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Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

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Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#121

Post by phendrenad2 »

paol wrote: post #17

> It is a truth universally acknowledged that all operating systems suck. This could be engraved in stone. I know the title isn't really serious, but not being able to afford a Mac is not a good reason to use Linux. Use what you want/need/feel comfortable in, otherwise the experience will be miserable.

In my experience Macs are absolutely worth it. An M1 Macbook Air will be a much better experience than a more inexpensive Wintel laptop with the "same" specs. User experience translates directly into productivity.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#122

Post by phendrenad2 »

bmitc wrote: post #83
bzzzt wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One mans lackluster features is another mans streamlined interface. MacOS at least goes out of your way most of the time. Windows interrupts you regularly for stuff that's not important to whatever you're doing. Combined with third-party applications that are noisy as heck to make sure you don't forget you bought/installed them (especially AV scanners, but it seems like every app wants a place in your system tray and…

> One mans lackluster features is another mans streamlined interface. MacOS at least goes out of your way most of the time. That is really just not true. I don't even think one could consider it an opinion. Irregardless of what Windows does, macOS constantly gets in your way. Try to rename iTunes, because that's the only way to keep it from opening every time you connect your non-Apple Bluetooth headphones (there's a…

Wow, you basically defeated your own argument (the first sentence) with the rest of your post.

You've merely succeeded in demonstrating many examples of "one mans lackluster features is another mans streamlined interface". All of your examples are things that many people won't run into. External monitor? Non-Apple bluetooth? I don't use either of those so, yes indeed, I find it to be a streamlined interface.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#123

Post by phendrenad2 »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #98
bzzzt wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One mans lackluster features is another mans streamlined interface. MacOS at least goes out of your way most of the time. Windows interrupts you regularly for stuff that's not important to whatever you're doing. Combined with third-party applications that are noisy as heck to make sure you don't forget you bought/installed them (especially AV scanners, but it seems like every app wants a place in your system tray and…

>Windows interrupts you regularly for stuff that's not important to whatever you're doing. Really not my current experience and I use W10 daily at work and W11 at home. Not saying it's a good OS, just saying that your statement is plain wrong. If certain (third party) apps are annoying then you can control notifications through the focus assist setting just like with any mobile OS.

Exactly. The only "interruptions" I get on my Windows machine are from my AV, and the lower-right-corner popup alerts don't steal focus from my current window.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#124

Post by phendrenad2 »

lsofzz wrote: post #76

I have two macs. And, yes, I surely I can afford many more of it. But, whether you own a mac or not, once you start using Linux (and it takes patience to do so _effectively_), I can guarantee that you _will_ never want to use anything else. - Linux user for the past 22 years (for the most part been so much fulfilling).

I spent the time to learn to use Linux effectively, and I still want to use something else.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#125

Post by kaba0 »

hollandheese wrote: post #95
landmass wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When it it runs, Linux is great, but when something breaks fixing it can be labor intensive. When something on Mac stops working a call to Mac support will usually fix it in a couple of hours. That said, I agree with your 2010 estimate of Mac software peaking in 2010. Mac laptop hardware is still better than Linux laptop hardware. As someone who's considering my first Linux laptop, I need to balance the inconvenience…

>Mac laptop hardware is still better than Linux laptop hardware. As someone who's considering my first Linux laptop, I need to balance the inconveniences of Linux hardware now with the likely fact I can probably use that laptop significantly longer than current Mac. Somebody has to pay for all those convenient Mac support folks. The funny thing about that is that it's only with the Apple Silicon Macs that's true. The…

The goddamn last intel MacBook Pro manages to legit burn my hand if I don’t use a program that forces the vents on.. Like sure, I do hate the sound of a vent but when I am actively using a laptop for writing or something and it is scorching hot then please choose the annoying noise over boiling my skin. Though I feel these things are more like Apple assuming that an intel proc is the same as an M1 that hardly heats up.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#126

Post by kaba0 »

hollandheese wrote: post #117
bmitc wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If by Retina display you mean an Apple display and not resolution, then yes. Because my monitor is 5k and should be able to be handled. And I already use the Thunderbolt port on the right side, having researched this a bit. Auto-updates can be turned off on Windows as well. I still get updates I didn't expect on macOS, often when I've told it explicitly not to do so (like when you get the notification requesting it).…

> If by Retina display you mean an Apple display and not resolution, then yes. Because my monitor is 5k and should be able to be handled. Really? You have a 5120x2880 monitor that macOS is messing up? I've never heard that before. Talk to LG, there's got to be something wrong with it. >Auto-updates can be turned off on Windows as well. I still get updates I didn't expect on macOS, often when I've told it explicitly n…

> > If by Retina display you mean an Apple display and not resolution, then yes. Because my monitor is 5k and should be able to be handled. Really? You have a 5120x2880 monitor that macOS is messing up? I've never heard that before. Talk to LG, there's got to be something wrong with it.

