Let me start by explaining where I’m coming from. I’m pretty much a standard Windows user. I liked XP, I was ok with 7 and ok with 10. But overall I don’t like a lot of things about Windows I think we can all agree on; business practices, spying, lack of customization, cost, etc.
In the past, I have tried to move to Linux more than once including a failed dual boot situation. There are things I really, really like about Linux that I can’t believe aren’t part of Windows. Despite that I really hate Linux. I’ll explain that opinion so you can trash me with facts. Just understand that this is the way I see it.
First, being primarily a Windows user means I am uncomfortable with using all of the little squiggles around the outside of the keyboard to get things done. At one point I was using the most Windows-like version where I could click and download a package which was fine, but eventually I found one that had to be done manually, so this feels like inconsistency. In the dual boot situation I found myself using Windows constantly because I could not get online with Linux for some reason, which meant I had to boot in Windows to research the problem only in the end to have people tell me that the components of the computer I built were too new and I would have to wait for someone to write drivers. There are a lot of equivalent programs in Linux to Windows and I use some of them now, like Open Office, Audacity(which I love), Firefox( which I hate) and probably more I can’t think of at the moment. I currently have a computer attached to my TV that I made really cheap from parts I had laying around and I’m running Mint on it. The only thing it is used for is watching YouTube videos on the big screen, usually exercise videos. It IS a problem. It loads up ridiculously slow.
So my experience has been bad overall every time I try and yes I realize I’m not doing it right. I’m not a typical Linux user.
But here’s the thing, I WANT to be a Linux user mostly because I hate Microsoft so much. And now especially because according to Lemmy Windows 11 is a shit show of advertising and other crap and apparently my roughly 2 year old and still fairly powerful desktop does not meet their requirements due to that stupid chip it needs to have. I do not wish to buy a new computer and I do not wish to be a Windows slave again.
So the question is, is there hope for me giving this another try? I’m not a power user but I do use my computer for a lot of things. I will get specific here.
-
Surfing the net. It needs to NOT lag or fail to connect.
-
I play games with my friend online every Monday. Most of the games are on Steam. So far we have played: Borderlands Borderlands 2 Borderlands 3 Borderlands the pre sequel Tiny Tina’s Wonderland Diablo 4 Grimm Dawn Aliens fire team elite
-
I edit videos. I use Sony Vegas pro 13. It was expensive and I’m used to it. It is important to me.
-
I do some word processing and spreadsheet stuff. Currently I use Open Office as I mentioned.
-
Audio conversion and manipulation with Audacity.
-
Drawing and photo manipulation. I use a variety of programs. The most important ones in order are CorelCad. It is basically AutoCad and was expensive to buy and I’m used to it. Fusion 360, also important for 3D printing. Prusa slicer for 3D printing and one called Photofiltre. It’s a simple free program I believe does have a Linux version. These are important to me.
-
Programming microcontrollers for projects using the Arduino IDE.
-
I use a program called Vetric which programs the tool path for my CNC router.
-
A number of smaller more rarely used programs like one to convert a font into hexadecimal, one that normalizes mp3 files, one that captures what I do on the screen, etc.
If I had it my way, I would just continue using Windows 10. I more or less know how it works and it really doesn’t give me any problems. However with this end of life thing approaching I will eventually need to migrate somehow for security’s sake, right? I mean I don’t even know if half of these programs will be compatible with Windows 11.
I should also mention that I’m a goal oriented person. I just want to use it, I don’t want to tinker with it. That goes for pretty much any tool. I consider the OS a tool.
So given that encyclopedia of information, do you think I could/should give Linux another try? If so, which distro should I go with that will be the most compatible with my hardware and usage?
Regarding hardware, I’m not home now so just genetically I have an AMD Rhyzen 7 processor, a Radeon video card, sort of upper mid tier, 32 GB of RAM, decent motherboard and a boatload of storage.
Feel free to ask questions and I will now don my flameproof jacket for the absolute shit storm of criticism in guessing that’s heading my way. Thank you in advance.
Switched last year. If you’d rather write a page of text whining instead of leaning how to use Google, let alone anything harder… Just use Windows. Nobody cares, especially in this tiny community. You’ve already nailed the problem and nobody wants to interest the time trying to make you barely competent at life, let alone be some stupid free Linux coach.
You could solve any of these problems in like 30 seconds of googling it. But here you are instead.
I don’t know the answer to all your issues, however, I have seen these distros been mentioned elsewhere in similar discussions so maybe have a look and see if they fit your profile:
I have not used the ones above, I am using PopOS myself, so throwing that hat in the ring as well.
I do use my computer for a lot of [specific and diverse] things.
I just want to use it, I don’t want to tinker with it.
I do not wish to buy a new computer and I do not wish to be a Windows slave again.
I think you’re going to have to pick two, at least for now.
Software ecosystems are large and complex, especially for users with needs as diverse as yours. Microsoft and Apple have managed to more-or-less tame them through decades of work by a great many employees, market dominance (compelling other companies to do much of the work for them), and an almost inconceivable amount of money.
