Interesting point, but when people want to switch, and they hear Linux can do everything that windows can, they will think that everything they can do on windows can be done on Linux. To make everyone happy, Linux must be a superset. That’s a tough ask.
Another thing Linux can’t do:
Run all hardware on many new computers.
Not that much of a problem, just buy different hardware or wait - they’ll address the works. But if someone just bought fancy new hardware, and wants to put Linux on it, there is a decent chance of running into sore spots, or of Linux not booting at all.
That said, it would be pretty clear to say “Linux can’t do everything windows can, and windows can’t do everything Linux can. But for most cases, there’s enough overlap that you’ll be happy on Linux.”
Windows doesn’t support running on a Raspberry Pi Zero or an M3 mac. And can’t run a lot of the software that Linux runs. If you want to run Windows you just have to buy different hardware…
Usually the phrasing is something like “you can accomplish the same things on Linux that you can on Windows.” Meaning “yes, you can use a web browser, edit photos, use email, etc.” Many people have no idea what an operating system is and what it means to use a different one.
Are you telling someone what they need to do to get windows, converting from Linux?
I made it clear they support different things, even though there’s significant overlap - and that means some of what Windows supports, Linux doesn’t, which is critical info if you’re switching from Windows to Linux. If someone were asking he reverse, I would likely tell them the reverse (if, for example, they were used to running a pi).
Using this definition then Windows can’t do everything Linux does either, and MaOS can’t do everything Windows and Linux can do.
I don’t think people use that phrase to mean “all Windows software is compatible with Linux”.
Interesting point, but when people want to switch, and they hear Linux can do everything that windows can, they will think that everything they can do on windows can be done on Linux. To make everyone happy, Linux must be a superset. That’s a tough ask.
Another thing Linux can’t do: Run all hardware on many new computers.
Not that much of a problem, just buy different hardware or wait - they’ll address the works. But if someone just bought fancy new hardware, and wants to put Linux on it, there is a decent chance of running into sore spots, or of Linux not booting at all.
That said, it would be pretty clear to say “Linux can’t do everything windows can, and windows can’t do everything Linux can. But for most cases, there’s enough overlap that you’ll be happy on Linux.”
Edit: wording, additional stuff
Windows doesn’t support running on a Raspberry Pi Zero or an M3 mac. And can’t run a lot of the software that Linux runs. If you want to run Windows you just have to buy different hardware…
Usually the phrasing is something like “you can accomplish the same things on Linux that you can on Windows.” Meaning “yes, you can use a web browser, edit photos, use email, etc.” Many people have no idea what an operating system is and what it means to use a different one.
Are you telling someone what they need to do to get windows, converting from Linux?
I made it clear they support different things, even though there’s significant overlap - and that means some of what Windows supports, Linux doesn’t, which is critical info if you’re switching from Windows to Linux. If someone were asking he reverse, I would likely tell them the reverse (if, for example, they were used to running a pi).