<div dir="ltr">I never even think to use Linux as a Desktop. I think I still have nightmares of the old days of Linux Desktop trying to get stuff to work properly. I used OSX for many years and tbh my 2012 Macbook is still running on the original updated OS.<div><br></div><div>I guess what's the main thing we use a computer for these days its a web browser! </div><div><br></div><div>I might have to give it a go again. </div><div><br></div><div>Stewart<br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, 11 Jan 2021 at 11:27, Wayland Sothcott via Colchester <<a href="mailto:colchester@mailman.lug.org.uk">colchester@mailman.lug.org.uk</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
I do think you are overdue to try Mint again. When you say technical
knowledge and tinkering I'm trying to think of what tinkering I do.
There is far more tinkering to get Windows set up right than there
is in Linux. However there is a bit of tinkering to get WINE to run
seamlessly, but that almost counts as Windows. Clearly WINE could be
tinker free, look at PROTON in Steam.<br>
<br>
One of the things people are familiar with in Windows is downloading
a file from a website and installing. This is perhaps not the most
intuitive thing since Microsoft have tried to move people to the app
store (which is like a Linux repository). However plenty of websites
now detect you're on Linux and give you the Linux version of the
download and install experience. This always seems to work with
Mint. For example if you go to Valve's SteamPowered website it gives
you the Linux install button.<br>
<br>
The other area people seem to think does not work well in Linux is
peripherals and hardware. It is worth checking if Linux is mentioned
before buying hardware but mostly it's plug and play anyway. I
bought an HD webcam and plugged it in and started Zoom and it worked
with no tinkering. This is normal rather than the exception.<br>
<br>
Same with graphics cards, they all seem to work from the oldest to
the newest. No need to fetch drivers although if you want to mine
with a VEGA you might want to install the appropriate driver from
AMD. Vulkan is cross platform and is making many games cross
platform. Not only that but it's higher performance than Microsoft's
DX12.<br>
<br>
The technical skills thing is moot since your average user's Windows
skills are no better than their Linux skills. It can be argued that
no technical skills are needed to use Linux where as they are needed
to use Windows these days. What is a user supposed to do when facing
a blue screen reboot and windows repair? This will happen most times
a Windows machine crashes or is powered off incorrectly and often
results in a system so broken only a techie can get it back. This is
since Windows 10. There does not seem to be such a problem on Linux.<br>
<br>
We really have had the crossing of two paths. Linux has got so much
better and Windows has got so much worse. For a person who can't fix
their own computer, Linux is the better choice.<br>
<br>
25 years since I first used Linux on the desktop and it's now the
winner.<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>On 11/01/2021 10:35, James Pain via
Colchester wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>I love these xxxx is the year of the linux desktop threads.
This is a great conversation to have and recap where we've
gotten to.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It depends on the user. For 90% of computer users, I'm not
convinced linux is the right choice yet. It still requires
technical knowledge and tinkering despite the best efforts of
some distros. This is based on my last distro-hopping session
about 2 years ago. I'm overdue for another. I think Mint and
Manjaro have come a long way and their first-use user
experience is great, but they don't have the maturity of a
distro like OpenSuse or Ubuntu. MX Linux is a new addition to
the scene but had trouble running it on a VM to try it out.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>For my use case, if I have one of my mega-privacy conscious
moments and want to try and disconnect from 'The Man' as much
as possible (which I go through every couple years) I'd
absolutely switch out Win 10 for a linux distro. However I
won't be recommending it as a desktop OS for normal users
anytime soon though.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I'm overdue for a distro hop session. I might start a new
thread on this maillist when I do.<br>
</div>
<br>
<div>
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">James Pain</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, 11 Jan 2021 at 01:11,
Wayland Sothcott via Colchester <<a href="mailto:colchester@mailman.lug.org.uk" target="_blank">colchester@mailman.lug.org.uk</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">No
really this time. I know we've been saying this for 25 years
but two <br>
things have crossed paths.<br>
<br>
Firstly Linux has got really really good. It's easy to install
and use. <br>
It's very very capable. Few things even require windows any
more and <br>
many that do run well under WINE or VirtualBox.<br>
<br>
Secondly Windows has been getting worse at every update, some
even <br>
destroy your files. It's impractical to continue on Windows 7
and <br>
Windows 10 is creating more and more problems for people. With
a great <br>
deal of effort it's possible to do a decent Windows install
but then you <br>
find your efforts get trashed on the next update or some
program refuses <br>
to run because it does not like what you did to Windows. Why
is Windows <br>
10 so difficult to network? Windows XP was pretty good at
this.<br>
<br>
There are more and more examples where the user is delighted
with Linux, <br>
Mint in my case. It still bugs me that I can't run MS Access
on Linux <br>
but then it's getting easier to re-write such things. Moving
the data to <br>
MySQL is a good start. You can then write a new front end
whilst still <br>
using the old one.<br>
<br>
Yes we are at the stage where Linux is definitely a better
choice than <br>
Windows, application requirements permitting. If all your
programs run <br>
on Linux then you're better off with Linux.<br>
<br>
What are your thoughts on this?<br>
<br>
Wayland.<br>
<br>
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