My Windows Computer Just Doesn't Feel Like Mine Anymore

You know it's not the same person posting every time

Some people have moved passed thinking about it. Others have just started. Its a growing sentiment and more people are starting to feel it.

It's not easy committing to the change when you have no knowledge of the platform. The status quo is always easier until it no longer is.

Having seen how different Linux is from what it was 20 years ago, it's way more approachable than it used to be. Most people could adjust pretty quickly, but with so much of the technical bits hidden from sight, the average PC user these days isn't as tech savvy as they were many years ago, and making the switch can be intimidating.

Good point — I’m pretty far down the rabbit hole. I haven’t really wanted to mess with a non-UNIX/Linux based OS in ages.

Side note: what OS would that be besides DOS or Windows? Old-school Mac OS comes to mind (System 7) but I like playing with modern platforms more than older ones.
- BeOS/Haiku?

Linux won't work for my needs. I would switch if it did.

What are your needs, if I may ask?
- Specific flight simulator hardware and specific audio/video hardware and software
  
  I built my entire flight sim setup around Linux, X-Plane 12 has a native Linux version and all my hardware works flawlessly. MSFS2020 also works through Wine/Proton. But you can always create a Windows VM with GPU and SSD passthrough, (you can also pass through other PCIe and USB devices) and use that for your Windows-specific tasks. I use that for online games that require Windows-exclusive anti cheat solutions.
  
  If you have windows in a VM do you need a license key
  
  Nah, just use massgrave.dev

I can relate to the anxiety that comes with the thought of switching and finding out you're missing something essential.

It wasn't a big deal for me since I've used FOSS alternatives for almost everything even on Windows and was hardly gaming anymore when I made the switch (but somewhat ironically I started again on Linux). But that's hardly the position most unhappy Windows users are in.

That’s a good point too.

I’m primarily a web developer so essentially my entire toolkit is already FOSS and it doesn’t make sense to even run half of it on Windows. Windows is usually the odd one out with weird hacks to make it play nice.

I use macOS a lot too and because it’s UNIX my Linux toolset is available and ported to the OS with (what I understand to be) minimal changes.

And I’ve never needed to deploy to some Windows Server either (the thought frightens me).

Every day, a large number of people start using Linux for the first time. But the internet has a lot of people on it - so you can expect to see "I'm thinking about switching" posts for many years to come. Posts like that won't slow down until Windows is in minority. (And that is unlikely to happen any time in the foreseeable future.)

I gave Linux a try 2 or 3 times back when I was in school. It was a horrible user experience and games wouldn't work back then.

Now that games on Linux are a thing, I would love to give it a try once more. But now I have a full-time office job and a family. When I'm off work, I just want to fire up the PC and have everything work, which it does with windows. I also have the Pro version of Windows 11 and don't experience all of the ad horror that everyone here is talking about.

If I gain back the free time and mental capacity, I'll give it a try.

It's not like it's difficult to switch these days. Try something like Bazzite or Nobara and gaming should work out of the box.
- Bookmarking this comment, never heard of those distros!
  
  They are gaming and content creation specific distros designed to work out of the box for those use cases. Lots of patches and stuff to improve performance and compatibility for gaming. Some hardware compatibility stuff is added too, such as bazzite having different images for laptops.
- Keep in mind it's still a drastic reduction in security by default.
  
  What are you talking about? Windows isn't very secure to begin with. Bazzite in particular is one of the more secure Linux desktop distros as it's immutable and comes with SELinux enabled by default. It's secure enough to actually cause me problems lol.
  
  It's a real challenge to get a fully encrypted system with secure boot (easier now but still hit or miss with Linux) and tpm.
  
  What you're describing is the user level security model which is as you said restrictive enough to be annoying, and more controlled than windows.
  
  Edit: undid autocorrect from user level to user never 🙄
  
  I don't use or particularly believe in secure boot.
  
  I have a fully encrypted root partition, with automatic unlocking using the TPM. Wasn't even that hard to setup either. Bazzite makes it fairly easy to enroll a secure boot key if you really want that, as do some other distros. Nothing you are describing is that difficult.
  
