Live data from Hacker News

Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

github.com

121–130 of 636 posts

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#121
post #44

Linux runs better on both new and older hardware. Better as in programs open faster, the file manager opens faster, the task manager opens faster. Everything uses less memory and less CPU cycles. Everything is snappier. Linux users don't have to worry nearly as much about malware, trojans, viruses, exploits. It's more secure. Linux distros generally don't annoy users with stealthy automatic forced updates. Linux dist…

> Linux runs better on both new and older hardware. Better as in programs open faster, the file manager opens faster, the task manager opens faster. Everything uses less memory and less CPU cycles. Everything is snappier. Unless "hardware" is many laptops or all tablets, which effectively can't run Linux (unless Android etc.)

Or Nvidia which at this point in time offers the fastest graphics cards on the market and the user experience is subpar on Linux. I'm back on Windows after 17 years and I can finally enjoy a UI that doesn't lag and hardware video acceleration on a $5000 PC built a couple months ago.

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#122
post #20

I know quite a lot of folks here are fed up with moves away from native apps and towards Electron-wrapped web apps (and often for totally valid reasons) but it's been a godsend for making Linux a usable daily driver OS. IMO if you're doing eg web dev work in a GSuite / Slack / Figma / etc organization, it's never been a better time to try desktop Linux!

Why do you need web apps wrapped in their own window, though? Just open a browser. Relatedly, Electron is a problem because desktop apps nowadays require a huge browser just to display a window, not because web apps are packaged in a browser to get slightly better desktop integration.

Electron app:

    works offline
    has more permissions
    can use udp
    separate alt-tab, tray display
    is not throttled because it's in the background (on desktop)
    unaffected by browser settings
    unaffected by clear cookies
    unaffected by extensions
    less confusion over who handles keybinds

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#123
From a usability perspective I don't really care anymore which OS I have to use. All software I use for work runs in the browser (gdocs, gsheets, gmail, cloud9, slack, discord, asana, zoom, meet)

Only some games and ableton live are missing from some platforms.

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#124
post #17

Linux updates dont force themselves on my machine and brick it once it reboots.

Did this happen to you, or is this an urban legend?

Have had this experience with Windows 10 and OS X in the last two years.

You could argue the Windows issue is the fault of Samsung's migration assistant or the OS X issue was the fault of my employer's mdm software as both ultimately boiled down a partition layout that the updater wasn't anticipating, but OS X was unable to rollback and Windows _did_ rollback, but then immediately tried again with reapplying the update and restarting as it was past the "No really we're just going to update to the new feature release now" period.

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#125
post #16

None of these reasons have anything to do with user experience -- no wonder none of these reasons have earned Linux any market share outside of picky developers.

* Astronomically lower probability of catching a virus. * No bullshit forced updates when the OS feels like it. * No phoning home with you being unable to launch an app when your manufacturer's server is slow. * No shuffling about trying to install drivers for a thousand components before your computer is usable. How's that?

I've been using Windows as a daily driver for over 20 years and have never had a virus or malware. For a technical savvy user it's really easy to avoid by just not doing stupid things.

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#127
I find this whole Linux vs Windows thing pointless. I use both and have no real problems with either for as long as I do not try to choose only one. Each has strength and weaknesses and not necessarily technical. I use computers to make living and those non technical reasons are just important for me.

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#128
post #17

Linux updates dont force themselves on my machine and brick it once it reboots.

Did this happen to you, or is this an urban legend?

Not an urban legend, it just happened to a colleague with Windows 10. She is now having to buy a new laptop.

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#129
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly I'd suggest they just use Qt then. Our company is writing a portable replacement to our Electron client right now. The electron option was absolute garbage, very limited, and caused us untold pain. We got tired of telling customers "we can't really do that". The Qt version is already working on Linux and Windows, and on whatever CPUs we compile it for. There's no excuse for Electron, because there are good,…

Qt is nice but costs money for developers of proprietary software. Electron has its own costs but most of them are externalized to the user. So it wins out.

I guess there will be people going to say that QT is LGPL, which allows people to use in proprietary applications. But I think there must be people who just want permissive alternative, and Electron is MIT, so it is indeed more viable (liceise wise).

Re: Reasons to prefer Linux over Windows (2014)

#130
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly I'd suggest they just use Qt then. Our company is writing a portable replacement to our Electron client right now. The electron option was absolute garbage, very limited, and caused us untold pain. We got tired of telling customers "we can't really do that". The Qt version is already working on Linux and Windows, and on whatever CPUs we compile it for. There's no excuse for Electron, because there are good,…

Qt is nice but costs money for developers of proprietary software. Electron has its own costs but most of them are externalized to the user. So it wins out.

? It's LGPL, so as long as you link dynamically, it's fine for proprietary software to use it. A lot of commercial proprietary software in the VFX industry does this (Nuke, Katana, Mari, Maya, Houdini, etc).
Post reply on HN