I mean correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like getting an ISO on a flash drive is pretty basic computer skills, something that even if you've never heard of before would be easy to do as long as you aren't too computer illiterate. And at least for my distro of choice (i use fedora btw) they have a media writer tool thats just an easy exe file that will automatically download and install the ISO to your selected flash drive.

Also when I was a windows user I still would get the windows ISO and flash it to a thumbstick and use that to install windows. Is that not fairly common on Windows too? I've installed Windows on a few PCs for friends and family over the years, and I've also always used an ISO on a flash drive.

After writing this I read your last sentence again and realized that your point is pretty much agreeing with me, most people could install Linux but they probably wouldn't be confident the first time around. I dunno I'm really high and just sort of rambling, have a good day.

[–] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I mean correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like getting an ISO on a flash drive is pretty basic computer skills, something that even if you've never heard of before would be easy to do as long as you aren't too computer illiterate.

That last bit is doing a ton of lifting here.

Having worked for a company's internal tech support, I highly doubt that even half of the employees I supported would be capable of that, and that's only because that half were good enough with computers that they never had to call in for help, so I don't know their skill level.

Knowing what an ISO even is already puts you above the average user by a significant margin.

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

True. I guess my thoughts on the average tech literacy of any given individual might be biased because almost everyone I've grown up with and been friends with have decent knowledge of computing and what I consider basic stuff like iso's and flashing them.

But thinking of the group of individuals I work with right now I suppose 40 - 50% would struggle or atleast need to read a web page or two on how to do it

[–] Charapaso@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Most people could for sure: but in the same way that most people could do the motorcycle maintenance I do regularly.

Remove spark plugs to inspect, change the brake pads, change the oil and replace the oil filter, top up the brake fluid, heck: even just get the chain tension correct. None of it's even physically difficult, but most people are terrified of breaking something, or otherwise so unfamiliar with the basic tools required that "torque to spec" sounds more like a spell than instruction.

The last time I installed Linux mint, something went screwy with the partition, so I had to run a couple updates in Linux and then a couple command line arguments to get it to show the grub on startup. That process was easy, but someone unfamiliar would hardly know what to search for, and would likely be as uncomfortable for many folks as it would be to get a stripped bolt out of the engine case. Not rocket surgery, but intimidating the first time, and possibly the point at which they get a professional involved.

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 3 points 3 days ago

Good comparison!