Windows 10 EoL is fast approaching, so I thought I’d give Linux a try on some equipment that won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 11. I wanted to see if I will be able to recommend an option to anyone that asks me what they should do with their old PC.
Many years ago I switched to Gentoo Linux to get through collage. I was very anti-MS at the time. I also currently interact with Linux systems regularly although they don’t have a DE and aren’t for general workstation use.
Ubuntu: easy install. Working desktop. Had issues with getting GPU drivers. App Store had apps that would install but not work. The App Store itself kept failing to update itself with an error that it was still running. It couldn’t clear this hurdle after a reboot so I finally killed the process and manually updated from terminal. Overall, can’t recommend this to a normal user.
Mint: easy install. Switching to nvidia drivers worked without issue. App Store had issues with installing some apps due to missing dependencies that it couldn’t install. Some popular apps would install but wouldn’t run. Shutting the laptop closed results in a prompt to shutdown, but never really shuts off. Update process asks me to pick a fast source (why can’t it do this itself?)
Both: installing apps outside of their respective stores is an adventure in terminal instead of a GUI double-click. Secure boot issues. Constant prompt for password instead of a simple PIN or other form of identity verification.
Search results for basic operations require understanding that what works for Ubuntu might not work for Mint.
While I personally could work with either, I don’t see Linux taking any market share from MS or Apple when windows 10 is retired.
don't worry about it. with the enshittification of win 11, that gap will close faster than copilot will record your activities.
Those upcoming changes are why I've been playing with the idea of a complete switch to Linux. While I use Linux regularly (but certainly not exclusively) and feel comfortable making the transition to it from Windows, my wife and kids would struggle with some aspects of Linux. And committing all of us to that OS transition would mean a commitment for me of troubleshooting, assisting, and educating the family.
Thanks OP for this post. I know you're getting some shit for it, but I and others appreciate your honest findings.
I don't think OP's analysis should be taken as offensive or disingenuous by others here. And I don't understand why they are getting shit. I've been using Linux off and on for 20 years. It's come an insanely long way in that timeframe with its usability for less technical users. But yes, there are still some gaps to fill. And the way to fix them is to listen to honest feedback like OP's.
For some reason you're suggesting us to believe that your wife and kids do the maintainance of the windows machines like finding GPU driversbut couldn't do it for Linux machines.
New windows computers almost definitely have a program that does this for you with a click of a button. You don't have to hunt for the download button on a shady website to get a gpu driver anymore.
A New Computer with pre installed Linux also has all drivers necessary preinstalled.
Isn't Nvidia a pain though?
I've heard differing experiences lately. It seems dependent on how old you card is and if it's supported by Nvidia I guess
On GNU/Linux, the drivers and blobs come with the kernel, so every installation has, by the nature of the operating system, all the drivers it could ever need. The only exception here are proprietary drivers, but that's not because of technical limitations, it is due to the philosophy of our free software movement. You can easily find distros that come pre-installed with proprietary drivers.
No, I'm saying that whenever they would run into any problem with the OS they would need to either figure out how to overcome it, or I works need to help them with it. It could be a more technical issue. It is could be a case of " how do you do this thing in the Linux UI? Because it's different from Windows."
There is no "Linux UI" per se, the closest thing to it is Bash I guess. I find it important to make people understand that GNU/Linux is not bound to any particular GUI like Windows or MacOS are. With them, their less knowledgeable users equate the GUI to the OS, which is fair because they are so tightly integrated and not changeable. But for GNU/Linux, the visual UX+UI are entirely modular and not part of the operating system itself. As I said, the Bash shell may be interpreted as a kind of UI standard for FOSS Unix and Unix-like systems, but it's also not necessarily required in that it can be replaced with another shell program. ~~Of course, not knowing you I cannot tell how experienced you are with GNU/Linux, so you could know all of this already, therefore don't feel like I'm trying to belittle you or anything, this is meant to be genuinely helpful by giving people that have no prior exposure to GNU/Linux some glances into what makes it special.~~
Edit: scratch that last part, I've just now noticed that you are the same person that said they had already transitioned partially
Well, there is always a curve for learning a new UI, even if similarly structured.
But then you could never escape Windows, because most users are trained for that UI and have certain expectations for it.
The Step from Win7 to Win10 maybe would be similar, lots of things changed. (even though we know Win10 had alot of Win7 things under the hood)
If OP is unwilling to learn basic features of the OS, of course they face criticism. This post is not a good contribution, it is once more a superficial review by someone who has jumped on the hating GNU/Linux bandwagon because they somehow personally identify with M$. But the Apple crowd is worse.
I’m OP, I’m not unwilling. I couldn’t turn this laptop over to anyone else though.
Also, I don’t hate Linux nor do I love windows. I hate windows probably more, for other reasons. The pinnacle OS for me is OSX as distributed on the BlackBerry passport.
I’m even on an Apple phone right now.
It’s not difficult to empathize with non-technical people though, which is why my post is about.
So 2025 is the year of Linux desktop? This time for real.
Cosmic DE is coming out this year tho