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I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

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Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#81
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

_Desktop_ Linux is absoultely not under attack whatsoever. So no, this _IS_ security by obscurity (in an arguably somewhat different sense of the word though) at work.

> _Desktop_ Linux is absoultely not under attack whatsoever. Is that actually true? For example, we know NSA targets sysadmins and sysadmins use desktop Linux at much higher rates than the general public. Relatively few people use desktop Linux, but those who do may generally be more attractive targets.

I personally do not engage in activities which would attract NSA attention. I am a lot more scared of an average malware which soo abundant on Windows and even MacOS (yep, had fix friend's Mac, which had malware on it).

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#82
post #8

I switched to Ubuntu on my main machine a few years ago. This is my second attempt. There are still some annoyances I run into, the biggest being that the dock regularly disappears after sleep. How would I ever set my parents up on something where even the most basic features require fixes like this https://leimao.github.io/blog/Ubuntu-Dock-Disappear/ ?

yeah the first period after switching to Linux is almost always ok-ish, sometimes even pleasant, depending on one's specific use case. then you live trough your first pulse audio upgrade. or maybe you have to bring a laptop in two wireless location with slightly different network configs. or it's just a distro upgrade where the default filesystem changed and they dropped the older fs kernel module. or you have a seco…

All of these were legitimate issues 10-20 years ago. None of them have been since.

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#84
I switched to Ubuntu after many years on Windows. Lasted about 3 years, - the UI was just not the same. Then I went to MacOS. The MacOS UI is great, but the runtime for C++, various software packages is cumbersome. Not to mention the absence of a CUDA environment in MacOS (MacBook pro)! Now, I have a hybrid setup: all UI is done on MacOS, all runtime is done on Ubuntu desktop. PyCharm remote server (Ubuntu desktop in my case) works like a charm.

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#85
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love Windows, but it's still got a long ways to go before becoming an reliable desktop OS. For most people they could easily use it. However the moment updates don't install correctly kills it for them. Windows is great if you never shut down your computer during an update or always give them the time to apply. My main beef with it is the telemetry and inconsistent UI. It's far better than it was 10 years ago but n…

Huh, when was the last time Windows Update did not work correctly for you?

The rate has slowed down from "half the time" to "once or twice per year" for me personally.

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#86
post #16

Lots of inaccurate info in here but also some valid points. UWP sucks really bad and it does reduce the reliability of the system, especially when UWP-type things end up in the shell (e.g. start menu and action center). I will point out that File Explorer includes a shortcut for opening PowerShell at the current directory, which can be triggered through the File menu or alt-f-r. Its worth highlighting that Linux isn'…

All the criticism of Linux in your comment is a criticism of Ubuntu. Try a different distro as there is choice. I've tried Ubuntu a few times but it has been unstable and yeah, an update made it unbootable. I'd always returned to Manjaro, never had an issue with it.

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#87
post #48
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anecdotal, but I never had a single issue with kernel update and I manage many ubuntu machines. Got a link/proof/more info on that?

I had it a few times. This used to happen when kernels fill up boot partition, and apt gets into broken state because of that.

yes, apt can get temporarily broken if your boot partition fills up - but it does not make a system unbootable when this happens (Which GP says he encountered). a few apt-get removes and apt-get installs -f, and it's all back to normal - but it's only ever "apt" that stops working, and only until you fix it. (I've seen got in the habbit of doing "apt-get autoremove --purge && apt-get autoclean" regularly on all machines I manage.

The only borked Ubuntu kernel upgrade I've ever seen did not render anything unbootable, but a bad OOM Killer patch caused programs to get spontaneously killed in some cases - and I'm runnig, and automatically updating, tens of Ubuntu machines automatically all the time.

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#88

I love Ubuntu and I can't switch back to Windows 10. Windows 10 looks and feels like an entire commercial. Although, I'd imagine this wouldn't be the case for the professional edition. Of course, there are plenty of (high quality) apps that I miss on Ubuntu that do exist on Windows. I guess having a MacOS, you get the best out of both worlds... But I'd hate being stuck to Apple's ecosystem.

My non-apple desktops and laptops have been running linux exclusively since 2004 or so (though I also have a Mac running MacOS in the last few years).

I installed Win10 for a relative who needed Win10 a couple of years ago, and ran Tr0nscript at the time. Somehow, that machine is usable and doesn't feel like a commercial. All other Win10 machines I've encountered do.

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#89

Quote1: "For example, just compare the file manager application on both Ubuntu and Windows." Both defaults are crap. I use Total Commander / Double Commander on Win/Lin. Quote2: "Linux still has a few (~2%) market share in the general-purpose users' segment compared to Windows. Therefore, there are not so many malicious programs that target Linux users" Ah yeah, the famous security through obscurity. I think I prefer…

I remember people saying that of OS X when I bought my first Mac in 2002 -- my response "well, might as well enjoy a few years of not being targeted by malware while I can..."

Re: I switched to Linux after using Windows for 10 years

#90
post #18

2001 called, it wants its shitty "Windows Sucks!" article back.

Yes, this is pretty funny to read! I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has been using Windows since 3.1 and Linux since 2.0.x (early Debian). Nothing in this article is exactly "news" at this point in history.

yup, switched from Windows 3.1 to Slackware (1.2.8 kernel) in August 1995 because my machine was too slow to run Win95.

(and I've been using OS X on the desktop longer than both of those combined, at this point)

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