A friend was using a computer with Windows 8.1 (I know lol), and her streaming services stopped working on it. Because she was using an old computer, she couldn’t upgrade to Windows 11. So I suggested installing Linux and even doing it for her, but the problem is that most streaming services don’t work on Linux. After making that disclaimer and suggesting she use a streaming stick, she decided that her computer is junk and will just get a new one. A win for Microsoft.
But the crux is that if streaming services don’t treat Linux as a first class platform, Linux will never be truly mainstream. People say that it’s Microsoft Office or Adobe blocking Linux from the mainstream, but Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock, etc are the real missing “apps” on Linux.
For most of them you can get 720p on Linux with basic stereo audio.
It was possible to play Netflix 1080p on Chrome, but I think those days are gone.
Unfortunately, I don’t see a user-controlled Linux system ever being properly supported in the current DRM / copyright paradigm. There isn’t really a solution that satisfies the “rights holders”, and even if there were, there is little to no incentive to implement it.
“rights holders” is a weird term