I have so many people in my Microsoft post proselytizing about Linux.
I have tried Linux and it's not as easy or seamless as techy types claim for people who just want to turn a computer on and start typing words in a file.
And the interface bothers me.
I have tried Linux and it's not as easy or seamless as techy types claim for people who just want to turn a computer on and start typing words in a file.
And the interface bothers me.
Comments
As I sit and learn a new language it’s invigorating
Linux is next level love for me.
When I was a teen, I was more tolerate of tinkering to get it to work - I ran it as main OS for 8 years straight.
Now, it's more for me to get stuff done and that's where Windows still have an upper hand.
Linux and FreeBSD are my goto for srvs
Time to skedaddle outta here…
But I have things running Linux but day to day I’m on Mac and windows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It's so nice to show them how my well mannered Mint ancient (we are talking 2009) desktop handles those.. Document Viewer ;)
I've been using it ever since Apple turned my 27" Mac into a giant fucking iphone when they ditched their old UI rules after 10.6.8 Snow Leopard was replaced.
I don't need the "user friendliness" of apps but I just want things to work simple tasks not be super complicated but also have depth.
Easy to get running, but *not* seamless if you want to run your old games/applications. And the visual inconsistencies between apps? Ugh.
Oh (audio/WiFi/usb appliance) is not working..
"Get [Unix distro]. You'll never go back... to Windows"
Don't need to be spiteful because we use different op systems. It's just a fucking op system.
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/microsoft-azure-israel-top-customer-ai-cloud
But just use this attitude, an amazing advertisement for Linux.
//muted
Linux is not for everyone. I tried many of them (Ubuntu and Mint too) but never felt like they served me well.
I have problems with Windows, but usually, I can fix them easily.
//I do not need recommendations for Linux.
The expert often forgets all the little things they picked up along the way that make it easy for them.
I totally agree that it's not as easy or seamless as a lot of advocates claim. And if you're in any way tied to Microsoft Word the various attempts to duplicate its function under Linux are ... incomplete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm51xZHZI6g
An OS that is simple to use ONLY if nothing goes wrong, isn't simple to use.
When I moved to macOS for work, playing a YouTube video would sometimes Gray Screen Of Death 😉
I'd have to agree with other replies that recommend ChromeOS for being closer to "It just works" because the core is more locked down.
If i try to go back to windows I'll lack stuff i use on the daily but I'll gain some things too
Changing to linux is the same
You just have to choose a nice distro, one aimed at new users might be nice (Mint, Nobara...)
I did this as a newbie and it was PAIN but i stuck up to it, because i was fed up with Windows and some stability issues i had with it, and now with the privacy stuff... I'm not changing back any time soon
I switched to fedora with gnome relatively recently and have had only a few very minor issues (less than windows)
If you do most things in a browser... The browsers are there. And mint or pop or probably base Ubuntu will all make most common uses pretty easy...
But it is an adjustment for outside the browser. It is neither a 1:1 from windows or mac
In my circle of family and friends, unless you have a very specific use case, you get a Chromebook, or an old PC or Mac repurposed to run ChromeOS.
Since getting them a Chromebook, I haven't had to do anything. The 15 gigs of space that comes with a Gmail account is more than enough storage for average folks.
Same. I was IT for all the friends and families. That changed when everyone got tablets and smart phones. If it happened sooner I’d have more hair.
A walled garden is the best place for people that click on anything and everything.
She was 88 at the time and new next to nothing about computers when I handed it over.
Is it changing from Windows and how things get done there that's the issue here?
the exception was trying to install programs... that was bewildering
If I wanted to spend hours in menus fiddling with stuff to try and make things somewhat enjoyable, I'd play Half Life 2: Overcharged.
A friend of mine still uses an old Mac clone for laying out his music notation - he likes the software that runs on it and his books look fab.
Some tools are extremely good at somethings and less good at others. It doesn't make them better or worse. They just have their place.
I'll stick to windows for now, Linux doesn't have my drivers (which is fair, my GPU doesn't get new drivers anymore)
(that is, if you're still looking to switch. If not, feel free to ignore this lol;;;)
Linux is really only better for servers, and services.
If the end user experience is what matters, better stick to Windows.
Welcome to Apple Intelligence!
It’s hella weird. Their image playground is so bad and I’m a fan of making the worst AI images possible with it.
Come on, people, just as there are people who will be happiest on Linux, there are people who will be happiest on MacOS or Windows. Just because you don't feel the same way doesn't mean you have to try and convince them.
The point is it's not harder than Windows '95, and probably not harder than Windows in 2005. It's also as feature-rich as today's choices.
The upside is you break out of those bad ecologies.
PS: linux sucks for normal users :)) (coming from someone who uses linux for his servers daily)
also, I just reread your reply and WOW is the solitaire thing a mood - I usually prefer it on my phone when I'm out and about, but it's honestly been my favorite time-waster when I need one.
I actually started making my own little solitaire game in rust a bit ago, so we'll see how that goes!
Why not recommend it ?
But in my case Linux Mint has everything I was missing from classic Windows
Before switching I was holding onto my W7 because W10 it's too intrusive and W11 looks like spyware, so it fits perfectly for my case
There's not really an excuse for that, and running a several years-old versions of software due to purely "stability" reasons is a little bit over exaggerated.
