this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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After some encouragement, I've been making an effort to switch much of my computing over to Fedora (at least, on weekends until it's got everything I need on it).
My (Framework) laptop fully supports the OS, and even booting it up on an external SSD has been easy, and it works fast and smooth.
But, it's absolutely not as easy to settle into compared to windows.
With Windows, the only "tweaks" that a user might make is installing a different browser, but everything else will work as it should.
Power Windows users will spend more time removing bloat and ads, I won't deny that!
But on Fedora, I had to scour the internet to find out how to get a minimize and maximize button on a window (had to install another utility, then an extension...). Then I had to do the same to move things down to a dock.
Annoying, but it wasn't a huge deal. These small add-on, tweaks, and personalization options all require that you know where to look and how to actually apply these fixes. Thank god I didn't have to fuss around with device drivers.
Then, as I happily watched the Para Olympics while multitasking, my screen just went black. No warning, no way to recover it. Hitting my laptop's power button throws up a series of errors and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "FAILED TO EXECUTE SHUTDOWN BINARY".
If this is the equivalent to a BSOD on Windows, then it would be my first BSOD in many, many years.
Now I need to figure out how to get some Windows-only software to run, if that's even possible, which adds another layer of time and aggravation.
If I were a novice computer user, I wouldn't even bother with any of this and just stick to Windows. Hell, I wouldn't even know where to begin with any of it!
But I'll see how long I can ride this out, and perhaps I'll be a full-time Linux user some day.
That's less about Fedora and Linux than it is about Gnome.
Coming from Windows to Gnome is a shitshow, honestly I think it's the main reason there isn't more Linux users. If that's your first introduction to Linux, no wonder people yell screaming for the exits. It's not an easy transition.
Using DEs like Plasma or Cinnamon is a way more welcoming way to change over. Maybe eventually you'll want try Gnome and it's opinionated workflow, but I think its a terrible way to start out an already jarring transition.
Nobara is a good distro to use Fedora and have KDE by default, with the option to change later. And it has a pile of video tweaks and fixes for gaming and editing out of the box or via the welcome screen tasks.
Well, I think my experiment might have come to an early end.
Yesterday, when I booted up fedora, I lost my wifi (like, it didn't even give me the option to use wifi). Re-booted and it worked again.
Then I decided to get a copy of Fedora with KDE Plasma loaded up. Seemed fine, started setting it up.
Let's try some Windows software through Wine (Bottles, I believe, is what the actual software was called). Program 1, installed, but won't run. Program 2, installed, but wont' run...
Then, out of nowhere: Blank screen.
After waiting several minutes, I hit the power button: FAILED FAILED FAILED messages "Failed to start plymouth-reboot.services" being the last. FFS...
I just don't understand how I can break Linux so quickly without really doing anything. My experience over the last 20 years of trying Linux has always ended the same. Are there no stable distros available? Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Elementary, Damn Small... none of them last more than a few days/weeks before they crash and burn.
And when Linux crashes and burns, I really don't know how to fix it.
It's extremely hard to go from Windows 11, which has been absolutely rock solid. Literally no problems, no crashes, no BSOD, no compatibility issues, etc. to Linux, even though I value Linux more.
I would rather not use Windows, but I feel like I'm forced to at this point.
That's the shits. Hardware can be finicky with Linux, especially laptops.
I would try Nobara or Manjaro, both have some pretty good hardware detection and updated/non-free drivers. Fedora itself doesn't have certain things in it that aren't "free" by default.
But you might not be destined to use Linux and no shame in that. Keep trying back if you change hardware.
My laptop is a Framework and has official support for Fedora and Ubuntu. I wouldn't expect these kinds of issue, TBH.
I can probably try a few more distros, but I'm just disappointed that the experience seems to always be the same :(
Oh, man, really? You are absolutely correct, I would expect that to support either. Have you contacted them? Because it seems like that must be something faulty.
Their forum is pretty good, and there's a dedicated linux section there, too. They also have extensive support documentation.
I'm sure I can get it working to be more stable, but man, it's an effort for sure.