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Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

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Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#271
post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Finder is unbelievably bad compared to Nautilus Whats so bad about finder?

Yeah, I am wondering about that too. Finder can rename multiple files and has a goto folder option. Edit: I couldn't find a goto option in Nautilus. I don't know how I missed batch rename in Nautilus... Still, if Nautilus has any advanced features, they're well hidden.

I agree, I’ve always found the Finder extremely usable, especially once you’ve taken a couple minutes to browse the menus and learn the Keyboard Shortcuts.

One interesting thing I’ve noticed is that people don’t seem to bother to look at the menus anymore: one of the first things I’ve always done with a new application (ever since Windows 3.1 on a Pentium 90) is open the menus and skim the menu items to figure out the basic functionality available.

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#272
post #177

Essentially the article boils down to "I am used to a Mac and anything that doesn't behave like a Mac is incorrect, and I'm unwilling to invest time into figuring it out". It's fair enough stance, but unless you are willing to invest time into becoming a Linux 'power user', you're going to remain locked into whatever hardware Apple happens to be peddling at the time. The M1 seems great today, but Apple will slump aga…

I agree with this sentiment.

If anyone realizes that all they are mostly doing is using, let's say, a browser, IDE and terminal for most tasks and some tooling that can be used anywhere, the value proposition for macOS (or Windows for that matter) is much lower. My last Mac I stopped using in ~2016 because I made that realization myself. Even if my hardware is not to the standard of Apple's hardware, the only thing it should do is not fail randomly on work-critical devices. That doesn't happen at all to me - Ubuntu on the ThinkPads I use work great.

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#273
post #218

I'm sure Gimp has its fans, but do people just not know about Krita? I'm not saying it's as fast/easy at small changes in Preview, but it's cross platform and mostly a drop-in for people who are familiar with Photoshop. I know people who use it on non-Linux platforms and chose it on its own merits, not giving any excuses because it's Open Source or ported from Linux--they probably don't even know.

What he's looking for in his post is XnView or something similar. I faintly remember it as a clone ACDSee, it has a basic integrated editor.

It's not really that popular on Linux though even though it was first released on *nix some 23 years ago. I don't think people generally recommend it, simply because they don't know it. It's more likely that you know ACDSee from Windows and decide to use something similar on Linux.

So it's not necessarily his fault for not knowing it.

https://www.xnview.com/en/

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#274
post #142

If you're complaining about Linux drivers please do so after using a Laptop that supports Linux (Thinkpads for example). Just like it wouldn't be fair to complain about macOS on a Hackintosh - sound didn't work well and had to patch the DSDT. > but there are rough edges for the power user. > I am an extreme power user, ... > In the end, I was able to replicate most of my macOS power tools setup via input hooks and sh…

[deleted]

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#275
post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Finder is unbelievably bad compared to Nautilus Whats so bad about finder?

Yeah, I am wondering about that too. Finder can rename multiple files and has a goto folder option. Edit: I couldn't find a goto option in Nautilus. I don't know how I missed batch rename in Nautilus... Still, if Nautilus has any advanced features, they're well hidden.

Selecting multiple files and pressing F2 or "Rename Files…" under the context menu is about as intuitive for renaming multiple files as I can possibly imagine.

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#277
post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're complaining about Linux drivers please do so after using a Laptop that supports Linux (Thinkpads for example). So I Googled “laptops supported by Linux”. There is no official site. Ubuntu has a page. But it’s not on the first page of results. I only know about it because I’m familiar with it. Supporters keeps arguing people should jump through hoops. I’m on Linux right now, but people have better things to…

Even when bought with support, it might come with surprises. I got the Asus 1215B with Linux, then Ubuntu decided to replace the perfectly working wlan driver with a FOSS one, except it took half an year to reach parity with the proprietary one. Likewise, they decided to replace AMD driver with the open source one, goodbye OpenGL 4.1 now it doesn't do more than OpenGL 3.3, and hardware video decoding is still not a t…

I get your frustrations, yet your problem is with proprietary software and proprietary drivers. I’m sure there’s a way for you to go back to using the old drivers if you’re set on using the latest capabilities of your hardware (without it being FOSS).

You don’t have to be the guinea pig, let others do it if it’s not your thing (many programmers do seem to enjoy it, and see it as a challenge).

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#278
post #208

I am someone who has recently transitioned from Mac to Linux. Here were my grievances with Mac: - Lack of absolute control over the system: In linux I can increase inotify watchers, use a local version of whatever CLI I am working with i.e Docker (Docker is uncomfortable to use on Mac), apply patches to kernel modules if I need em, apply bugfixes instantly etc - The keyboard for my Macbook Pro 2015 has become sticky…

> the keyboard for Macbook Air 2020 is too shallow and hard to press

I had to temporarily switch back to my 2013 MPB while my 2019 was in for repair (my fault, drink near laptop = bad idea) and was actually surprised how mushy the keys felt on it in comparison to the 2019. Of course it is a matter of taste, but IMO once you get used to it, the 2019/20 keyboards are actually the best Apple have made, so maybe it is worth persevering.

Certainly a million miles from the butterfly disaster! That said, I mostly work with an external Microsoft Sculpt keyboard, which is probably more like the older MPB in feel.

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#279
post #142

If you're complaining about Linux drivers please do so after using a Laptop that supports Linux (Thinkpads for example). Just like it wouldn't be fair to complain about macOS on a Hackintosh - sound didn't work well and had to patch the DSDT. > but there are rough edges for the power user. > I am an extreme power user, ... > In the end, I was able to replicate most of my macOS power tools setup via input hooks and sh…

He used a XPS Dev Edition Laptop... Those are officially sold with Ubuntu

Re: Fed up with the Mac, I spent six months with a Linux laptop

#280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find insane that people need to tinker with anything. My fedora lenovo just works. Lol.

Thinks were a little better with previous ubuntu TBH. After upgrading to latest LTS I got the screen issues on top of everything else. Think twice before upgrading your distro.

Ubuntu has been going down the drain for a long time.

The problem is that they successfully (and for good reason) became the de facto Desktop Linux for users who wanted a desktop and not mess with it much.

They’ve cornered that market to the point there are very few alternatives (at least very few that will come preinstalled and supported) but because they want to IPO I guess, they’ve stopped focusing on the desktop at all and instead are concentrating on server uses primarily, which leads to significant issues.

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