With the growing number of users jumping from Windows to Linux, I decided to fully take the plunge and dive deep into the Open Source ocean. A few months and several headaches later, it has proved to be the best computer-related decision I've made in over a decade (and perhaps in my entire life).

There. That’s out of the way. I recently installed Linux on my main desktop computer and work laptop, overwriting the Windows partition completely. Essentially, I deleted the primary operating system from the two computers I use the most, day in and day out, instead trusting all of my personal and work computing needs to the Open Source community. This has been a growing trend, and I hopped on the bandwagon, but for good reasons. Some of those reasons might pertain to you and convince you to finally make the jump as well. Here’s my experience.

[…]

It’s no secret that Windows 11 harvests data like a pumpkin farmer in October, and there is no easy way (and sometimes no way at all) to stop it. The operating system itself acts exactly like what was called “spyware” a decade or so ago, pulling every piece of data it can about its current user. This data includes (but is far from limited to) hardware information, specific apps and software used, usage trends, and more. With the advent of AI, Microsoft made headlines with Copilot, an artificial assistant designed to help users by capturing their data with tools like Recall.

[…]

After dealing with these issues and trying to solve them with workarounds, I dual-booted a Linux partition for a few weeks. After a Windows update (that I didn’t choose to do) wiped that partition and, consequently, the Linux installation, I decided to go whole-hog: I deleted Windows 11 and used the entire drive for Linux.

  • neonchaos@lemmy.mlEnglish
    12·
    13 hours ago

    The Steam Deck has been a lightning rod of getting gaming compatibility into the mainstream. The Proton compatibility layer works for most Steam games and the Proton DB will tell you the level of compatibility for a given game on Linux, https://www.protondb.com/ . Additionally, a number of other compatibility layers and ported front ends for GOG, Epic and various others are available and functioning (I can’t list them all as I only use Steam, but I’m all in on Fedora and have yet to find a game that won’t run). VR is working now on Linux (I have an Oculus Quest 2 I was given a couple years ago and it works flawlessly), as are most game pads. You can go with something like Bazzite which has a number of gaming specific compatibility tools built in, and it’s immutable so it’s a deliberate effort to break the thing. The only real limitations for software is anything Adobe (but there open source apps to fill that gap, GIMP is among the biggest) and MS Office M365 Copilot, which you can just use the Libre Office suite or if compatibility is a concern due to macros or addins, OnlyOffice is a decent alternative.

    • JackBinimbul@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      3·
      13 hours ago

      Thanks for the breakdown!

      I already use Libre, but I do use Adobe CS5 for my side gig (fuck subscriptions). Nothing else I’ve tried has really worked for me.

      I’ll have to look into Linux with older Photoshop versions.

      • Soapbox@lemmy.zip
        1·
        11 hours ago

        Have you tried the web based photopea? Its a pretty close replica of Photoshop. Does most of what it can do. Only thing I still need Photoshop for is my photo printing workflow. Still trying to figure out how to do it and match the same quality with GIMP or dark table and cups.