I’d just like to interject for a moment. What you’re refering to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux-
That's the problem, though: a lot of it isn't GNU, specifically because GNU stuff is GPLv3 and would thus stop the smart TV and IoT device makers from Tivoizing everything all to Hell. Most of that stuff is running bastardized Linux, not GNU/Linux!
A name is just a simple reference to a system composed of interrelated and essential OS components:
Kernel, windowing system, networking tools, virtual memory, user interfaces, the list goes on…
Yes GNU is an essential suite of tools but so is X (or Wayland) and many other unnamed yet critical subsystems.
Now GPL licensing on the other hand, THAT is a foundational precept to FOSS that deserves sole credit back to a single project.
The NT kernel in isolation is apparently quite "ok", from what i have heard of it. It's the spyware, malware, driver crap ("windows") running on/using it which is unquestionably totally fucked and disgusting. If they were to FOSS the NT kernel, I could maybe support an such endeavor.
I was talking to my dad about my job and how people don't know how to use Linux. He said "Yeah, nobody uses that UNIX stuff anymore."
Then I pointed out that his phone and his computer both run flavors of UNIX, since he's been using Apple products since I made him switch by not supporting his issues with Windows, and that most of the websites and apps he's using are running Linux on the backend.
Thats like saying your favorite type of cheese is American, sure its technically cheese but its so processed and removed from cheese that its just not the same as mozzarella.
I made grilled cheese for my father in law in India where it was not insignificantly difficult to find "American" bread and processed cheese. It's comfort food that crosses borders and cultures.
Edit: You United Statesians got that weird cheese thing right and I will die on that hill.
I am constantly amused about how "next year" has been "the year of Linux on the desktop" for 20+ years. Meanwhile, Linux & BSD have pretty much completely taken over the whole world except the desktop in that same time.
Wish they didn't. DIY opnsense/pfsense boxes are much harder for finding compatible NICs because they're on BSD. Conversely, used enterprise-level NICs often have better drivers on Linux than Windows.
usually if it doesn't have good working drivers on BSD, there's a good reason and it's probably better that you didn't use that hardware in the first place. if it was a well-established, reliable adapter then typically it would already have a driver.
Huh, I don't follow supercomputers very often. I didn't realize in the last 10 years UNIX dropped off the map of supercomputers entirely in favor of Linux.
Actual desktops are going the way of the dodo for the mass market and Linux netbooks are quite popular. With Microsoft's current strategy of making a product that is worse and worse for low powered devices, I honestly think it'll happen sooner, except for businesses.