Is elementary OS REALLY user friendly?
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00:00 Intro
00:34 Sponsor: Safing
01:32 Complete Beginner POV
07:12 Windows User POV
10:36 macOS User POV
13:57 Linux User POV
15:11 Parting Thoughts
Let's start with the POV of someone who has very rarely used any kind of computer or OS. On that front, elementary OS offers a very approachable experience on the surface.
You get a simple experience: the top panel clearly states what it does, with an applications link and a search icon, easy to understand, the date and time, and a few system indicators, including the familiar power button glyph.
The application design is also very simple. The close button and maximize button are relatively easy to understand, and the lack of minimize button won't disturb someone who isn't used to computers, as they won't have picked up that habit using something else.
The settings won't scare away computer beginners either.
Installing applications is pretty easy on elementary OS as well, but the AppCenter is barren out of the box, only listing elementary OS applications that have been submitted to its flatpak remote.
This basically means that elementary OS, while it has many quality apps, is completely unsuitable for a complete beginner, new to computers.
elementary OS, interface-wise, is probably one of the easiest systems to use, even easier than GNOME, IMO. But the lack of graphically installable applications out of the box just makes it really hard to recommend to a complete beginner, unless you're there to add flathub for them before you give them their device.
For someone used to Windows, elementary won't hold much appeal out of the box.
Instead of a taskbar, you get a panel and a dock, and the functionality is basically spread out between multiple places. The application style, while easy to grasp and understand, will also be a big departure from what Windows 10 and 11 do.
The button position, on the other hand, will definitely confuse windows users.
Going into the settings, Windows users will get a Control Panel like experience, with a grid of icons, and a few options inside of each. Of course, there are a lot less options here than on Windows, so a power user will definitely feel that this is lacking.
And we come to the app installation thing again. The same problem applies here: without any prior knowledge of Linux, there is NO WAY a user will be satisfied with the elementary OS app situation.
For Windows users, I'd say elementary OS is just not well suited.
On the surface, Mac OS users will have a nice time with elementary OS. They'll find most of their habits undisturbed. One point of contention will be the lack of application indicators. On mac OS, apps can fit their icons in the top panel, on elementary OS, they can't.
elementary OS uses the same shortcut out of the box to open the applications menu, than what mac uses for spotlight, so there's at least a point of similarity here.
The design style of applications is really close to what mac OS users expect, with a dark and light theme, accent colors, and headerbars, it's virtually identical.
The close button is in the same place, but the maximize button isn't, and doesn't work in the same way as it does on mac oS.
In terms of settings, I'd say elementary's settings are virtually identical to macOS's.
And again, we come to the disappointing application situation. The TLDR is the same here as for windows users.
Watch video Is elementary OS REALLY user friendly? online without registration, duration 18 minute 17 second in high hd quality. This video was added by user The Linux Experiment 05 November 2021, don't forget to share it with your friends and acquaintances, it has been viewed on our site 58 thousand once and liked it 3 thousand people.