Free software ecosystems are developed mostly by individuals solving their own problems in whatever unpaid time they can spare. We’re very lucky to have them at all. They are steadily improving, are already impressive in some areas, and a few components are even sponsored these days, but I think it will be a while before these ecosystems cover as many different tasks as you’re describing with as much polish as you demand.
Some of us accept this, and are willing to invest time and effort into becoming proficient with free tools and their quirks, in exchange for a computing experience without the tentacles of capitalism. Others don’t have the time or patience for that, but are willing to make do with a smaller set of tools in exchange for that freedom. Either of these approaches can be a good trade-off, but they’re not for everyone.
If you can’t or won’t budge, then it might be best put your Linux hopes aside for now, and see how the ecosystem looks in another 10 years.
Surfing the net. It needs to NOT lag or fail to connect.
If you have been lucky enough to avoid such things so far, then I salute you and hope your good luck continues. No computer or operating system is immune to problematic network connections or services.
That actually was the driver of the question because it’s been years since I last tried and wanted to know how much had changed. I am very much of the mindset of shedding this hated ball and chain but, yeah, not willing to give up things I strongly rely on.
As far as the connection goes I’m not saying it can’t stumble from time to time but the two issues I had with Linux in the past was that it simply wouldn’t connect AT ALL. And currently when I pull up the Linux box on the TV to exercise, I might as well go make a smoothie while I’m waiting for a video to load. This is only acceptable because I didn’t want to pay for an OS for that machine and I don’t use it often. After the initial video loads, it runs pretty much normally.
On my Windows machine everything loads pretty quickly under normal circumstances. I’m pretty satisfied.
the two issues I had with Linux in the past was that it simply wouldn’t connect AT ALL.
Yeah, that’s frustrating. It’s usually result of buying network hardware whose manufacturer neither supports Linux nor releases the specs that would allow the community to do the work for them. (Another sad effect of Microsoft’s market dominance.) Sometimes a working driver or firmware can be manually installed or enabled. Other times, the only sane fix is to buy/beg/borrow a better network card.
Next time you’re hardware shopping, it might be worthwhile to pick something with a known-good network chip, or just buying from a vendor that offers Linux preinstalled.
And currently when I pull up the Linux box on the TV to exercise, I might as well go make a smoothie while I’m waiting for a video to load.
I hate waiting for machines, too. Slow boot can be caused by a number of things, but the most common one is probably just plain old slow storage media. If you’re booting from a slow USB drive or SD card, you’ll probably get better results by using a faster one. (I’m assuming the machine you built from cheap parts is capable of fast storage and not memory-starved.)
For what it’s worth, my Linux systems are fast and have no network trouble, so it’s definitely possible to achieve. (Even the Raspberry Pi that drives my TV.)
I hope you get it figured out!
Actually the boot on the Linux box is fast it’s only loading the first YouTube video that’s a problem but it seems to be as problem whether I use Firefox or chromium.
I’m a goal oriented person. I just want to use it, I don’t want to tinker with it.
I intended to recommend to you, you’d then better continue using Windows 10. Since that’s working for you and you got it set up. But I realize support will end next year already.
I mean the Linux user experience won’t change fundamentally. You’d better get used to it, or think about some alternative solution. Or pick the distro you like best and just live with the one or two edge cases. I’ve come to realize that Windows people have started to realize the advantages of scripting and the command line (Power shell) as well, and nowadays the admins started doing similar things that they’ve previously looked down upon… I see how an ordinary user would prefer to just click on something… But some parts (especially) of Linux had been made with the power user in mind. And no one got around implementing some simple UI (yet). I mean it is how it is. Linux also isn’t 100% perfect.
Regular stuff should work. And it should be minimum as fast as Windows. If you’re installing it on cheap and old hardware (with your TV set), I’m not sure if slowness is the operating system’s fault, or if it’s just the slow hardware that struggles with the modern and demanding video codecs.
I wish you the best and that you’ll find some acceptable solution. I think at first you need to sort out the network driver issue. If it’s necessary, just spend the $20 for a new network card. I think Linux is doing a decent job in supporting a lot of hardware. But coverage isn’t 100%, even today. And the situation is fairly good compared to the old days. And the issue goes both ways. I also own hardware that isn’t supported by Windows (any more). That’s the cost of switching operating systems.
Yeah, I read that this new windows thing was supposed to put 240M computers on the trash heap. I figured that that was a lot and maybe Microsoft would do something due to the outrage, but it hasn’t happened yet. I mean what are major corporations going to do? Replace every computer? I suppose they could and just pass the cost to the customer.
This is less of an issue to companies anyway. A lot of them do leasing and those machines will get returned and replaced regularly. I think generally, most companies replace their workstations and laptops every 3 to 5 years. They’re not deductible from taxes after a certain point and they might as well get new and faster ones and not deal with old things failing. It’s a different story for consumers, though. But no one really cares for the consumers. (Or the environment, if that contradicts with making profit.)
Controversial opinion, just use Windows. There is no reason for you to switch and every reason for you not to. No Linux distribution will do everything thing you want and no Linux distro will do half the things you mentioned without significant tinkering. If you really want to keep Windows 10 just use Windows 10 LTSC, alternatively you can just switch to Windows 11. Granted Windows 11 is worse than Windows 10 but itll be more than serviceable for your needs.
