from JRepin@lemmy.ml to linux@lemmy.ml on 04 Jun 06:55
https://lemmy.ml/post/31143839
cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/31142642
There are more than a billion PCs in use and, according to StatCounter, only 71 percent of them run Windows. Among the rest, about 4 percent run Linux. That’s tens of millions of people with Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, etc as their desktop operating system. I envy them.
Windows 11 has become more annoying lately as it shoves ads for XBox Game Pass in my face, pushes AI features no one asked for and demands that I reconsider the choices I made during installation on a regular basis. Plus, it just isn’t that attractive.
I’m ready to try joining that industrious four percent and installing Linux on my computers to use as my main OS, at least for a week. I’ll blog about the experience here.
It’s hard to give up Windows forever because so many applications only run in Microsoft’s OS. For example, the peripheral software that runs with many keyboards and mice isn’t available for Linux. Lots of games will not run under Linux. So I think it’s likely I’ll be using Windows again, at least some of the time, after this week is through.
However, for now, I’m going to give Linux a very serious audition and document the experience.
threaded - newest
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Since when is Linux spyware OS? Given that there are Whonix and Qubes that are the exact opposite of spyware-esque OS.
He’s likely referring to Ubuntu (OS), and not Linux (Kernel) in general.
I see, thanks.
It is a nice look into the switch from a perspective of a windows user. But since he is experimenting there is a also a lot of bad choices or wrong information.
He gripes about things not going smoothly while replacing his whole desktop environment (when was the last time you replaced your explorer.exe?).
And clamping to old ways of doing things. Which is understandable but would go a lot better with a little bit of guidance. Why force Chrome while Firefox was probably pre-installed or Chromium also works. Using Filezilla while Dolphin can probably do it in an integrated way. Using Notepad++ while Kate probably covers most of his use-cases.
This doesn’t invalidate his experiences but it does indicate a resistance to switch.
There is some valid criticisms as well though. The docking station that bugs out or KDE Connect that is confused. We can improve those things, but hardly force Logitech to bring their (horrible) software suite to Linux.
Maybe he should give it another few weeks to actually feel that while his old ways might not transfer over 1:1 the new ways give him a lot more power.
Yeah, when someone is interested in switching I always advise them to sort out their apps first. Many Linux applications also run on windows, the reverse is rarely true.
I absolutely agree with you. He should have gotten help from the beginning, so a lot of his problems wouldn’t have manifested in the first place. Reading his experience is interesting but it doesn’t really convey the willingness to use a linux based OS, or any other OS that isn’t Windows for that matter. Notepad++ is great but will not work on MacOS either and especially the choices in text/code editors under linux are immense. And Ubuntu as first choice isn’t good for somebody doing the switch nowadays IMHO. Still kudos for jumping into cold water like that and still continuing.
From the article, I wish them the best but this line of thinking is not the Linux way:
If you’re wanting to give Linux a try, you gotta be willing to let go of the Windows way. Chrome is not better than chromium because Google. Don’t complain that a specific app is hard to get running if you aren’t willing to try the alternatives, especially if there’s literally a Linux version maintained by the same developer
Nice detailed log of the author’s experiance.
The one issue I have is the mind set. It seems to be from the point of view that Linux should be just like Windows and use the same software and hardware. If that is what you want run Windows.
On the otherhand if you want to use FOSS apps, use Linux and just dump Windows. My family has used Linux for over 20 years and yes it is fine. But you actually have to want that. And no, I do not use Windows, MS Apps, or Google Chrome at all these days and do not use dual boot.
Also, dual boot gets old pretty fast. Probably best to choose a primary OS and run the other in a VM. Yes, something like 27 years ago I started with dual boot but have not setup that for at least 20 years probably longer.
I beg of you: try something that isn’t going to shove a broken packaging format like Snaps down your throat.
Try Pop!_OS or Linux Mint if you want something like Ubuntu, only not broken.
If my first experience with Linux involved wasting time trying to figure out why the applications I installed appeared to freeze because they take 30-60 seconds to open after installation or updates, randomly didn’t work because of dogshit sandboxing, etc., I probably would have turned away.
What is it with these people that when thinking of Linux base their decisions on decade-old knowledge and go straight for Ubuntu. Ubuntu isn’t what it used to be, competition actually happened and we’re all the better for it. In the meantime, Canonical F’d up, and Ubuntu should not be anywhere near the top of the recommended distros list.
Want something that actually works, go Linux Mint. Have much newer hardware and want to game, go with Fedora or an arch-based distro like EndeavourOS.
Don’t go Ubuntu. You never go Ubuntu.
Seconded. I have endeavourOS on my desktop and mint on my laptops.
Endeavour (arch based) is great for people who like to tinker with the setup whereas mint is ootb ready to go, with most UX features ex windows users would expect.
I used to recommend elementary OS to Mac users, and mint to windows. Now I recommend mint to all, and to customise it to mimic Mac; if that’s what’s desired… As it’s just so damn stable in comparison.