  A lot of systems use AppArmour instead of SELinux, as this is easier to work with while still providing enhanced security.
  
  It's not hard to set up if you already have sufficient baseline technical knowledge to feel comfortable copy-pasting the right commands from the Internet with hope that you don't brick your computer (which ironically fedora or opensuse kinda did although I eventually found out how to work around the failure which makes my laptop permanently unable to use an older version of Linux lololol).
  
  Arch was really easy to set up, I followed tutorials for fedora from fedora which never worked, and opensuse worked until a power outage then never again. So easy. So simple.
  
  Secureboot with shim is the easiest, the arch (/standalone) way seems to work better and more securely since it's my own keys, but again depends on feeling a lot of unearned confidence. Some distros like Ubuntu and suse include mechanisms for secureboot, others do not, hence hit or miss.
  
  Tldr I know what you're telling me, and from my pov and experience none of that changes what I said for the average "go on, try Linux, you'll like it" user.

Only computer I have Windows on is my laptop and that's only because it's fairly new and laptops are notorious for proprietary hardware that's hard to get decent drivers for. My desktop has had Linux for a couple of years and everything else runs Linux.

If you've got an external USB drive bigger than the laptop's, and are willing to take the time, you could back it up by making a disk image with Clonezilla so you're sure you have a backout option if you run into too much trouble getting Linux working
- I tried a live USB image of Ubuntu and couldn't get the touchscreen to work. I didn't try out everything, but that was the first major issue.

Getting rid of Google would require switching phone for me as there isn't a google free ROM for the Redmi K50 Pro.

GrapheneOS for the Google Pixel. I'm using a Google Pixel 4 which was like $120 and super easy to flash. I'm from the US, so I understand if things might be different where you are.
- That would be a hilariously bad downgrade. I could probably afford to replace mine with a Google Pixel 6, but that would still be a significant downgrade (90Hz screen). After having two phones at 120Hz, I won't go lower.
  
  25% reduction in refresh rate to only 4x the historical standard that most humans alive grew up with balanced against any semblance of privacy seems like an easy win...
  
  It's not just that though is it? It's a slower SoC, less RAM, possibly less storage, lower screen resolution, and I would be spending money to get it after just upgrading my phone a few months ago. So a downgrade in every other category while paying for it. On top of that losing banking apps and breaking the warranty. In what world does that make sense?
  
  It's something I could consider when looking for a new phone, but not right now. The fact you have to buy a new phone just to get a different ROM is absurd. In the PC world you can just install any different OS you pretty much fancy, with relatively few hardware issues in the way (such as Nvidia).
  
  I don't know what you're responding to, I'm responding to a comment about refresh rate.
  
  Maybe follow the conversation. I was comparing my current phone to the Pixel 6
  
  They have the Google Pixel 8 which has a 120Hz refresh rate, if you can afford it.
  
  I am sure it's great, but I don't want to spend that much on a phone. Honestly I think I will just keep my current phone for a couple more years, then buy something.
  
  Also I don't really want to lose access to my banking apps.
  
  The Pixel 9 will come out in October, and the Pixel 8 will get much cheaper. Also there will be many used Pixel 8's that will get sold for relatively cheap. These things aren't like iPhones, they lose their value on the used market very quickly.
  
  I've never owned an iPhone, so that comparison isn't needed.
  
  Just mentioned iPhones, because they tend to keep their value on the used market for a pretty long time. This is definitely not the case for most Android phones, including Pixels.
  
  Calyx uses ug and I haven't had banking issues. You can check plexus for your bank.

Give it a couple weeks and maybe by then I'll hopefully have upgraded from win10 on my desktop to either Spiral or Netrunner. Only thing holding me back from upgrading on my desktop right now is how much stuff I have to save to my new external drive and how it feels like a Herculean task.

Poor you

I'm using Linux on servers and for self hosting, but Linux on a desktop is a sick joke.

Linux on desktop is amazing. My experience has been absolutely flawless.
- Cool story.
  
