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So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

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Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#141

Post by _emacsomancer_ »

alanfranzoni wrote: post #5

I must say that the whole desktop looks like something from the 90s. If you find it fine for your needs, that's great. But I don't think it's a general solution. Linux is so half-baked with respect to desktop, very often it's getting as problematic as a Windows system, especially on laptops.

Yes, on Linux you can make your desktop look like something from the 90s, if you so choose. The big DEs (Gnome Shell, KDE Plasma) don't generally look like this (though Plasma is configurable enough, you probably could configure it so to do), but rather explore different paradigms.

Amusingly, the macOS UI, on the other hand, is almost literally from the 90s (it dates from 2000, I think). And the Windows 10 UI isn't meaningfully different from the Win95 interface.

So it's really mainly on Linux that you actually have the option of modern UIs.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#142

Post by vetinari »

pdpi wrote: post #127
vetinari wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is your X session? Gnome/KDE or plain window manager? It might be, that your wm is not launching some service that wayland session is and 1password needs.

The fact that you're asking this question and suggesting that root cause is itself a significant part of the problem the OP was talking about.

Unfortunately, the openness allows for so much flexibility, that many people end up breaking it up. Invariably, they will blame the system and not their changes. If they used the defaults, like they do in other systems, it would not happen.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#143

Post by devereaux »

jasondclinton wrote: post #112
Tehchops wrote: post #42

End-user Linux has definitely improved in the last few years. It offers a lot of attractive features for what I imagine to be the typical HN demographic. That being said, it's still got rough spots that OSX doesn't. It works great when it works, but when it doesn't.... Font rendering, display/compositor fragmentation etc... Inb4 the anecdotal "well it works for me I just had to download the xf86 font library and comp…

That's true: some things are easier on Mac. In particular, I'd say that using software that hasn't been packaged for your distribution is much easier on Mac. However, your example of fonts is definitely not one of those areas, anymore. Font rendering on Linux is as advanced and capable as any other OS including in the areas of kerning and hinting. It should just work without any user intervention and look great. I ag…

Personally, I gave up on Gnome and run LXDE a bit like i3 - autopositionning the windows with Fx keys mapped to a given set of coordinates, so F10 will make a window use a square on the left covering 80% of the screen, F11 will move the window to the remaining 20% on the right, thus hiding conky - etc. The only advantage I find in LXDE is that it has a titlebar I can 'reveal' if I wish to mess around and fiddle with the window position (like when tracking the arping replies in a remote lan and using a bit of scripting to see the evolution of the metric as I fiddle with things)

I like my desktop lean and mean. I do not want distractions. When I am dealing with a remote system crashing under load, the last thing I want is my desktop or my shortcuts to behave in weird ways. Things must always work, in a consistent way. Funny thing is I can only get that in Linux... and in Windows 10.

Customization is a feature, just not everyone needs that feature.

So I disagree with your assessment, as some users will find Gnome or KDE too distracting.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#144

Post by safgasCVS »

shmerl wrote: post #90
safgasCVS wrote: post #80

This is daft - the switch to Linux from macOS is done entirely out of some moronic desire to be different and very little to do with functionality. Windows to Linux I can Understand but the HN hive mind defends Linux like their firstborn. Let it go. It’s a lot of work for very little upside. Let the downvotes come

I've seen many refugees from macOS coming to Linux, so it's not surprising in the least. Good for them, it will increase their productivity. This was especially boosted by those interested in gaming, and Apple abandoning OpenGL and planning to ditch 32-bit support.

Fine there’s always movement between states and each person has their reasons for moving them it good or bad. That said I have tried the switch repeatedly after reading such posts/recommendations only to realise I’ve spent more time trying to get something really basic to work for no tangible benefit. For those who found the transition worthwhile then I tip my hat off to you

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#145

Post by alanfranzoni »

baldfat wrote: post #20
alanfranzoni wrote: post #5

I must say that the whole desktop looks like something from the 90s. If you find it fine for your needs, that's great. But I don't think it's a general solution. Linux is so half-baked with respect to desktop, very often it's getting as problematic as a Windows system, especially on laptops.

