• Dr_Satan@lemm.eeEnglish
    6223·
    9 months ago

    Linux. You’ll be glad you did.

    Free. Easy to install. Never gets viruses. Never crashes. Rock solid.

    Runs good on old machines. Runs like lightning on new machines.

    I’ve installed it for 3 old ladies (3 separate installs). They like its simplicity and low-bullshit.

    I personally use Debian with a Mate desktop.

    • trailblazer911@lemmy.worldEnglish
      243·
      9 months ago

      “Never Crashes”, “Runs like Lightning on new machines” Am I doing this wrong? I tried Ubuntu, Zorin OS, Linux Mint- I get crashes and errors which doesn’t explain what the error is, instead shows some code lines. Runs like Lightning on new machines- In my 13600K build, Windows 11 feels noticeably faster, and I’m able to use all my onboard stuff like Optical Audio Out, WiFI 6 connects to 5GHz properly, unlike Linuxmint. I think I lack the technical expertise to run linux. I have been building PCs for like 20 years now.

      • 𝕽𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖎𝖊𝖘𝖙@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        9 months ago

        I know this will usually draw the ire of more experienced users (yes I use Arch btw) but if you really want an install that is as hands-off and foolproof as possible you are generally gonna be better off with an Ubuntu distro.

        I put Kubuntu on PCs for beginners/noobs because it gives them access to more advanced options if they need them in the future while also typically being fully functional out of the box.

        Ubuntu distros typically have extensive hardware support and a lot of testing. Yeah it’s not going to be the most cutting-edge but you don’t want that, you want it to “just work”

      • frankenswine@lemmy.worldEnglish
        38·
        9 months ago

        you probably are doing it wrong ;)

        the problem is cutting edge devices where vendors only publish windows drivers - often friendly hackers have to develop their own drivers to make your stuff work. for users with such hardware the free software experience is often sub-par and they probably won’t try it anytime soon. but for everyone else, casual i-only-browse-text-and-watch-videos-on-my-rather-standard-build-users will usually find ad-free, smoothly running no-bullshit (or depending on the distro maybe little-bullshit) computing experience. it’s a shame hardware vendors are allowed to only publish drivers for windows.

        it’s one of the few cases where people with more expertise (i.e. you who builds your own machibe) get a less satisfying result. i’d suggest you try again with spare parts from your last build ;)

          • frankenswine@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            9 months ago

            top-level commenter says new machines, not all hardware you could possibly attach to whichever bus your mobo offers, but yeah

            downvote me again for pointing out that it’s hardware vendors duty to offer drivers for the OS of your choice not your duty to shit on some kernel for not supporting hardware you bought from (excuse my french) shitty vendors

            • laurelraven@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
              21·
              9 months ago

              Dude, chill. It was a joke dunking on the idea that Linux is perfect that the top level was complaining about and which you weren’t defending, it was not a slam on you.

              And I was almost exactly quoting their quote, including “new hardware”, so I have no clue where you’re pulling that from.

              I didn’t downvote your first comment, but I would your reply if I could for being so off the rails

    • g00@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      7·
      9 months ago

      I mean, I agree. But sometimes you’re kinda forced by damn app compatibility. Although, if you have the choice I’d say make the jump. If you’ve no experience there’s a learning curve but it’s worth it.

      • joenforcer@midwest.socialEnglish
        4·
        9 months ago

        Worth it how? I feel like every post that claims about how much better Linux is after handling a bunch of tweaks and hacks and workarounds to get into baseline functional doesn’t really get into what actually makes it better. After all of that heavy lifting, you’re already at a disadvantage and I still hear nothing of the benefits. I start to wonder if the “better” is justification for all the effort that goes into tricking it to work rather than being meaningfully superior.

        • gaael@lemmy.worldEnglish
          42·
          9 months ago

          The good news is, it’s easy to try and see for yourself ;)

          Head over to an easy distro (like Linux Mint or Ubuntu for example) and create a live USB. Boot your computer on that USB, try the live environment.

          You’ll see if your hardware works as expected. If it does, you’re golden, you can proceed to install and have zero problem down the road.

          If it doesn’t, and you don’t feel like troubleshooting to make it work, you can just remove the USB stick, reboot your computer and continue using Windows.

          Mileage varies a lot while using Linux. It’s really great these days, but there are always some edge cases. I use Linux on my gaming desktop, and it crashes often because part of my pleasure is trying out stuff, breaking my install and do it all over again.
          I also use Linux on my work laptop, and it has not crashed once in 4 years.
          I wanted to install Linux on my SO’s laptop because they liked the idea. I tried the live environment, never managed to get the wifi card to work, gave up, and they still use windows. When the laptop dies, the replacement will probably be a refurbished thinkpad where everything usually works out of the box.

          All in all, it’s always been worth it to me: my laptop is faster and more stable than those of my colleagues, I don’t have to deal with Microsoft’s bullshit, I don’t come late to meetings because my computer was updating…
          My gaming desktop is my fun machine, I’ve learned a lot on it and when I just want to game I roll back to a stable snapshot.

          Also, don’t underestimate the representation issues. I think that people who have trouble with a Linux install have the reflex to ask online on Lemmy, Reddit or forums, while people who have trouble with their Windows install just live with it or bring it back to the shop.

      • MisterD@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        I can see MS paying Adobe to NOT release Linux versions of their software.

        • rab@lemmy.caEnglish
          2·
          9 months ago

          Probably. Doesn’t change the fact that it renders linux useless on my workstation.

          I have fedora on my laptop tho.

    • ArdMacha@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      9 months ago

      My issue with Linux at the minute is all the different app stores and package managers.

      • 𝕽𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖎𝖊𝖘𝖙@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        It doesn’t really bother me tbh.

        KDE’s Discover app pulls from the distro package manager, snap, and flat hub. AppImages to me are like “portable” executables and don’t really need an app store. However you can use Gear Lever to update them.

    • dakd2@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      I just installed arch on a friend PC that is just one of those old intel dual core without integrated graphics and I am just surprised it ran as good as on my ryzen 3400g