this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2023
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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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both Linux operating systems have 1. A friendly user interface, 2. A hidden terminal, and 3. A locked down root user, to avoid dangerous actions!! Why do people seem to dislike Android when Ubuntu is similar to it??

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Hidden terminal? Locked down root user? Troll post or do you not know anything about Ubuntu?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago

Troll post or shill, same account recently asked "why do people dislike google, they're only doing legal data saving for stuff you search" and then ignored every bit of legitimate croticism that was handed to them.

Makes no sense to interact with such an account.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)
  1. You're uninformed (highly debatable)
  2. You're uninformed (It's right fuckin there)
  3. You're uninformed (It's not immutable)
[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If you go far enough out then Windows, Android, Linux, iOS, WebOS, QNX, Tizen and goddamn TempeOS all do the same thing. Reductio ad absurdum.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You’re basically saying that virtually every Linux is the same, which to a certain extent is true and to a certain extent is not true.

Basically you haven’t said anything.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I don't like Google's Android or Ubuntu. lol

But I do like Android (AOSP) and Debian a lot though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

I like Calyx and Gentoo. They've been nice to me.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

One is owned by a multinational company and the other isn’t.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

technically Ubuntu is owned by a multinational company too!!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Sure. They’re exactly the same then.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'll address all your points

  1. It's just GNOME but slightly modified
  2. How? Gnome includes a terminal that technically exists (even if slow)
  3. Just use sudo

As for the differences

  1. Ubuntu is open source (Android =/= AOSP)
  2. Sudo is enabled
  3. Ubuntu repository
  4. Gnome is a proper desktop (and can even be a traditional desktop with extensions)
  5. Can be heavily modified
  6. Telemetry can be disabled
  7. The most controversial feature (snaps) can be removed
  8. Ubuntu uses the standard Linux kernel
  9. It's a desktop operating system
  10. It's not owned by a multi billion dollar ad company
[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

(Android =/= AOSP)

can you elaborate on this? this is the first i've heard this take. rather I would say Android =/= gservices

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Android generally refers to a complete Android system that includes Google software and services along with additional OEM bloat. Meanwhile ASOP is extremely bare bones and parts of it are being abandoned.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I guess AOSP is barebones, but it's not like anything is being abandoned that matters, AOSP itself is still alive, kicking, and thriving. Interesting to hear that people consider Android, AOSP + proprietary bits. It's not something i've used myself

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Interesting to hear that people consider Android, AOSP + proprietary bits.

Google owns the Android trademark, and they won't let you officially call any OS that doesn't meet their requirements Android. And their requirements include Gapps among other things. That means AOSP is not Android.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Are you talking about mobile OS? I can't imagine using Android as a desktop.

The biggest differences are the available packages and the that Android is typically heavily locked down to prevent user access.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

android as desktop works pretty decently actually, it can be quite nice when you set it up, especially for lower end hardware, and ofc, if you need more flexibility, you can run linux in a chroot and use x11 to bring the screen to the android env. or go vice versa and use waydroid in linux and your desktop, then simply swap out when you dont need it. (though waydroid can be harder on low end hardware)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Oh but there is. (Chrome OS)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Oh, I forgot about Chromebooks and ChromeOS. They are similar, but there are significant differences.

ChromeOS is based on Gentoo. It is centered on keyboard and mouse input, often with touchscreen.

Android is its own flavor of Linux, entirely centered on touch input.

While I think it might be entirely possible to install and remove packages to have one act like the other, we are comparing a different Linux flavor against Android.

Also, my answer is probably generic enough to answer OP.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

it's not accurate to say android is centred on touch input. Android has some of, if not the most diverse input options, mouse and keyboard works fine, also there is a large library of apps compatible with remotes/gamepads. While that might be how a lot of people normally interact with it, android is very well developed to be diverse

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

Android is a mobile operating system owned by one of the 3 largest tech companies in the world.

Ubuntu is an alternate desktop OS for users of x86 systems that can't pay a licence, want to bring new life to old hardware or just want to use something other than Windows or MacOS.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Ubuntus terminal isn't really hidden. The root user not being usable (heavily advised against) is a good thing for almost all situations (something I wish windows would also do by default).

Android is built entirely for mobile devices. Ya sure you CAN get it running on other devices, but why?

Friendly interfaces, is subjective tbh. I think I get where you're coming from.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago
  1. Based on opinion, but okay, I'll give you that one.
  2. Ubuntu has terminal built-in, it's far from hidden. Most Android installs (average smart phone) don't include a terminal, you have to either use adb from a computer, or download a terminal from an app store.
  3. Ubuntu's root user is not locked down. By default the user can run any command they want using sudo, and a basic google search will tell them how to enable root login fairly quickly. By comparison, just about any android smartphone has to be "jailbroken" using an exploit in order to access root. Some phones, especially in the USA, can't be jailbroken at all.

Ubuntu is pretty upfront about any telemetry and allows you to disable it easily. A lot of Android's telemetry can't be opted out of, unless you happen to have an unlocked bootloader and can install a privacy-focused custom ROM.

These are not the same, although I get the point you're trying to make. Ubuntu has a user-friendly interface, with a goal of making Linux accessible to all. But for anybody who wants to, it's fairly easy to dig into the internals and become a "power user." It certainly makes no attempt to stop you from doing so. Android, on the other hand, on MOST instances, locks down everything, with little to no overrides, even from the user, many times "in the name of security."

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No.

  1. They have user interfaces designed for completely different use cases and input devices.

  2. Ubuntu doesn't really hide it's terminal.

  3. Ubuntu in no way has a locked down root. A simple sudo command is all you need. In a typical Android phone, is MUCH harder to get root on.

Android and Ubuntu are much more different than you realise. From the technical details to Google's monopolistic practices. Honestly it is shorter to list what they have in common (basically the Linux kernel and a tiny selection of GNU utilities)

[–] [email protected] -2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

wait if Android has GNU utilities, does that mean it's GNU/Linux, I read somewhere that Android is Toybox/Linux.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It has some GNU utilities. We are talking a very small selection indeed. Some might even be completely different implementations compared to the typical GNU toolbox.

We are certainly not talking entire toolchains.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Who likes Ubuntu? Snap is terrible & they're forcing it down our throats in a way that is reminiscent to Edge on Windows.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Plenty of people like both and plenty of people dislike both...