This thread is focusing on whether he’s right, even while being a shithead. The problem IMO is not whether he’s right or not, it’s what his ‘plans’ are if the world moves in the direction he starts nudging. Guy’s a psycho edgelord pro-fascist with Bond villain tendencies, but he’s surfed on trends to carve monopolies before… Idk
If I had to guess, he’d try to find a business selling enterprise supported distributions of Linux, buy them, then try to expand/convert them to develop “consumer Linux”. He’d advertise it as getting out from under the thumb of evil corps (ie his competitors), then as soon as it gains even a modicum of traction start implementing privacy violating shit, ads, whatever, to enshittify it as quickly as possible for a quick buck.
If it brings more people and support to the linux ecosystem I say sure, go for it. If more people start using linux, even a corpo version, over windows, doing a “side-grade” is more palatable than a change as severe for most people going from Windows to a FOSS linux, even if it is still unlikely for the non-technically inclined. It may also improve product/software support for linux in general, meaning everyone using linux already would benefit from a mainstream distro existing.
Assuming of course it isn’t a total trainwreck that tarnishes the reputation of linux, but even then, would broaden the awareness and discourse for linux so maybe not all bad regardless.
You had a good point though. Even if he does make that enshittified distro, people will see through it and probably be like “wait… I though this is what we were running from in the first place 🤨”, and that will in turn lead them to other distros.
Plus the whole traction aspect, more software for Linux, even if it is proprietary, that is what actually keeps users on Windows - their favorite software running natively on Linux.
So, yeah, I was also like “holy shit, hope he doesn’t do anything stupid 😬”, but you made some fair points, so, I guess… go for it Elon 👍 🤷 😁.
This thread is focusing on whether he’s right, even while being a shithead. The problem IMO is not whether he’s right or not, it’s what his ‘plans’ are if the world moves in the direction he starts nudging. Guy’s a psycho edgelord pro-fascist with Bond villain tendencies, but he’s surfed on trends to carve monopolies before… Idk
If I had to guess, he’d try to find a business selling enterprise supported distributions of Linux, buy them, then try to expand/convert them to develop “consumer Linux”. He’d advertise it as getting out from under the thumb of evil corps (ie his competitors), then as soon as it gains even a modicum of traction start implementing privacy violating shit, ads, whatever, to enshittify it as quickly as possible for a quick buck.
If it brings more people and support to the linux ecosystem I say sure, go for it. If more people start using linux, even a corpo version, over windows, doing a “side-grade” is more palatable than a change as severe for most people going from Windows to a FOSS linux, even if it is still unlikely for the non-technically inclined. It may also improve product/software support for linux in general, meaning everyone using linux already would benefit from a mainstream distro existing.
Assuming of course it isn’t a total trainwreck that tarnishes the reputation of linux, but even then, would broaden the awareness and discourse for linux so maybe not all bad regardless.
My 2 cents anyways.
Well, it’s not like he’s already done trainwrecks that tarnished the reputation of multiple companies, so I’m sure we’re safe 😏
I disagree. His involvement includes his circus. I like where Linux is. Circus brings unneeded attention.
that’s fair, but if the toddler billionaire found a new block to chew on, I hope it at least brings something good to the overall community.
You had a good point though. Even if he does make that enshittified distro, people will see through it and probably be like “wait… I though this is what we were running from in the first place 🤨”, and that will in turn lead them to other distros.
Plus the whole traction aspect, more software for Linux, even if it is proprietary, that is what actually keeps users on Windows - their favorite software running natively on Linux.
So, yeah, I was also like “holy shit, hope he doesn’t do anything stupid 😬”, but you made some fair points, so, I guess… go for it Elon 👍 🤷 😁.