Zorin has an easier ui but Ubuntu just ... works
I think it’s often down to what you are used too - much like shifting between Windows & Mac. But yes, when things go wrong it can feel a lot harder to get on top of it.
FYI my main is a MacBook Pro, but I have a self-built gaming PC dual-booting Windows and Linux.
I do web dev & graphic design for work, and game dev for a hobby.
I do these (and pretty much everything else except high-end gaming) on my MacBook Pro, but like to be able to test what I do on all three OS.
https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html
It helps that I have separate NVME SSDs for Win & Linux. Keeps dual-boots easy. What’s nice is that one of them is on rear of mobo & case has easy access - pop side panel off and it’s one tiny screw.
Overall, the functionality and compatibility gap between the two has almost disappeared. But Linux is still more secure and reliable than Windows in every metric that matters.
Linux, because it has *freedom*, requires making some choices. There are a lot of interfaces to choose from (I use Lxqt, others use Gnome, KDE, etc).
If you just want a monopoly to tell you want to do, you won't get that.
I've been using linux since before GNOME was even a desktop. It's been 25 years and linux guys still don't understand.
That most people are too lazy to bother is their problem, not ours.
Being lazy isn't the problem, you guys never get it, ppl use their computers to do things, not compiling drivers
And then they complain about switching to Linux because it's "unfamiliar". Give me a break.
All the programs I use have *exactly* the same interface in windows and linux. Same shortcuts, everything. I use both regularly
1) plug in USB
2) hit 'install' and a few continues
3) open word processor of choice (probably libreoffice)
...that's it. If you're doing more than that, then you're doing more than just "typing words in a file"
I'd suggest checking out Universal Blue. Bluefin is similar to Mac and Aurora to Windows. Auto updates, fairly crash proof, turn key.
What's different?
I’m in the UK & it came with update 15.2 - I immediately said NOPE to AI but it still left 5gb of guff on my SSD that I can’t delete.
Meanwhile on PC I’ve managed to hold off the Windows Update that further embeds their Crapilot AI.
It's just unfortunately confusing because with all the opportunity of choice, comes the difficulty of having too many options to muddle through to find one that works for you.
I don't like M$, and learned around them, but it takes time, there's no spoon feeding
You tried Linux and didn't like the interface then stick with what works for you.
I was just like, I am a grammarian, an author, an editor, among other achievements. So how would Linux benefit me, personally, in my metier?
Puppy Linux, runs on live usb, easy after 30 minutes of playing.
Some Linux are much more complicated, like ARCH linux.
Windows/Mac have their annoying issues but the various linux desktop options are harsh by comparison--I want to spend my time working on my servers, not making my desktop work.
What are people doing that constant desktop management is required?
Might give it a shot but I really don't see all of that going seamlessly in Linux with just installing the packages
+
I am confident I can make all this work in linux--but EASILY? I doubt it.
And then blame the people providing free software rather than the corporate vendors locking them in.
Of course OBS Studio prob made for Windows or Mac will be hard on Linux. Running Linux only apps on Windows is often hard or impossible too.
So I'm curious: What DESKTOP linux software would leave a typical windows user like "damn, I wish that worked easily in windows" ?
I can't think of one..
I used Compiz Fusion back in the day, that was fun, but I had more drive to tinker back then.
If you want to work for the computer instead, sorry, Linux insists that you tell it what you want
Part of it is that using a Linux OS forced me to learn Computer Stuff.
And that's why I don't recommend Linux. Not everyone wants to learn Computer Stuff, but everyone needs a computer they can use.
I actually prefer Mac as my daily driver, but dual-boot my gaming PC with Windows 11 & Fedora 40.
I can open Ubuntu and start writing way easier than windows, and no antivirus software bombards me to upgrade, no unwanted copilot ai is stealing my shit, and I don’t have any personified paper clips harassing me
And it's bloated with it's systemd flatpack junk.
Try freebsd!
The hardcore "linux" kids see anything above the CLI as "fluff" but there's a spectrum
I am deeply interested in this topic, I will be checking the answer
You ofc can just run Gentoo and not have this.
I like the ability to choose the OS for it's intended job, a CentOs server has a very different job than a Gentoo workstation.
Windows to get work done, FreeBSD servers and Linux is fine for embedded stuff.
Use what it is for and not cult about it right. It's just a tool
"which one did you try? I can do it just fine, and here's all my high ass horse reasons why that makes me better"
This coming from someone who's daily driver has been linux for years.
And I agree, Linux is not the most user friendly, despite what some people might want to say.
I did use one called Elementary OS which tries to make things a little more user friendly, so maybe you could give that a try! https://elementary.io/
- turn on
- login
- click word processor icon on dock
- type document
And the LibreOffice/OpenOffice differences with MS Office products can be a right royal pain in the fundament.
And certain software (eg Scrivener) not being available in Linux versions.
I'm non-nerd and I frequently want to do something in a hurry and then get on the road - no problems!
I'll be leaving Windows on my PC for six months but if all is ok it will be unloaded.
Talk about proving their point for them! 🤣
It's not the destination, it's the journey.
For what I want to do, software is another issue once you understand the distros.
But my take on it was that it is great if you'd like to spend a week recompiling a kernel and troubleshooting error codes in order to use a new gaming controller instead of just plugging it in and playing a game.
I appreciate that it’s been a while but these critiques are akin to blaming windows 11 for windows 95 bugs.
But I wholeheartedly agree that the end-user experience is just not good.