> I must say that the whole desktop looks like something from the 90s I think any comments about the looks of a Linux desktop must be sure to talk about what Desktop Environment are you saying that about. I find KDE and Gnome to actually have a much more modern look and feel then anything from Apple and Microsoft. Personally I have found Windows 10 to be much much better for me as a Linux user and I can run OpenSUSE…

> I think any comments about the looks of a Linux desktop must be sure to talk about what Desktop Environment are you saying that about.

"The whole desktop" -> I was talking EXPLICITLY about the exact setup of the desktop of the article, not about a "generic" Linux desktop. I don't know where you got that impression.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#146

Post by atombender »

ad_hominem wrote: post #104
jwr wrote: post #48

I so wish the Linux community would get its act together and implement a working usable clipboard. It's the one thing I miss the most whenever I switch from Mac OS to Linux. On a Mac, you can cut/copy/paste using predictable keystrokes in any application, anywhere. And there is a single clipboard. On Linux, you have to deal with a multitude of behaviors (middle mouse button, Ctrl-C, others, and does it paste where th…

> On a Mac, you can cut/copy/paste using predictable keystrokes in any application, anywhere Interesting, because Linux is my daily driver, and when I borrow my spouse's MacBook one of the things I get tripped up on is some programs seem to use Ctrl+C/V and other programs use Command+C/V for copying/pasting

All Mac apps use the Command (⌘) key for copy/paste.

I've never encountered an app that uses Ctrl. A developer would really have to go out of their way to accomplish this in their app, since the copy/paste menus are provided by Cocoa; the keyboard shortcuts are essentially built into the OS.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#147

Post by BlackFingolfin »

ad_hominem wrote: post #104
jwr wrote: post #48

I so wish the Linux community would get its act together and implement a working usable clipboard. It's the one thing I miss the most whenever I switch from Mac OS to Linux. On a Mac, you can cut/copy/paste using predictable keystrokes in any application, anywhere. And there is a single clipboard. On Linux, you have to deal with a multitude of behaviors (middle mouse button, Ctrl-C, others, and does it paste where th…

> On a Mac, you can cut/copy/paste using predictable keystrokes in any application, anywhere Interesting, because Linux is my daily driver, and when I borrow my spouse's MacBook one of the things I get tripped up on is some programs seem to use Ctrl+C/V and other programs use Command+C/V for copying/pasting

Interesting, I don't know a single program on OS X which supports Ctrl+C/V for copy&paste but does not support Command+C/V (indeed, I know only a tiny set of programs that support Ctrl-C/V at all, mostly cross platform software that is badly adapted to OS X).

Out of curiosity, could you name an example or two?

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#148

Post by _emacsomancer_ »

patrickg_zill wrote: post #50

The Second Moribundity of Apple is nigh. First was the stagnation a few years after Jobs left. Now that Jobs is gone, Cook is showing he has the logistics knowledge but not the other parts of product leadership needed.

I'm not sure that Apple cares though. At this point they don't really seem that interested in 'computers' (as per their own ads), and the iOS ecosystem is where they make their money.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#149

Post by InitialLastName »

Waterluvian wrote: post #129

Hooking up three monitors, 2 of which are 4k onto Ubuntu is the most frustrating thing I've done with that OS. It just works on OSX though. Rough spots is a good way to describe it. Overall it works... But not without effort and competence.

That doesn't "Just work" on Windows 7 or 10, though, so not sure it's a failure on the part of Linux as much as a success on the part of macOS.

Re: So Long, Macbook. Hello Again, Linux

#150

Post by mastercheif »

proyb wrote: post #60

As far as I like about Linux but audio quality feel less bass despite a tweak to supposedly bring the best sound on ALSA didn’t help. Piano timbres sound far better on macOS and Windows unless you could advice me.

What DAC are you using? And what audio applications? On MacOS and Windows, if your music player is not using CoreAudio or WASAPI “exclusive mode”, your audio is going to get res ampler and dithered by the OS mixer. This may be the difference that you’re hearing.
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