No, it isn't a double edged sword. Even a mediocre distro would be better than Windows, any distro would be cheaper than Windows, and there's no reason to choose a bad distro anyway.

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 3 points 2 days ago (3 children)

No one wants to choose a bad OS environment, it will become one due to security or other non-negotiable requirements.

They aren't going to just toss Ubuntu on a box and call it done. Itll be locked down, limited, and horrible to use. And users who dont know any better will blame "Linux".

A government SOE Linux just isnt going to be a good ambassador for general desktop usage.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

No, but it will mean apps get written for Linux, due to market share

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe. I suspect most of the government apps will be webapps, and not particularly relevant to the rest of us.

Maybe Firefox will get some funding :D

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

So they can blow it on functions they cancel :)

[–] orcrist@lemm.ee 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You mean just like Windows?

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev -1 points 2 days ago

Just like windows, except that the misdirected hate when the SOE environment gets in the way will be aimed at "Linux" instead of "Microsoft".

[–] erin@social.sidh.bzh 4 points 2 days ago

if you read the petition, it's not for a security reason that it has been created but RGPD one... So with privacy in mind, it can be a not great but good distro