Depends on the country, but usually a “background check” is nothing more than paying a lawyer to check if you have ever been convicted, accused or investigated for a crime. Prosecutors have an archive and a office of records to collect and share that public information. This is why clearing records are important in courts and settlements. It’s a big mark to say the person is actually alright and won’t be found in the records if searched, as they were cleared. Other than that it is usually just a phone call to a previous employer to ask if you were an asshole there.
I thought that Kagi would have way more users. That blog was an interesting read. If that is their financial management, they’re doomed to fail. The founder also seems somehow worse than Brave’s. But it does give me a chance to mention something I’ve been thinking about for the past 6 months.
There’s right now a massive trend towards co-opting in tech. Where startups and corporations use current trends in the tech savvy consumer to push products and services that ultimately actually go against the trend. Privacy, security, federation, climate change, open source. But just like most con men, it’s all performative, not substantial. They are trying to get fast to the wallet, then run for the hills with it. It reminds me of common greenwashing from oil companies, I call it privacywashing. In the end they still get to keep your data, and push anti-consumer tech like blockchain scams and fraudulent AI.
but even in the unusual case, why would you?
Custom made embedded systems, low latency audio workstations, GPU optimized graphics rendering. Truly there are a lot of things you would want a fine-tuned kernel.
But what you are missing in your view of the analogy is customization. The real problem is that Microsoft sells Windows as the OS that is supposed to do everything. This is akin to Toyota selling the Yaris, for everything. Off road driving? try a Yaris, high speed competition? the Yaris is the car, drag racing? why not go with a Yaris. For the average Joe doing a commute to work and back home with the occasional grocery run, the Yaris is fine, and he thinks he has a deal in hands. Nevermind the car has features behind paywalls and the speedometer shows ads regularly obstructing the view of the speed.
In this analogy Linux is not one alternative car. It’s a fleet of multiple different brands, types and styles of cars. You can choose anyone you like, but still have the option to customize it further to fit your needs. What is appealing about Linux for the average user? Ask the people who daily drive Land Rovers or prefer a CrossOver when a Minivan would better fit their needs. You don’t see UPS delivering from a Yaris, they use the tool they need, a van. Just like data centers don’t use Windows Home Edition to serve cloud services, they use something like Red Hat.
Why should average Joe use Linux? It is up to him. Not to Linux. Linux offers the wide array of options and opportunities. If he wants the Yaris, he should use the Yaris. But if he wants something other than traffic and highway driving, Linux is always there. But, that said, Linux also offers affordable everyday appliance options like Linux Mint that just works and doesn’t show ads in the notifications.
Often times people have resolved all the rational arguments to act on a decision but lack on an emotional excuse to figuratively pull the trigger. I’d bet on someone high up had already made up their mind and you not using WhatsApp was the perfect excuse to just have the whole team finally migrate.