I can also confirm that OSX doesn’t have a good case with external monitors, but I am no longer sure that it is possible at all. Frankly, all OSes suck at it so hard that one should just try to avoid the situation. Strangely enough the new Wayland on Linux may be the most adequate at it, though it is still far from perfect.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#127

Post by kcartlidge »

iLoveOncall wrote: post #115
lproven wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try to bear in mind that while there is nothing wrong with wanting what you want, others may not share your desires. I've been using Macs since 1988 and I've never wanted your point 1, 3, or 4, and my dock doesn't take 50% of the width of the screen, it takes about 5% of it because it's on the side where it belongs and where it was on NeXTstep. So none of this has ever applied to me, and TBH, I can't even imagine it…

Did you miss the part where I say that you shouldn't bother commenting if you aren't using Windows frequently? You just don't know how bad you have it, that's it. But sure, MacOS is great, go back to installing a 3rd party software to snap windows xD

(I use Windows 10 and MacOS on M1 daily, Linux Mint almost as often)

Linux wins for dev and loses for apps. Windows wins for apps and loses for dev. Mac is second-best at both which is why I prefer it.

That said, I'd love to be running production-ready Mint on my M1 Air.

Edit: I forgot to say, and it's the reason I responded to you in the first place, that I agree. It's really sad that something like Rectangle has to exist just to get decent window handling.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#128

Post by lproven »

senectus1 wrote: post #120
lproven wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi. Article author here. No, I didn't. Also, if you wish, you can read my review of Elementary from a few months ago: https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/21/elementary_os_61/ To counter your points: • I tried to pick 10 of the most widely-used distros. I do not think Elementary would make that list. • I don't think it has any more than a trivial cosmetic resemblance to macOS. • While I admire the coherence of its des…

I dont understand how you could have a cynics guide and not include Gentoo. Gentoo is the distro for people that dont believe ANY distro is properly compiled for their particular hardware. Gentoo users spend hours/days/weeks compiling and recompiling kernels and applications so they they might squeeze and extra millisecond or two of performance from their PC. Its pure cynical masochism for the consumer market.

Is it in the top 10 most widely used distros?

I don't think so.

That's why it falls under my #0: niche distros.

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#129

Post by lproven »

iLoveOncall wrote: post #115
lproven wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try to bear in mind that while there is nothing wrong with wanting what you want, others may not share your desires. I've been using Macs since 1988 and I've never wanted your point 1, 3, or 4, and my dock doesn't take 50% of the width of the screen, it takes about 5% of it because it's on the side where it belongs and where it was on NeXTstep. So none of this has ever applied to me, and TBH, I can't even imagine it…

Did you miss the part where I say that you shouldn't bother commenting if you aren't using Windows frequently? You just don't know how bad you have it, that's it. But sure, MacOS is great, go back to installing a 3rd party software to snap windows xD

I did miss that bit, yes. Can you link to it?

Secondly, I was a Windows early adopter and have used it since version 2.01. I do not see any relevance.

3rd, yes, I have Rectangle, which replaced Spectacle. So?

Re: Sick of Windows but can't afford a Mac? The cynic's guide to desktop Linux

#130

Post by iLoveOncall »

tootie wrote: post #32
iLoveOncall wrote: post #2

I honestly cannot believe that a person that uses both Windows and Mac frequently in 2022 would choose Mac if they had to choose a single platform. Not even a developer. MacOS is a masterclass in bad design and lackluster features. I always considered buying a Mac but was always hesitant to change. Once I got one for work I swore to never ever spend a dime on a Mac. People that will disagree haven't used Windows in y…

I literally only choose Mac because I'm a developer. Why? Because it is physically impossible to build and test iOS apps or run Safari without one. So long as a huge percentage of our users are on iPhone, we are obligated via Apple's relentless vertical integration to buy macs.

So, you don't CHOOSE Mac. You have to use it. That's different and it joins my point. Nobody would choose Mac.
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