Do you use Linux?

[natr0n]

I should play with something new. I havent used anything new in a while other than mint.

 

[Easy Rhino]

I should play with something new. I havent used anything new in a while other than mint.

I will probably dive into something new once we get to the holidays here in the US. There is a lot more downtime to play with stuff that I will eventually break.

 

[jak_2456]

While I appreciate the chuckle, as someone who has been using linux and BSD since 1999 I can say the amount of time you spend trying to get around Windows bloatware or broken upgrades is equal to tinkering with Linux to get it to do what you want. And the benefit of Linux is you are learning as you do it. Windows just steals your info, breaks your system, and makes you dumber.

Agreed. Linux lets you do what you want way more than Windows does once you get to know how to use it well. I used to be quite mystified by the terminal in Linux; now I see it as a way of getting more control. It's like driving a manual transmission in your car: it gives you more control at the cost of a learning curve.

 

[AusWolf]

Agreed. Linux lets you do what you want way more than Windows does once you get to know how to use it well. I used to be quite mystified by the terminal in Linux; now I see it as a way of getting more control. It's like driving a manual transmission in your car: it gives you more control at the cost of a learning curve.

To me, the terminal looks more like driving a car with no wheels, but I get what you mean.

By the way, I'm still torn between Mint and Manjaro. I have an Intel compute stick to play around with and see how each system works and runs stuff, at least with old games. I'll probably do that once I overcome my laziness.

 

[Space Lynx]

While I appreciate the chuckle, as someone who has been using linux and BSD since 1999 I can say the amount of time you spend trying to get around Windows bloatware or broken upgrades is equal to tinkering with Linux to get it to do what you want. And the benefit of Linux is you are learning as you do it. Windows just steals your info, breaks your system, and makes you dumber.

i don't know anything about command lines or linux, and linux mint 22 cinnamon is truly a windows replacement for dummies like me. steam games, zoom, firefox, i did install Vivaldi via the copy and paste thingy on their website into the terminal, but that was the most advanced thing i did. that's all i need personally. it runs flawless, i literally only have dual boot for windows for pc game pass and some mmo's. and someday i will not even using dual boot cause im hanging up my hat on pc game pass and mmo's someday.

 

[jak_2456]

i don't know anything about command lines or linux, and linux mint 22 cinnamon is truly a windows replacement for dummies like me. steam games, zoom, firefox, i did install Vivaldi via the copy and paste thingy on their website into the terminal, but that was the most advanced thing i did. that's all i need personally. it runs flawless, i literally only have dual boot for windows for pc game pass and some mmo's. and someday i will not even using dual boot cause im hanging up my hat on pc game pass and mmo's someday.

I love Mint for the same reason. It's one of those "just works" distro that isn't trying to do anything crazy; it just works.

 

[lexluthermiester]

the amount of time you spend trying to get around Windows bloatware or broken upgrades is equal to tinkering with Linux to get it to do what you want.

This. It more or less breaks even no matter how you look at it.

i don't know anything about command lines or linux, and linux mint 22 cinnamon is truly a windows replacement for dummies like me. steam games, zoom, firefox, i did install Vivaldi via the copy and paste thingy on their website into the terminal, but that was the most advanced thing i did. that's all i need personally. it runs flawless, i literally only have dual boot for windows for pc game pass and some mmo's. and someday i will not even using dual boot cause im hanging up my hat on pc game pass and mmo's someday.

You have taken a deeper dive than you realize. Most people wouldn't even try.

 

[unwind-protect]

That reminds me of a joke about Linux: it's free if you don't value your time

I don't agree either. You have a higher learning curve in the beginning.

But what you learned sticks with you and remains valid for longer, usually forever. The klickibunti OSes invalidate existing knowledge at a higher rate.

(of course if you use Ubuntu this might not apply )

 

[jak_2456]

I don't agree either. You have a higher learning curve in the beginning.

But what you learned sticks with you and remains valid for longer, usually forever. The klickibunti OSes invalidate existing knowledge at a higher rate.

(of course if you use Ubuntu this might not apply )

I suspect that joke came from someone who hadn't really used Linux that much.

 

[igormp]

I mean, a person that's tech illiterate and has been using windows for their entire life is already used to that (because they had their entire life learning it), messing with anything different will be a waste of time.
If a different system provides no obvious benefits, then it's indeed just wasting time. Most folks just use their computers to browse the web, spending even 5 minutes googling how they can change a simple setting is already a downside, and I doubt a different system will improve their browsing experience that much.

