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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Why laptops with linux mostly use unknown distros? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 1 year ago by XeryBlox@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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The average person dont like linux, and if they buy a linux laptop the reason is because its cheaper than the windows one. So why manufacturers still use unknown distros (like lenovo with endlessos) and not something like ubuntu or mint?

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[–] macallik@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

My uneducated guess is that Endless OS pays manufacturers to have their OS installed as it has what appears to be privacy-conscious telemetry. It won't be anywhere close to what Microsoft/Apple, but in the Linux telemetry world of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, and so it'll still have valuable data.

Some of the areas that are unlike most other distros I've come across:

Their website for Endless OS does a lot of tracking and has a policy that is more 'business-orientated' than many distros
Privacy policy for the OS is not available online, only when downloading program
They use dark patterns to have the default for telemetry as 'opt-in' which might be the opposite for FOSS IIRC
Complete list of things tracked here

To me, it's akin to the free third party apps that come packaged with many Android mobile devices. Less intrusive since it's anonymized, but also feels more intrusive because it's the entire OS being monitored. I believe I came across a headline that Fedora is attempting to use the same tracking software in the link above

This review shares a more judgmental view of their practices

This article has a more positive spin