  Lmao, are you seriously salty that I gave my experience after you gave yours? Grow up little man.
  
  Lol, who's salty, kiddo?
  
  That would be you, the one acting childish and calling people "kiddo"
  
  You started it, I'm just using your type of language so it's easier for you to understand. But I guess you play too much League Of Legends...
  
  I did no such thing, I'm not the person you were arguing with, but again you reach for childish insults.
  
  I'm reaching, right...
- Except for (raytraced) games, for your Logitech keyboard, your Razer headset, your Xbox Controller not connecting, your Windows-only Software that won't work.
  
  It's terrible. You probably just found a way to live with it and get used to.
  
  Ray tracing works on Linux just fine. I don't know what your talking about. I have software to control the lights on my Asus laptop keyboard if needed, my other keyboard is not addressable RGB anyway. I've seen Linux work with controllers too. Maybe not Xbox specifically, though I think there is a way to do that too.
  
  Edit: Logitech keyboards have support: https://pwr-solaar.github.io/Solaar/
  
  There are projects for supporting the Xbox controllers too: https://github.com/medusalix/xone
  
  As I said in another post
  
  I'm very well aware that all of these problems can be fixed. But you need to put extra work in. There is no benefit for doing that.
  
  The benefit is you don't have to use windows. Obviously, it's not a trade off that's going to satisfy everybody.
  
  But you need to put extra work in
  
  Uh, no? You just install one application to configure your Logitech peripherals. Just like you would install an application on Windows. It takes like 15 seconds to google "logitech keyboard linux" and the second result you get is Solaar.
  
  For Xbox controllers, it's just one package that you need to install.
  This is one of the few rare cases, where the Linux kernel doesn't include a driver, and you manually need to install it. It's the exact opposite on Windows. You basically need to install all your drivers manually, since Linux is mostly a monolithic kernel, and Windows is not. I can name enough cases where you need to install extra drivers on Windows, in order to get basic functionality. For example if you want to connect your Android phone, every manufacturer has their own drivers that you need to manually install on Windows. On Linux, these are built in.
  
  There is no benefit for doing that.
  
  There are many benefits. Linux is free, doesn't force you to create an account, doesn't show you ads, doesn't collect and sell your personal data, doesn't try to force you to use a specific browser, has lower resource usage and better performance, especially on older devices, doesn't have stupid and arbitrary hardware requirements, has better security, most of the applications are free and open source, you can customize your OS to suit your needs and there's a great community. And most importantly, you have full control over your computer.
  
  Since fixing these things are so easy, why don't we continue with fixing my 5.1 Surround speaker that are plugged in with basic 3.5mm plugs and don't work at all? And my GSync monitor that isn't doing its GSync stuff. And my games having subpar performance. How about my Mincraft Modrinth Mod launcher that has like 10 fps just in the menu. Then let's also fix all the DRM issues with Netflix and Prime.
  
  I've been using Linux in Dual boot for decades for development purposes. But only for this. Because the list of problems is extremely long. I know I can fix all of that somehow but I'm just not going to do that. When I have a problem, I'll just boot over to Windows where I usually don't have it or it's easier to fix.
  
  my Mincraft Modrinth Mod launcher that has like 10 fps just in the menu
  
  I'm pretty sure that there are ways to fix this, I don't know about your surround sound system, but I have seen countless guides for GSync. And for Modrinth, I would just switch to the FOSS Prism Launcher (it's even available on Windows, I use it on every platform when I want to play Minecraft), which allows you to download mods and modpacks from Modrinth, Curseforge and other sources. It's just a better user experience than with the official Launcher, Curseforge or the Modrinth app. I highly recommend it.
  
  Then let’s also fix all the DRM issues with Netflix and Prime.
  
