this post was submitted on 27 May 2024
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Unpopular Opinion

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Windows 10 EoL is fast approaching, so I thought I’d give Linux a try on some equipment that won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 11. I wanted to see if I will be able to recommend an option to anyone that asks me what they should do with their old PC.

Many years ago I switched to Gentoo Linux to get through collage. I was very anti-MS at the time. I also currently interact with Linux systems regularly although they don’t have a DE and aren’t for general workstation use.

Ubuntu: easy install. Working desktop. Had issues with getting GPU drivers. App Store had apps that would install but not work. The App Store itself kept failing to update itself with an error that it was still running. It couldn’t clear this hurdle after a reboot so I finally killed the process and manually updated from terminal. Overall, can’t recommend this to a normal user.

Mint: easy install. Switching to nvidia drivers worked without issue. App Store had issues with installing some apps due to missing dependencies that it couldn’t install. Some popular apps would install but wouldn’t run. Shutting the laptop closed results in a prompt to shutdown, but never really shuts off. Update process asks me to pick a fast source (why can’t it do this itself?)

Both: installing apps outside of their respective stores is an adventure in terminal instead of a GUI double-click. Secure boot issues. Constant prompt for password instead of a simple PIN or other form of identity verification.

Search results for basic operations require understanding that what works for Ubuntu might not work for Mint.

While I personally could work with either, I don’t see Linux taking any market share from MS or Apple when windows 10 is retired.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

Honestly… I love Linux with all my heart. I can firsthand say that the Linux Desktop is 20 thousand times better than when I got into it around the first Ubuntu betas, but it’s still quite a mess in certain areas. It often boils down to the hardware and software you expect to run on it (or viable alternatives, if they exist) being compatible or not.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

windows isn't ready to replace windows. they never have been.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Poor take. 3.1, NT4, 95, 98SE, 2000, xp, 10. All were widely considered to be a considerable improvement over the OS they replaced.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

an adventure in terminal

That I do not understand. With APT, it's usually a single installation command for any kind of software packaged by the distribution. An adventure would in that case translate to a one-liner by your standards?

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

Any problem that breaks the GUI version to such a degree that the user must resort to using the terminal is a problem. You and I may be content to use the terminal -- hell, I tend to prefer it over most GUi options -- but that doesn't mean your average user will be happy to do so.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I would be surprised if 5% of the people that use a computer at all know how to work a CLI of any form.

Additionally, when you get a response from the command that the dependencies failed to install, what is the typical computer operator expected to do? They are already far outside of their abilities at this point.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

its good but heads up, Cosmic DE is around the corner ie by year end. Big hopes for it.

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