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An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

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Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#31

Post by rglullis »

donquichotte wrote: post #18

Last fall I bought a Thinkpad T540s that came with Windows 10 + Lenovo Crapware and a sound driver that did not work out of the box. I installed Ubuntu on it and everything, including multiple displays, just worked. I didn't even have to recompile the kernel to get WiFi running.

This "Linux has too many issues on the desktop" thing got old already. To be precise, it is as old as Ubuntu 12.04.

I have more than a handful of people that had PCs that "got too slow" and wanted to get a new PC or a Mac. I'd tell them to get an SSD. When they did, I'd go take a look at their computers, install the SSD myself and in less than an hour I'd guide them (not do it myself, guide) how to install Ubuntu and set up printers, scanners and which programs could substitute whatever they were used to use on Windows. The hardware was never a problem: HP printers, Canon all-in-ones, onboard wi-fi, you name it.

The one thing that is still sub-par on Linux is power management, so batteries do suffer some abuse compared with other OSes. But for slightly older laptops with removable/replaceable batteries and desktops, I fail to see how Windows or MacOS is better in any way for the casual PC user.

I think the ones complaining about hardware/configuration issues with Linux today are the ones pushing the envelope and trying to do things that will be tricky even on Windows/MacOS.

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#32

Post by smhg »

Related to Ubuntu's Unity (might apply to other environments):

I remember last time I switched from Windows (~3 years ago) it was once again harsh on my eyes. The way things (fonts?) are rendered is just different.

What made me survive the first days was switching the default font to Roboto Condensed (of Google fame) [1] with:

  sudo apt-get install fonts-roboto unity-tweak-tool
I wouldn't want to trade it for any other OS currently. It just looks so good. But I guess it is more because I got used to it than anything else.

If you find what works for you (right hardware, right kernel), issues can be minimal. I definitely don't consider it to be buggy. Maybe the way sound output switching works is a bit awkward, but that's about it.

[1] http://pasteboard.co/6zgtPnMb7.png

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#33

Post by mathw »

This brought back memories, but I haven't had to do any of those things for ten years or so now. I've been careful in my hardware purchases, yes, but I've been running mostly Fedora on a couple of ThinkPads and it almost always just keeps on working. Especially the last four or five years, which is about how long it's been since I last had to switch to Ubuntu because Fedora was too broken.

The latest shock was upgrading to Fedora 25 and finding out the Wayland session was running and I could barely tell the difference. All that extra time before making it the default was definitely worth it! Most impressive.

Sure, desktop Linux isn't for everyone and it's not for every workload (I'm a .NET developer, I more or less have to use Windows at work; and I do have a big Windows box at home for gaming) but it lets me do my web browsing and my artwork and my hobby development stuff in great comfort and mostly just stays out of my way.

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#34

Post by thecatspaw »

wiz21c wrote: post #15

My wife is on KDE, kids are on KDE every day (although they spend their time mostly inside firefox). I use openbox exclusively. It's debian stable (testing was a bit too stressful to update every week, I'm getting old :-)) Everything works : printing works (provided the driver is flawed); network works, cd burner works, Nvidia card works. electronic ID card works, USB stuff works. I even use a pretty old scanner and…

> sometimes the PC doesn't shutdown because it has received a wake-on-lan packet.

you should be able to fix that through the bios

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#35

Post by majewsky »

drewg123 wrote: post #23

How about *nix desktop? I miss the days where a TWM was "enough". I started with TWM on Xterms and DECstations, moving up to CTWM on DEC alphas. I finally switched away from CTWM around the year 2000, due to it not supporting some kind of modern nonsense that web browsers wanted. Thankfully, KDE let me configure most of the keybindings in my .twmrc file & retain my muscle memory. Gnome rejected a patch that I sent th…

I remember starting TWM when I had to use some Java program that was so bloated that I literally couldn't keep my usual desktop in RAM.

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#36

Post by abrowne »

I've recently switched from MacOS to Linux. After trying lots of distros and desktops, I went with Ubuntu MATE. Other than needing to plug into ethernet to get the (Broadcom) wifi driver, it was an 100% automatic install, and I configure and tweak a new MacOS install more these days.

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#37

Post by BuuQu9hu »

drewg123 wrote: post #23

How about *nix desktop? I miss the days where a TWM was "enough". I started with TWM on Xterms and DECstations, moving up to CTWM on DEC alphas. I finally switched away from CTWM around the year 2000, due to it not supporting some kind of modern nonsense that web browsers wanted. Thankfully, KDE let me configure most of the keybindings in my .twmrc file & retain my muscle memory. Gnome rejected a patch that I sent th…

Someone write an ode to CDE!

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#38

Post by vanderZwan »

abrowne wrote: post #36

I've recently switched from MacOS to Linux. After trying lots of distros and desktops, I went with Ubuntu MATE. Other than needing to plug into ethernet to get the (Broadcom) wifi driver, it was an 100% automatic install, and I configure and tweak a new MacOS install more these days.

For me Kubuntu was the one that finally stopped giving me grief with dual monitor support (also, I miss ALT+Space Bar whenever I'm on another computer now). I suspect which distro works best also really depends on your hardware.

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#39

Post by erelde »

throw2016 wrote: post #22

I current use Unity on Ubuntu 16.04 as my main system and I prefer it to my macbook pro and Windows desktop. Its smooth, fast and minimal. For someone who has used Linux desktops for more than 15 years it has come a long way. Gnome and Kde are both good but Unity provides a rare minimalism and polish on Linux. But for those who need specialized apps that app determines their work machine.

If you're after minimalism, you should take a look at /r/unixporn (kinda SFW despite the name).

Not necessarily the most efficient DEs or WMs, but it looks damn good. Some people seem to get a sharp looking Unity.

I use bspwm on ArchLinux myself.

Re: An Ode to Linux Desktop Users Everywhere

#40

Post by GrinningFool »

to3m wrote: post #20
staticelf wrote: post #10

I use desktop linux on my work computer, it barely works and I have some issues. Although it's red hat enterprise which is running a lot of old shit. I think using a friendlier distro like Ubuntu or Fedora would probably be a lot better and give a much better experience.

I use Ubuntu on my work PC. - had to buy a 2nd GPU to get 3 monitors to work - GPU driver won't drive my 2560x1440 monitor at the max res - popup volume control pops up every minute or so (and sound pops and stutters a bit each time this happens) - when waking from sleep, TTY works immediately, but GUI takes about 30 seconds to appear - something crashes on every boot, but it doesn't tell me what (I dutifully submit…

> - GPU driver won't drive my 2560x1440 monitor at the max res

Might be a lower refresh rate (49.9 v 59.9) will behave.

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