  Piracy is one way to get around these [email protected]
  
  Genuinely curious, but how do you deal with issues on Windows? Things like ads in the start menu, constant tracking, bloatware that is automatically reinstalled after an update, the Microsoft account requirement, etc.? Do these things just not bother you, or do you take the time to deal with these issues? When Windows 11 came out, I wanted to try it out, installed it on my secondary SSD, removed all the bloatware (including Microsoft edge), did one Windows update and everything came back. I was so pissed about this, that I immediately wiped the SSD, and I haven't touched Windows ever since.
  
  I've used Prism Launcher. But since I maintain a Modrinth modpack, I want to use the Modrinth Launcher.
  
  And all of the other problems can surely be fixed, I know. But the easiest way to fix all of them are just to quickly boot into the other OS.
  
  About the problem on Windows: first of all, there are way less. Hardware and software works out of the box most of the time. I don't use the Start thing at all so I'm not noticing the bloatware although I do know it's there. And account requirement is no problem, I created a dummy account with an email alias. The only issues I have with windows are autoupdates, and terrible control over the OS. Like not knowing where the Java binaries are and not having a common /etc/ where all your configs are. I also like packagemanagers on Linux. Other than that, Windows works just fine so far.
  
  Ray tracing works fine, I don't know what you mean?
  
  I don't have a Logitech keyboard, but I find it hard to believe something as simple as a keyboard doesn't work. I have a Logitech mouse and that's completely fine.
  
  My Xbox controller connects just fine with no special behaviour required.
  
  Windows only software mostly works flawlessly. Almost all of my games are "windows only", and they all work fine. Which is astonishing, really. How many other OSes virtually flawlessly run software from other OSes without any tinkering?
  
  It's amazing. Everything just works. Plug and play. No headaches like with Windows.
  
  Well Raytracing doesn't work in Cyberpunk 2077. Besides that, some other games also have terrible performance. Even Minecraft, that's running natively. Constant stutters with low GPU utilization.
  
  Logitech keyboard works but I cannot configure it because the software is not supported on Linux
  
  Xbox controller does not connect with the dongle unless I install the xone drivers
  
  I can think of a dozent more software other than the Logitech one that don't have an installation for Linux
  
  Sure you can fix any of these problems above like running Windows software with Wine or installing the appropriet drivers. But I don't want to do that if I can just use Windows with no extra work.
  
  Ray tracing works in everything I've tried it in. I don't have Cyberpunk but a quick Google tells me that it does have ray tracing and it does work in Linux.
  
  So the keyboard does work, you just insist on using one specific piece of software to make the keys pretty and refuse to use any others? Does it have a MacOS/iPadOS/Android version? I suspect not. Sounds like a shit product tbh, but it clearly works, unlike what you said earlier.
  
  Again, Xbox controller works fine. Wired, with the dongle, Bluetooth. All work great, no additional steps, completely plug and play.
  
  I can name a bunch of software that doesn't support Windows, Mac, iOS, Android. I don't see how this is an OS problem. Linux has wider software support than anything else.
  
  You know you have to install drivers in Windows, right? And that it's more cumbersome? With Linux in 99% of cases it's in the kernel and you don't need to install anything. Sometimes you'll need to do something like type "Nvidia" into your software centre and click install.
  
  Well Raytracing doesn't work in Cyberpunk 2077. Besides that, some other games also have terrible performance. Even Minecraft, that's running natively. Constant stutters with low GPU utilization.
  
  I suspect you have GPU driver issues. What distro and graphics card are you running? Have you installed GPU drivers if your on Nvidia.
  
  Logitech keyboard works but I cannot configure it because the software is not supported on Linux
  
  You just install solaar instead of the official software, one and done. Have you even tried?
  
  Xbox controller does not connect with the dongle unless I install the xone drivers
  
  So install it then.
  
  Sure you can fix any of these problems above like running Windows software with Wine or installing the appropriet drivers. But I don't want to do that if I can just use Windows with no extra work.
  
  None of this is extra work compared to working around Microsoft and Windows trying to push their garbage. Two Windows 11 systems breaking is what led to me switching back to Linux for the last time. Having to reinstall because of Windows issues is a lot more effort than installing a couple things.
  
  The duality of Linux users... I faced many problems but managed to work around them, one by one.