Used Ubuntu Linux for a year back around '08-'09. Didn’t have a great experience and went back to Windows. Since then I’ve never had a reason to try it again. That said, I’ve nothing but respect for those that use a flavour of Linux or Mac OS. At the end of the day doing the things you need done is what matters and if a different OS than mine gets you there, that’s awesome.
I’ve tried to switch to Linux multiple times since 2008. Usually Ubuntu. I’ve even tried Linux Mint. I can never commit to the switch, I always get buggy behavior, crashes, hardware incompatibility, lack of apps (FL Studio, Adobe, WeChat for PC, etc). There are also dozens of tiny issues, like the sensitivity of the mouse/scroll wheel that feels different from Windows, even after adjusting the relevant settings. Also, for volume adjusting, the volume slider doesn’t make a sound when you change the volume level, unlike on Windows. How is it that not a single Linux distro includes this functionality? I am totally comfortable working in a Terminal if I have to, but every time I follow a terminal walkthrough I get errors; I search the error messages online and I get reading threads talking about bugs that are a decade old, there is never a solution. I am so jealous of people who can immerse themselves in Linux, I just can’t do it. I need my stuff to work out of the box, and for 15 years and many attempts to switch, it has never been the case. I can’t tell if I’m not smart enough, or I just rely too heavily on proprietary software, or I don’t want to dedicate the time to manually fixing problems with terminal commands and scripts.
My first 4 months or so with Linux sucked. I literally broke a keyboard once out of frustration. I often find myself wanting to scream “can you just fucking work for once?” More often than I’d care to admit.
I’ve been at it for about a year and a half and I’ve learned more about computing in that time than in the 30-odd years before. I’m starting to get the hang of bash, I’ve figured out the cause of, and fixed, problems without reading anything online (Google is fucking broken and it’s not getting better so it’s often not an option anymore anyway).
It can be hard. And frustrating. But it’s freeing to realize just how fucking stupid Microsoft made me. And the privacy issues always bothered me (in the process of degoogling ATM) but they bother me more now than they ever did. It’s fucking gross. And it’s appalling that companies collect what they do.
Point being your criticisms are all valid but if windows is a Honda Civic then Linux is a rusted out Porsche in the backyard. It’s going to take some effort to get it where you want it but when you do baby it’ll purr.
I really like this analogy! Makes me want to try again. I think I need a dedicated machine that will ONLY be for Linux, so I can build some troubleshooting ability and learn how to set up all the things I need. I really want that Linux Porsche lifestyle!!
Used Ubuntu Linux for a year back around '08-'09. Didn’t have a great experience and went back to Windows. Since then I’ve never had a reason to try it again. That said, I’ve nothing but respect for those that use a flavour of Linux or Mac OS. At the end of the day doing the things you need done is what matters and if a different OS than mine gets you there, that’s awesome.
I’ve tried to switch to Linux multiple times since 2008. Usually Ubuntu. I’ve even tried Linux Mint. I can never commit to the switch, I always get buggy behavior, crashes, hardware incompatibility, lack of apps (FL Studio, Adobe, WeChat for PC, etc). There are also dozens of tiny issues, like the sensitivity of the mouse/scroll wheel that feels different from Windows, even after adjusting the relevant settings. Also, for volume adjusting, the volume slider doesn’t make a sound when you change the volume level, unlike on Windows. How is it that not a single Linux distro includes this functionality? I am totally comfortable working in a Terminal if I have to, but every time I follow a terminal walkthrough I get errors; I search the error messages online and I get reading threads talking about bugs that are a decade old, there is never a solution. I am so jealous of people who can immerse themselves in Linux, I just can’t do it. I need my stuff to work out of the box, and for 15 years and many attempts to switch, it has never been the case. I can’t tell if I’m not smart enough, or I just rely too heavily on proprietary software, or I don’t want to dedicate the time to manually fixing problems with terminal commands and scripts.
My first 4 months or so with Linux sucked. I literally broke a keyboard once out of frustration. I often find myself wanting to scream “can you just fucking work for once?” More often than I’d care to admit.
I’ve been at it for about a year and a half and I’ve learned more about computing in that time than in the 30-odd years before. I’m starting to get the hang of bash, I’ve figured out the cause of, and fixed, problems without reading anything online (Google is fucking broken and it’s not getting better so it’s often not an option anymore anyway).
It can be hard. And frustrating. But it’s freeing to realize just how fucking stupid Microsoft made me. And the privacy issues always bothered me (in the process of degoogling ATM) but they bother me more now than they ever did. It’s fucking gross. And it’s appalling that companies collect what they do.
Point being your criticisms are all valid but if windows is a Honda Civic then Linux is a rusted out Porsche in the backyard. It’s going to take some effort to get it where you want it but when you do baby it’ll purr.
I really like this analogy! Makes me want to try again. I think I need a dedicated machine that will ONLY be for Linux, so I can build some troubleshooting ability and learn how to set up all the things I need. I really want that Linux Porsche lifestyle!!