Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux • Hacker News Board

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#141

Post by formerly_proven » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:40 PM UTC

apeace wrote: post #66

CaioAlonso wrote: post #5

As a counterpoint: Reasons to consider NOT switching to Linux https://corn.codeberg.page/notlinux.html

Right. I was going to comment "Reason #12 to switch to Linux: you love reformatting the entire system every once in a while, typically after struggling to fix a driver for hours and completely screwing everything up in a way you can't figure out how to undo."

This is an interesting observation, considering that traditionally Windows has had these opaque failure and degradation modes that are "unfixable" unless you reinstall. Personally, it doesn't ring true to me - I've been using the very same OS install for around a decade now, I just kept moving it from machine to machine and I think my laptop install is actually a duplicate. I've restored it from backups a few times, though the leading cause is "accidentally powered off during system update".

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#142

Post by magicalhippo » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:41 PM UTC

agumonkey wrote: post #43

jdlyga wrote: post #2

The real reasons I use Linux are mostly out of convenience. For example, updating all my software and OS using one command rather than clicking on 50 updaters.

This and its dual, not having to restore apps configuration every 3 weeks because some bloatware has the rights to change boot settings etc I like windows for various reasons but it's a constant maintenance chore. Linux is more like a stone wall.. set and forget.

Interestingly for me it is the other way around. I have Windows 10 on the main PC, KDE Neon on a NUC and "obviously" several Raspberry Pi's doing various things.

I spend far more time maintaining the Linux machines, while my Windows box just works.

KDE Neon has been much better last year, but still every now and then some conflict pops up which requires manual command line intervention.

Clearly YMMV...

That said, I'm quite happy with KDE Neon and would most likely be quite content if I had to use it as my primary OS and didn't have any need for RDP. Sadly the latter is a showstopper for me.

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#143

Post by rbanffy » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:41 PM UTC

DeathArrow wrote: post #99

I really like the Unix philosophy. And even if Linux it is not exactly Unix, it kind of shares the same philosophy. I tried very much to like Linux and to use it on the desktop. In the last 20 years I've tried countless times to use it as a desktop. But it always failed. It always reqyired lots of time for configuration as opposed to "it just works". After some time, it always broke something, which required again ti…

> But after 30 your time will worth much more.

Once you know how to start an application and how to find the ones that are installed, the learning curve is within the app.

> Software and drivers written some time ago won't work because there's no stable ABI.

Not sure what you are doing here. Are you trying to load binary drivers written for an old Linux version on a new kernel? Isn't there a mainlined driver that works? Do you think it's a common use-case?

> The software landscape is very fragmented.

If I need to install something, I either get it from the distro's repos of its "app store". Not sure what "fragmented" means here.

> From my long experience with trying to use Linux on the desktop I can give a very long lecture of why it sucks from both user and technical perspectives alike.

It may be worth writing a more detail article or blog post. User perspective is always valuable.

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#144

Post by weirdsquid » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:42 PM UTC

rbanffy wrote: post #123

EastOfTruth wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is Windows 11 the only one that you don't give a reason? Vista was just complete shit BTW... I skipped over it to Windows 7. Switched completely to Linux after that.

It still too soon to know what problems and pains will Windows 11 cause.

Personally, I don't like 11 because of telemetry as well as missing features, particularly with its new desktop shell. I can't see how removing useful taskbar features (resizing, changing position, ungrouping window buttons, etc) and turning the start menu into an abomination with less functionality then my phone's damn app drawer is an upgrade. To top it off Microsoft still just can't seem to resist the temptation and decided to include "sponsored" applications in the Start menu pinned section on a fresh install. An average user doesn't know they're not really installed, but it looks like it. When you click on them it installs the application without consent similar to how they did it in Windows 10. They never learn...

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#145

Post by Karunamon » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:42 PM UTC

breakfastduck wrote: post #38

peakaboo wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well he is right. Linux is not for everyone. It's for people who can learn how to double click an icon that looks different from the one in Windows. That excludes probably 50% of Windows users right there.

This kind of attitude from linux users is significantly responsible for its lack of wider adoption. Who wants to learn something new when the people you need help from are going to treat you like a moron? We both know its more involved than clicking a different icon.

Sorta-sincere hot take:

Software for the masses seems to always be dumbed down, lose functionality, or otherwise become less useful over time as its targeted at the lowest common denominator. I'm good with there being an OS that's primarily for people who have the time and desire to understand their tools and want to get the most out of them.

This isn't some dig at casual users, it's about market segmentation. Not everything needs to be for everyone, and that's okay. With few exceptions, the average PC has plenty of choice in its operating systems.

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#146

Post by Iolaum » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:42 PM UTC

lugged wrote: post #100

Iolaum wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On my optimus laptop fedora+nvidia work quite well, I recommend you give it a try. Use official instructions for adding nvidia drivers from the rpmfusion repository. You can even try Silverblue. On the off chance something breaks, i do an rpm-ostree rollback, reboot and the system is on it's previous working state. I could troubleshoot stuff If I want to but I usually wait for an upstream fix before I update again.

Silverblue is far from ready for primetime. You'll have way less problems with fedora workstation. I wanted to like silverbluez used it on the homelab as a host os for a while, went back to a normal server in the end, way less hassle.

Silverblue is a desktop os not a server. There is the coreos version that is intended for server use. It does need a different paradigm however. On normal fedoara server you are installing packages for applications you want to use, however on an rpm-ostree based system it is intended that you install applications by using containers.

Depending on what you want to do, you use the appropriate version.

Indeed if one is not willing/able to climb the learning curve of this paradigm shift, then they shouldn't use it.

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#147

Post by DeathArrow » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:43 PM UTC

It's kind of funny, but Eric S. Raymond seems to be reincarnating in multiple dudes even if he's alive and well. I doubt even he has still faith in desktop Linux.

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#148

Post by ginko » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:43 PM UTC

pjmlp wrote: post #75

Yet another one of thoses guides. When XP came out everyone was going to go GNU/Linux, due to Toy'R us interface. When Vista came out everyone was going to go GNU/Linux, due to DX 10 drivers and hardware requirements. When 8.x came out everyone was going to go GNU/Linux, due to tablet UI. When 10 came out everyone was going to go GNU/Linux, due to telemetry. Now Windows 11 came out, naturally everyone is going to go…

The first 10 reasons don't matter, really. Windows is proprietary software and should be avoided on ethical grounds just for that.

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#149

Post by Comevius » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:44 PM UTC

streamofdigits wrote: post #44

in a world that had its mental faculties intact even one of those reasons would have been enough: e.g. windows 11 requiring a front-facing camera.[0] but we don't live in such a world. we have entered the downward spiral of unaccountable tech oligarchies and it is not clear where the bottom lies. [0] I pressume if you cover the camera you will get automatically blacklisted as someone having "something to hide" and yo…

To clarify Microsoft will require OEMs to include a front-facing camera in new portable devices starting in 2023 if they want to be certified as Windows 11 compatible.

Windows 11 itself won't require a front-facing camera.

Re: Reasons to switch from Windows to Linux

#150

Post by vetinari » Fri, Oct 22, 2021, 2:44 PM UTC

metalliqaz wrote: post #115

iso1210 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I went to linux around the time ME was on the shelf, not sure why I'd want to move to windows, I want something that just works.

Funny, that's why I still use Windows on my desktop.

To add to the funny story, I have Ryzen 1900X on my desk (literally, the cpu in a small plastic box). Nowadays, those 8 Zen cores clocked at 3.8 GHz are not enough to run Windows, apparently.