I can see where you are coming from and chrome os is a good and bad example of what I mean. It’s a bad example because of the lack of transparency. It’s a good example because it creates a “brand” around the product. Linux lacks brand recognition to the average person, and when we approach getting folks on Linux, we do one of two things. We pick a brand for them, or we explain what a distro is and that linux is actually the kernel and that its really GNU/Linux or GNU and Linux etc. I want to get to the point a non technical user makes the choice themselves
Outside of just buying computers with Linux one them, imo the best scenario would be if there was a recognized brand, like chromeos, which people could point to and say “you’re good with computers and fuck windows. Can you install Doors?”. You have to admit an operating system called “FuckWindows OS” would be appealing to those who utter the words several times per day.
I’m also not suggesting we go guns blazing into doing this so much as presenting a consideration why we are less effective than we’d like and what we could add to our focus to improve conversion rates.
TLDR: Linux, or our representation of it, is confusing to the average person. Could we address this with a distro whose purpose is to establish a stronger brand?
I agree not sweeping Linux under the rug is important, but what about something like:
Doors: Powered by Linux
After all, Linux is just the kernel. It isn’t the operating system <insert long Stallman rant>. Saying ”Powered By" is both accurate, and the brand recognition horse shit people go for
Make no mistake. I don’t like that brand recognition is an important consideration, but it’s important to recognize what works for many people