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.
that was probably the issue. drm support in browsers is usually disabled by default on linux, but enabled on windows.
the odd cases where one still didn’t work on linux, a simple useragent addon in firefox to flip it to windows has usually worked.
but then, even when it is working, linux clients often still get a lesser product as the streaming sites like to reserve higher quality video to clients with os-level drm, restricting linux to 720p or even 480p.