[nmstoker]

I get your point that there's clearly further to go, but it's not that unusual to need to know something relevant like this if installing from a source that's not your OS app store. After all, we often expect Windows users to know their install option is "PC" (a historic piece of info that isn't "Windows") rather than than Mac.

It's also something that is answered effectively with the very first Google result for an obvious search: https://www.google.com/search?q=should+i+install+deb+or+rpm&...

There are a few ways round this but they would generally require action on the part of all the software suppliers who post packages via websites. In your example it wouldn't be hard for MS to figure out the Ubuntu users and send them just the right link and likewise several other Linux distros - I guess it's still not worth it.

Maybe this is an area where a JS library for websites would avoid each one rolling their own and thus make the experience better across the board?