- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
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ditching windows is one of the best decisions i’ve made in the last few years
Recs for software that made the transition easier?
i’m not a good person to ask for advice, but this site seems pretty legit: https://linuxvox.com/blog/switching-to-linux/
i use pop_os! which is a fork from ubuntu. i still know next to nothing about doing anything with the linux command line, but have gotten along fine with just gui–a lot of softwares provide the command to install things on their download page and you just paste it into the terminal
steam works pretty much flawlessly, other game stores less flawlessly (you use a launcher like heroic or lutris for non-steam)
so far in a year and a half there’s only one thing i haven’t been able to do, which is use garmin’s gps software to update my maps. not going back to windows for that
Really depends on what you use daily. Most distros are going to already have drop in replacements for stuff like playing video. Otherwise the same software works, like VLC.
It’s when you get to speciality stuff like video editing, instructional or graphic design, some engineering software, etc that you have to actively look for things that have features you need.
Get yourself to https://omgubuntu.co.uk/ and check out the offerings. The apps there work on most/all distros, but are best presented and curated on that website.
I dropped Windows in the early 2000s. A few people saw how dependable the desktop was (and no pop-ups from anti-virus etc) and I was gradually able to help them switch too.
I’d be cautious of switching someone since they sometimes forget they depend on an application. But for the most part they were happy with their choice.
My point is, another benefit of switching is that it can be infectious.
Anyone who feels compelled to switch someone else to Linux… Prepare yourself for providing a lifetime of tech support. If someone hasn’t mentally gotten to the point of doing the transition for themselves, then someone will need to iron out the wrinkles for them.
That will happen. And for the few who didn’t stay with it, it was because they felt improper calling me for support. I think it’s best to let them try for a while first.
But as a counterpoint, I put my parents on Ubuntu LTS after constant tech support queries for Windows. The calls went from once per month to once per year.
Also, it’s much easier to provide tech support for Ubuntu than Windows IMO.
I’m not happy that Linux is growing in market share and that windows is going down. I’m happy knowing that this will motivate more companies to put support towards Linux. Which, well, kill windows. That makes me happy.
When do we get our checks?
