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Do you currently use Linux, or would you consider giving Linux a shot? (self.askbeehaw)

submitted 1 year ago by UngodlyAudrey to c/askbeehaw

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I get the feeling that Lemmy has a relatively higher concentration of Linux users. I'm preparing to move over to Linux when I build my new computer. I already put Linux Mint Cinnamon edition on one of my old laptops and I like it quite a bit. I figure that since I've been wanting to switch over for years, I should just do it. The games were the thing holding me back, and Proton seems to have taken care of that(I don't really play multiplayer games that require anticheat... I'm a singleplayer kind of girl).

For me, anyway, I want to switch because Windows has been creeping me out with its telemetry. Windows 11 looks lousy, and I'd have to jump through some hoops to get my old hardware on 11, anyway.

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[–] effingnerd 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Last time I tried Linux was 23 or so years ago. I had no idea what I was doing or at that time knew how to figure it out. That being said, I want to use Linux but am apprehensive.

I see computers as tools. I think that tools should be intuitive and fairly easy to use. My brief experience with Linux left me feeling that it requires a fair amount of time dedicated to setup and upkeep. That's time I would much rather spend on other endeavors.

Windows has gotten to a point where I don't like using it. I will not switch to Apple products, full stop. But I won't make Linux a full-time hobby.

What should I do, friends?

[–] confusedwiseman 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Try a live version(run from a thumb drive) or a virtual box environment. It’s come a long way in 20 years. I’d recommend an easier distribution to start like Ubuntu or mint. Note Ubuntu comes in gnome and kde interfaces. Kde is more start menu like to me.

Once I got everything working on my hardware, I was able to stop fussing with it. Privacy and lack of bloat was my reason to switch from windows.

You just gotta do what’s right for you. That might be windows, Mac, Linux, or something else.

[–] effingnerd 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

From a thumb drive, you say? That sounds like a low commitment experiment I can get behind. I shall have to look into that more. Thanks!

[–] confusedwiseman 3 points 1 year ago

Yep, boot from a thumb drive or if you’ve got the power for it run a vm in windows. When you’re ready for the half commit phase, dual boot. Then you can pick windows or Linux at startup.

I’ve never posted a question on a Linux forum, but I’ve searched and used lots. I currently run Linux mint and then put windows in a VM if I really need a windows app.

If you’re not a gamer (with caveats) and don’t have to use msoffice desktop apps you’ll likely be fine in Linux.

For gaming a lot of steam games are supported but not all so there’s some gap there.

[–] w2qw@aussie.zone 1 points 1 year ago

It's definitely much similar than it was so shouldn't require that much time to maintain but you definitely still run into the occasional issue which you can lose time to. I'd just try it out and see if Linux avoids your gripes with Windows.