Please, linux users, mention your experience with high-res displays since many of us would like to move to a 4k display in the near future.
Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
101–110 of 169 posts
Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#102Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#103Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#104I chose Arch because it is usually on the ball with new kernels. Ubuntu and Debian (I found) had many issues with newer hard ward, though any hardware a year or two old was usually supported.
Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
there's also ControllerMate which certainly has a kernel extension.
I used to use ControllerMate, but it just wasn't as good. Now I use Karabiner, but doesn't anyone else think it's a bit absurd to have to get a kernel extension just to remap keys?
Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#106Funny you mention that OS X is taking away options and features. That's how I feel about the Gnome team's approach to their desktop. But Gnome has a lot of small programs and widgets that I find useful. Even though I use stock Ubuntu and Unity on my main desktop, I use Xubuntu on all of my other machines. I'm using ubuntu and variants mainly because of the simple and comprehensive package management system. The variants are really cool too.
I'm not a fan of the Unity desktop either, but I find that once you get used to it, it's tolerable. It's like a useable version of Windows 8, more of a touch centric interface than a desktop interface. Fortunately all of the other Ubuntu variants have real menus. And the variants have a high degree of compatibility with stock Ubuntu so you can install and use things that are made for stock Ubuntu.
Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#107Earlier quoted context omitted.
Arch is arguably worse than most about this, because their rolling repositories dump versions after a couple of updates are available. So if you wait too long to update, it can't even figure out how to get started, because it no longer has the slightest idea what the packages you have installed even mean. Don't get me wrong, I like Arch a lot, and I've been using it as my main Linux distribution for the past five yea…
I guess I'm kind of surprised that people are OK with updating infrequently. Don't your distros distribute security updates? How long do you wait before applying them?
I usually don't want new features. I'd often rather have what's already there fully working. The lack of finished software available (e.g. TeX) is astounding.
Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#108Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also, a list of superb tools: - Inkscape instead of Illustrator - GIMP instead of Photoshop (just install Photoshop keyboard shortcuts and use single window mode and it's much less "alien") - Iceweasel/Firefox instead of Chrome (super fast, works well with HiDPI and the dev tools are really on par now) - Steam (obvious) - pavucontrol as audio mixer - ncdu to track down disk space usage - sxiv to view images - zathura…
Opera's whole UI is hidpi enabled, unlike with FF and Chrome. You might want to give it a try.
I've been through everything trying to get a decent HiDPI experience, I'm running Opera beta and it all just works perfectly.
I'm running Debian Testing/Jessie and I've found that the Cinnamon Desktop Environment is the best for me, I've tried them all (trying to get the best results for HiDPI) and it is the one I'm most happy with.
Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#109Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr is where you want to be. It Just Works, plus there's a huge and awesome community to help out if you have questions. I haven't tried the derivatives, like Mint or Elementary, but I've heard good things. Note that even though Ubuntu is based on Debian, you do not want Debian... It's release cycle is a lot slower, the UI is much less polished, and you'll be stuck with versions of software that…
I've had way more trouble with out of date packages on Ubuntu than Debian (Sid).
Re: Ask HN: Switching from OS X to Linux
#110http://gnometerminator.blogspot.co.at/p/introduction.html
Alfred: use Kupfer on Linux.
Linux Mint: gets my vote! Also consider one of the non-Unity versions of Ubuntu.. I love my UbuntuStudio rig.