Was Linux Lite Wrong For Defaulting To Google Chrome?

If you are a hardcore Linux user (someone who lives, eats and breathes Linux) you would have learned that the developers of Linux Lite went with the decision to use Google Chrome as their default web browser (Goodbye, Mozilla Firefox).

Why was this a nightmarish event for some Linux users?

It was a nightmarish event for some Linux users because many of them are staunch supporters of free and open-source software (And, Google Chrome does not fall into the category of free and open-source software ― it is proprietary software).

So, were the developers of Linux Lite out of their minds when they chose to replace Mozilla Firefox with Google Chrome?

Those who are all for the usage of free and open-source software would say, “Yes,” while those who could not care one bit about which web browser that they use on their computer would say, “No!”

Without further ado, it is time for me to delve deeply into this highly controversial topic.

Who Is Linux Lite’s Target Audience?

Linux Lite is targeted at new Linux users; specifically, those people who are coming over from Windows.

And, which web browser do Windows users utilize the most?

Google Chrome, of course!

If you do not believe me, you can have a look at the browser market share worldwide.

The developers of Linux Lite simply wanted to make their new users feel at home, but in doing so, they alienated many of their users ― the people who are proponents of free and open-source software.

Hey, they could have done much worse; they could have sunken deeper into the gutter by making Microsoft Edge (A Chromium-based browser with Microsoft’s own proprietary stuff added to it) as the new default web browser for their operating system.

There Are Linux Users Who Are Okay With The Idea Of Using Google Chrome

Yes, my friend, it is true about some Linux users being okay with the idea of using Google Chrome.

I remembered one of my fellow Linux users mentioning that they did not want to mess around with a web browser in order to watch streaming services like Netflix (He hates the idea of adding Widevine to other web browsers; which is something that he does not have to do with Google Chrome).

Some people would rather keep things uncomplicated by using what they already know.

Then there are also those Linux users who are deeply ensnared within Google’s ecosystem; the people who use:

• Google Docs
• Gmail
• Google Photos
• Google Meet
• Google Drive
• Google Contacts
• Google Search

They can easily access those services via the usage of the Google Chrome web browser.

I would not be too surprised if someone told me that they use various Google services on their Linux Lite machine.

There Are Linux Users That Want Nothing To Do With Mozilla Firefox

Surprisingly, there are a bunch of Linux users who have grown fed up with Mozilla Firefox; they grew disenchanted because:

• They claimed that the Mozilla Foundation has become too political in nature.
• They dislike the new changes to the graphical user interface of Mozilla Firefox.
• They hate the fact that Mozilla Firefox uses Google as its default search engine.
• They claimed that it crashes too often.

Ironically, some of those people have switched to other Chromium-based web browsers; such as:

• Brave
• Vivaldi
• Opera
• Comodo Dragon
• Torch
• Microsoft Edge

You can bet the last dollar in your wallet (or purse) that there are Linux Lite users using one or more of those Chromium-based web browsers on their computers.

It is a pity that they were unable to see that Mozilla Firefox is a really good web browser.

There Is The Option Of Deleting Google Chrome On Linux Lite

Before my days of using vanilla Arch Linux, I used a lot of pre-built Linux operating systems ― operating systems like:

• Ubuntu
• Lubuntu
• Xubuntu
• Kubuntu
• Ubuntu MATE
• Ubuntu Budgie
• Linux Mint
• Elementary OS
• GekkoLinux
• Zorin OS
• POP!_OS
• Manjaro Linux
• Solus

What do all of those operating systems have in common?

They all come pre-installed with software (some of which) I have no intention of using?

And, what do I do when I have no intention of using a piece of software within a pre-build Linux operating system.

I uninstall it, of course.

Therefore, if you have intentions of using Linux Lite and you hate the Google Chrome web browser, you can uninstall it and replace it with another web browser of your choice (Simple ― no rocket science involved).

Final Thoughts

The Linux Lite developers meant no harm; they simply wanted to accommodate those Windows users by providing them with a web browser that they are already familiar with (Which, in this case, is Google Chrome).

If you are one of those Linux users who felt alienated by Linux Lite’s decision to go with Google Chrome as its default web browser, you can either replace Google Chrome with Mozilla Firefox or migrate to another distribution of Linux.

As a vanilla Arch Linux user, I did not have to endure that sort of disappointment.

Why?

Because vanilla Arch Linux users have to install their own web browser (We have to add everything ourselves).

One must never forget that if they are using someone else’s pre-built Linux operating system, there is a high probability of them encountering the type (or types) of software that they have no interest in using and that there is always the option of uninstalling the undesired piece (or pieces) of software.

The shocking truth is that the Linux Lite developers do not need our permission in order for them to use Google Chrome as their default web browser (After all, it is their Linux operating system).

Advertisement