💯 post-snap Ubuntu is legit bad for desktop. I feel like now that there’s an official KDE Fedora spin, that’s the best generic option for someone who just wants working Windows 95 paradigm. Mint is way better for printer support out of the box, but how big is that as a concern v other hardware that’s too new in 2025?
Also the expectation that you will use all the same software. They mentioned a screenshot tool not being supported. That is something that will obviously be os specific.
Ubuntu is the only one that works well for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Skill issue.
Fix it.
Distro issue.
Fixed it.
Everyone uses Ubuntu thus is becomes the default. Annoyingly.
For example Nvidia Jetson devices run Ubuntu.
Despite snaps, ubuntu is still one of the most stable distros. i had less issues with ubuntu than i had with either fedora or opensuse (leap and tumbleweed).
Zorin better…
One thing I always find amusing about these kinds of write-ups is how much the writer is desperately trying to replicate the Windows experience. It’s most exemplified in the section “Mission Center is the task manager you really need”. Half the issues mentioned in this section are effectively aesthetical, from what I can tell. Mission Center looks a hell of a lot like Task Manager. I almost skimmed past the screenshot without realizing it was not a screenshot of Task Manager.
This theme comes back again with the section on KDE: “So far, I like this KDE desktop better because it feels more like Windows 11 or Windows 10. There’s a Start menu and a taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The Start menu pops up as a small box, rather than taking over the whole screen like the Gnome menu did.”
I don’t own a Streamdeck, and I hear they’re really useful, but reading this section about Boatswain I really wonder what’s going on in the brains of the average computer “enthusiast” because if you’re only using the Streamdeck as a push button interface to launch Gmail of all things… I really want to question what, exactly, makes you a “computer enthusiast”. It also really exposes how little the writer seems to understand about “advanced” computer usage.
Yes, that makes sense. Since you can perform almost any task via the terminal, there seems little reason to have a “launch websites” function because…
You can just call your browser of choice using its command parameters. This isn’t a “work around”, this is base functionality of the software. I wonder if they understand that they could do this on Windows as well.
If you want to use Linux, then you should learn how to use Linux. Heck, it’ll even make you better at using other operating systems like Windows and macOS because what StreamController is forcing you to do here is learn how to execute applications via the command line.
Pretty sure both Chrome and Firefox can do this in the browser window. Maybe I’m wrong.
Anyway. The closing sections are interesting.
What is the measure of “Powerful” here, exactly? StreamController features a plugin system where you can build your own actions using python and their code library, which the Stream Deck software also has. If you can launch an application like chrome and feed it parameters to open a specific website, then you can probably tell StreamController to launch a bash script that does a whole list of tasks for you and more. I guess you’d have to learn bash, though.
I have to highlight this whole section because it is mind-boggling. “There are community versions – apps made by independent developers […] these are often made by volunteers […] and don’t have the kind of insight that would come from being part of the original hardware or software team. For example, AutoHotKey” AutoHotKey is FOSS! It’s maintained for free by a non-profit foundation. You can volunteer your
I got disappointed in Ubuntu. You had to use ‘Ubuntu Pro’ to get the latest updates… Bullshit :c Linux should not have a paywall in regards to security! I will test out Arch and see how it goes. Especially now when windows 10 loses support in October 16th
There was a time that Ubuntu was the distro for the masses! Their branding featured a bunch of diverse young people in casual clothing. That’s no longer the case. I outright recommend against it now.
I can understand that. Plus they had some tracking or telemetry of sorts implemented. Think it had ‘balloon’ in the name. Unsure… Quite disappointed ^^
Are you talking about baloo, the file indexer?
Unsure. Just know there was some telemetry on by default, which isn’t particularly fun for us into privacy.
Unpopular opinion, if you’re going to use a Debian based distro you should just use Debian.
Yes, it is command-line/BASH heavy however, once you learn it it’ll make all the other Debian based distro’s even easier to manage. Only real difference is system directories are in different locations distro-to-distro.
I find the amount of terminal usage a given distro requires depends mostly on the DE. Gnome is allergic to features so you’ll need to bash it more than KDE or Cinnamon, for example.
IDK why that would concern anyone - it’s free for personal use.
IIRC that’s not accurate. You only need that “pro feature” if you want to be able to ~apply~ activate kernel updates without rebooting. Unless you have that requirement and an armada of devices matching that profile you don’t need to pay anything.
Been doing this for a couple weeks myself and have had very few reasons to go back to Windows. In fact I haven’t booted windows in more than a week at this point. I’m using Nobara 42 (based on Fedora) because mostly what I do with my PC is game nad it’s worked great so far.
I started with Linux mint for my personal home computers that I use for browsing and some gaming. No need to tinker around with drivers or configuration etc. Ubuntu is a little raw for new comer.
Another vote for Linux Mint. Many Linux distros are available on bootable USBs, so you can try out Linux without messing with your Windows installation at all.
There’s also www.distrosea.com for an ever easier trial.