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2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

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Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#531

Post by newsoftheday »

starky wrote: post #300
newsoftheday wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in my 60's and have never run Photoshop. Nor my wife, my kids, none of my relatives I'm aware of for that matter. Come to think of it, of all the people I know, no one runs PhotoShop that I'm aware of.

So? It is still a pretty popular and useful piece of software even if your circle doesn't use it. One of the big barriers to having more people use Linux is having the software packages they use to actually do work available on the platform. Image editing is the most popular software type that isn't really available on Linux with an equivalent to the commercial package that everyone uses.

The point is that if of the hundreds or thousands of people I know don't use it then it seems mathematically provable that the largest majority of people don't use them either and so it's not a strong argument against Linux becoming the standard OS which is what is happening now regardless how much some people don't want it do happen.

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#533

Post by SpaceNoodled »

AdrianB1 wrote: post #490
SpaceNoodled wrote: post #350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seattle cost of living is still significantly cheaper than the Bay Area. A lower salary goes even farther given the lack of state income tax, too.

But in a world where Amazon prices are the same, car and gas are the same, cost of living is just rent?

Not sure what you're getting at. Housing is the main cost, and is drastically cheaper in Seattle. Food in Seattle is a bit more pricey.

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#534

Post by godelski »

mjmas wrote: post #403
user34283 wrote: post #382

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Randomly' here likely corresponds to a typo in the search term. If I type "Visual Std" instead of "Visual Stu" it goes to the Bing results. Alternatively it shows No results if you disable Bing in the Search settings found in the top right meatballs menu. I also would expect fuzzy search by default instead of typos sending users to Bing.

It also orrelates with missing the first letter off search terms, such as when you start typing immediately after opening the start menu

  > orrelates with missing the first letter off
Intended?

Still, that shows an issue of using fuzzy search for Bing but not programs. There should be a precedent on local items. A typo is far more likely than a web search, especially when the web search is resulting in the intended application.

Did no one think of that feedback loop? That if the web search is suggesting an installed app that that installed app should be prioritized?

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#535

Post by amenod »

the__alchemist wrote: post #527

Wishlist: - No sudo, or at least no conflict between "Sudo is dangerous and can break your system" / "You need sudo to do routine things" - Executable compatibility across distro versions and distros - No CLI required to install software - Lag-free pen experience - Good touch support - Less fragile. I shouldn't have to worry about the PC booting up into a no-GUI terminal after I installed something, or edited a file.…

It's not that I don't have my own set of gripes about linux, but this wishlist is weird, at least to me:

- There is nothing wrong with sudo - or to be precise, it is good thing that administrative operations are explicit. And sudo is still less annoying than Windows "admin prompt" anyway.

- Why do you care? Use apt install, yum install or apk add, whatever your distro supports.

- It is not required, there are GUI managers, but again - why?

- Got me there. I don't use pen.

- Used touch on ThinkPad some years ago, it just worked, maybe depends on the laptop?

- Until 15 years ago this was true, but I haven't seen this happen since then. Debian here if it matters.

- I'm typing this on a 15 years old desktop (with NVME, admittedly) and it boots and feels faster than a new MacBook Pro I am testing. Linux accumulated much less, if any, performance losses. I agree that Windows and Mac both became bloated.

- I think doubleclick is the default way, at least in xfce? Or I might be missing what you mean. That said, I use keyboard shortcuts mostly as I try to avoid mouse for this.

With all that said, of course it will not look and feel the same as Windows. It is a different OS, with different priorities. I like it better than both Windows and MacOS, but maybe it's because I found the combination that fits me (Debian + XFCE). Maybe take a look at KDE and XFCE?

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#536

Post by mixmastamyk »

panick21_ wrote: post #455
mixmastamyk wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just install Mint/Cinnamon and forget about it.

They are moving to Wayland too and will not get around any of these issues. And using those things brings with it a number of other issues.

I’m a user and the experience has been great.

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#537

Post by the__alchemist »

amenod wrote: post #535
the__alchemist wrote: post #527

Wishlist: - No sudo, or at least no conflict between "Sudo is dangerous and can break your system" / "You need sudo to do routine things" - Executable compatibility across distro versions and distros - No CLI required to install software - Lag-free pen experience - Good touch support - Less fragile. I shouldn't have to worry about the PC booting up into a no-GUI terminal after I installed something, or edited a file.…

It's not that I don't have my own set of gripes about linux, but this wishlist is weird, at least to me: - There is nothing wrong with sudo - or to be precise, it is good thing that administrative operations are explicit. And sudo is still less annoying than Windows "admin prompt" anyway. - Why do you care? Use apt install, yum install or apk add, whatever your distro supports. - It is not required, there are GUI man…

I think I can summarize this: In life and devices, I often find processes I find are high-friction, or have room for user interface or other improvements. There is a guarantee that there will be people who will tell me these concerns are invalid.

In the case of Linux usability desires, I will make the cautious conclusion that there is a group of people who consider Linux part of their identity, and any desire for improvement or shortcoming is mentally a personal challenge. I am just a human using computers as a tool, and don't have a desire to play politics on this subject.

I think the "it's fine" / "works for me" / "Actually this is a good thing" / "Why don't you just" replies like this are an obstacle to improvement, but is often overcome.

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#538

Post by woile »

Last year I got a laptop with Linux, after a Mac gap of 6 years (work) and it's been super smooth with NixOS and KDE.

My main issue now was the 16GB of RAM using a VM and working on rust, which would kill the system, but now I have more, so all the issues are gone.

One of the machines has become a media-center, with a remote keyboard, anyone at home can operate now.

Multiple screens, bluetooth, drag and drop, night/light all seems to be working

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#539

Post by theandrewbailey »

cjk wrote: post #323
bradley13 wrote: post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of my Steam games work under Linux. For one or two, I gave to select a specific Proton version, but that's the only issue. Try dual-booting, and see if your games work...

It's mostly Mass Effect that's trouble under Proton. It requires the stupid EA launcher, which is trash. I have a Lenovo Legion Go S and getting it to work reliably is an absolute nightmare. Most other games I play are fine.

I just finished playing through Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Linux with Lutris. The EA Launcher gave me a few issues (like not launching sometimes), but it eventually worked. I did not have the game through Steam.

https://theandrewbailey.com/article/290/Mass-Effect-Legendar...

Re: 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

#540

Post by eloisant »

AdrianB1 wrote: post #490
SpaceNoodled wrote: post #350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seattle cost of living is still significantly cheaper than the Bay Area. A lower salary goes even farther given the lack of state income tax, too.

But in a world where Amazon prices are the same, car and gas are the same, cost of living is just rent?

Housing makes a huge difference, but there is also the cost of groceries, dining out, etc.

Basically the housing price difference can mean buying a nice house close to your job vs renting a room in a share-apartment.

Best of both worlds is to save in a high-cost area then move to a cheaper area.

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