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.
Streaming services suck in general if you ask me. Even on windows the apps are ass imo. As an ultrawide user i always hated that i can’t zoom in on movies or shows to get rid of the black bars on the top and bottom and fullscreen it properly. I understand that that’s a weird edge case but it’s just one of the problems i had. With disney+ in particular, even on the windows app i couldn’t stream in 4k. I figured i’d try watching on ps4, but the audio would have this weird clipping like once every minute, which wasn’t an issue with the hardware, because it also happened on ps5 and with different headphones. I even went as far as buying an android tv box because i wanted to be a good boy and watch it legit, but that didn’t work out either, cause the box started getting slow and it would randomly exit the app in the middle of watching a show. So in the end i gave up and started pirating. Their service was so awfull that i saw no other option, which is kind of insane when you think about it. And now i can watch it in my player of choice, and properly fullscreen it on my ultrawide display.