This image was created by /u/kuebic@discuss.tchncs.de for this comment here: https://discuss.tchncs.de/comment/21735989. I had encouraged them to post it somewhere, but as far as I can tell, they never did.

Panel 1: “Installing Windows 20 years ago” screenshot of install wizard with just a couple buttons
Panel 2: “Installing Linux 20 years ago” screenshot of a busy command line
Panel 3: “Installing Windows today” screenshot of a busy command line
Panel 4: “Installing Linux today” screenshot of install wizard with just a couple buttons

  • ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world
    141·
    16 hours ago

    Getting help with Linux 15-20 years ago: some forum full with slurs telling you to google it

    Getting help with Windows 15-20 years ago: “Do this and this, if that fails look up data backup methods before the reinstall.”

    Getting help with Linux now: various Wikis and blogs. The hazard of finding an AI hallucinated blog post is significant, but can be blocked.

    Getting help with Windows now: support forums owned by Microsoft filled with users telling they have the same issue, and AI agents hallucinating solutions.

    • kopasu22@lemmy.world
      3·
      5 hours ago

      Getting help with Windows now: support forums owned by Microsoft filled with users telling they have the same issue, and AI agents hallucinating solutions.

      I feel this to my core.

      My work PC uses Windows, and sometimes I have to Google something that is acting up, which takes me to these sorts of threads. It’s always:

      OP: I’m having trouble with this app, it doesn’t recognize my default audio device. I’ve tried X, Y, and Z, which did not work.

      Jimothy, Certified Windows Expert: Greetings, OP! My name is Jimothy, a Certified Windows Expert and fellow Windows enthusiast! I am sorry to hear about the issues you’ve been having. But don’t worry, I am here to assist. 3 paragraphs later You should try going to the user settings and make sure that “Use default audio device” is checked on. Did this fix your issue?

      OP: I don’t see any setting labeled “Use default audio device.”

      15 posts follow from other users who are experiencing the same issue, also confirming there is no such setting.

      Jimothy, Certified Windows Expert: Greetings again, OP! I am sorry to hear that did not answer your question. According to the app specifications, use of the default audio device is not a supported feature at this time. If you would like to make a suggestion to include this feature in a future release, you may submit a request through the Microsoft Feedback Portal. I will now close this topic to further replies. Thank you!

    • NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip
      31·
      9 hours ago

      Getting help with Linux 15-20 years ago: some forum full with slurs telling you to google it

      No it wasn’t, where we you going for help lol?

        • NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip
          2·
          7 hours ago

          What forums? In 2005 every forum I went to was really helpful, friendly, and nothing like what you describe.

          Certainly there was a little bit of internet snarkiness I would imagine, but I remember everyone being pretty nice to each other.

          I decided to go back and look using the way back machine and went through a few threads, everyone is being really nice and helpful to each other.

          • Digit@lemmy.wtfEnglish
            1·
            5 hours ago

            Same experience.

            Huge part of what kept me in the community of the Free Software philosophy.

            It’s in the 4 freedoms. Free to use, study, share and change, the software. That’s the enabled and protected spirit of helping each other.

            Assertions of contrary, has me wonder what those offering those other assertions were doing to get that kind of reception and impression.

    • WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      7·
      14 hours ago

      to be fair, some linux forums still have toxic members, and some others while probably not toxic, are still a bit harsh with people

      • NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip
        21·
        9 hours ago

        All the support forums I went to (redhat, gentoo, debian) in 2005 were friendly helpful and well moderated. What is this fud?

      • Bluewing@lemmy.world
        31·
        13 hours ago

        Being told “RFTM! noob”, isn’t as common as it was 20 years ago. At least with Fedora where good help can be found. Still, there are a good number of questions that just don’t get answered either.

        • Digit@lemmy.wtfEnglish
          1·
          4 hours ago

          Being told to read the manual did me good.

          We should bring back RTFM, and cease allowing it to be smeared as something bad. Burnout is no fun. RTFM spares developers from burnout, allowing them to continue developing good software (and have it be well documented… if only users would read the flippin manual!) ;D