is a web browser.” And you would be vastly underestimating the degree to which moving any component of the UI even the slightest bit causes the average user to shit their pants in terror and freeze up like a deer in the headlights. You’ll point to the start menu and they move the mouse towards it like you just instructed them to defuse a bomb. Eyes closed, they’ll instinctively lean back from the screen in sheer terror as they click.
These Windows alikes are useless for any Linux user, but incredibly helpful for people like me who have to turn Windows users into Linux users.
I feel this so much it hurts.
Some people are TERRIFIED of devices.
They look at the UI like it’s the cockpit of a fighter plane, with a thousand buttons, some of which make things explode.
Unless they know exactly what to do, they won’t even try anything.
Nevermind that UIs are usually designed to allow a user to figure them out by just prodding at everything and seeing what it does.
I remember once seeing an explanation of how us tech people magically know what to do with any program that was like “We don’t. We just look for something that seems vaguely familiar and try clicking it.” Three bars in a hamburger shape? That’s a menu. Oh, look, a cog, that always means settings, what we want is probably a setting. Etc.
https://xkcd.com/627/
Y’know, it probably was that, now that I think about it.
Meanwhile give root access to a CEO because he demands it, and he’ll happily copy and paste “sudo wget piped to bash” commands copied from some forum into your production server
idk, I’d rather have users fear a bomb is about to go off than people exploding a bomb without even hesitating to think if they should proceed
If you don’t mind me asking, what sort servers/clients do you work with?
I don’t mind you asking the question, but the answer is “No comment.”
probably clients running “Human OS”
I love how to you everyone who is not a Linux enthusiast is a braindead idiot. Very nice. 👌
we can’t stop you if you really want to read it that way
But OP did really meant that people who can’t use PCs are braindead idoits, which is very harsh. People who are using PCs at their workplace for the first time or have learnt using Windows for the sake of getting a job do be very cautious like that. They only used them in constricted way and never got to play around with it. You can never learn how a device works without playing around with it imo. Just because you had more experience with PCs doesn’t mean you have right to call who are inexperienced brain-dead idoits.
in part I agree with you. However, OP has called brainded idiots those who’s job is to manage the windows server systems, and can’t even imagine doing the same on linux without a GUI
Ooh, I’m a brain dead idiot, are your clients hiring?
I would argue that those people you’re describing shouldn’t be in charge of computers that are accessible from the Internet.
They’re not. But also, I don’t exactly disagree. We just don’t really get a say in that part.
I guess if the servers are only internal it’s not quite as bad.
Lemmy needs a best comment section like reddit had
Be the change you want to see in the world:
!bestoflemmy@lemmy.world
While it might seem interesting for your usecase, please be careful which specific distro you use, especially when it comes to “windows-like” distros. Wubuntu (previously LinuxFX) has terrible security for your payment info, and the developers have made a ton of questionable decisions.
Good to know. As I said in another comment, I’m not endorsing the product, just explaining the use case.