Most techies also like to learn stuff as a hobby, so you can't consider fun as a "waste of time".


For a really small minority (and I include myself in here), Linux actually provides a tangible productivity boost and it actually makes me save time, but that's because I'm a developer who has to use lots of unix tooling, which windows makes a pain (and so does MacOS, to a lesser degree).

 

[lexluthermiester]

The klickibunti OSes invalidate existing knowledge at a higher rate.

The stock Ubuntu and Edubuntu, sure, but the derivatives like Kubuntu, Xubuntu and Lubuntu not so much. Mint especially not.

 

[unwind-protect]

The stock Ubuntu and Edubuntu, sure, but the derivatives like Kubuntu, Xubuntu and Lubuntu not so much. Mint especially not.

Oh I was talking about Windows and macOS. If somebody voluntarily chooses a Linux distribution that constantly moves important levers around that is much easier to fix later than switching platforms.

 

[AusWolf]

I mean, a person that's tech illiterate and has been using windows for their entire life is already used to that (because they had their entire life learning it), messing with anything different will be a waste of time.
If a different system provides no obvious benefits, then it's indeed just wasting time. Most folks just use their computers to browse the web, spending even 5 minutes googling how they can change a simple setting is already a downside, and I doubt a different system will improve their browsing experience that much.

Sure, but if you only browse the web, then it shouldn't matter which OS you use, right? It's not like you need to be more technical to do that on Linux than on Windows.

 

[jak_2456]

Sure, but if you only browse the web, then it shouldn't matter which OS you use, right? It's not like you need to be more technical to do that on Linux than on Windows.

If all you do is browse the web, Chrome OS will be slightly better. It's advantageous in the sense that it requires basically 0 upkeep and is idiot proof.

 

[igormp]

Sure, but if you only browse the web, then it shouldn't matter which OS you use, right? It's not like you need to be more technical to do that on Linux than on Windows.

True, but lots of people get really confused even with minimal changes, so there's that.

 

[lexluthermiester]

How many have tried out ZorinOS?

 

[jak_2456]

How many have tried out ZorinOS?

I have. Great turnkey option too, especially the nice theming. It's on my top 5.

 

[SomeOne99h]

How many have tried out ZorinOS?

Pretty good video about Zorin, mostly by looking through the perspective of someone who uses Linux Mint.
By InfinitelyGalactic

Zorin OS 17 vs Mint | Which is better for new users?​

 

[RUSerious]

Pretty good video about Zorin, mostly by looking through the perspective of someone who uses Linux Mint.
By InfinitelyGalactic

Zorin OS 17 vs Mint | Which is better for new users?​

$48 US! I mean, seems like a lot for Open Source. I understand sometimes there are operating expenses since they support some specific linux hardware solutions, so it's not totally unfair. But it is surprising as the only free version is only for educational institutions.

 

[jak_2456]

But it is surprising as the only free version is only for educational institutions.

There's also a basic edition that is free of charge:

 

[lexluthermiester]

$48 US! I mean, seems like a lot for Open Source.

As shown directly above, there is a free version which is still mostly feature intact. The Paid version supports the company's continued efforts and for premium features not found in the free version. I'm ok with that business model.

 

[jak_2456]

$48 US! I mean, seems like a lot for Open Source.

Windows 11 Home costs $120 and gives you ads by default and shoves Edge and Copilot down your throat. I'm not saying Linux is perfect, I'm just saying that the devs of Zorin OS are probably doing better things with that money.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Windows 11 Home costs $120 and gives you ads by default and shoves Edge and Copilot down your throat. I'm not saying Linux is perfect, I'm just saying that the devs of Zorin OS are probably doing better things with that money.

This is an excellent perspective. I'm actually installing and booing up the newest 17.2 Core version as I type this. Have read that they've made really good progress with the newest version and wanted to try it.

So far it has an excellent dark mode. I like that FireFox is still the default installed browser.

 

[RUSerious]

There's also a basic edition that is free of charge:
View attachment 365182

Thanks! Searching for Zorin download via google didn't list the main download page first. Weird.

As shown directly above, there is a free version which is still mostly feature intact. The Paid version supports the company's continued efforts and for premium features not found in the free version. I'm ok with that business model.

Surprise was due to not seeing the free 'Core' version. I'd pay for the Pro version if that was the OS I'd use for my daily driver. Right now I run Linux in a VM just so I don't forget _everything_ I learned.

 

[remixedcat]

As shown directly above, there is a free version which is still mostly feature intact. The Paid version supports the company's continued efforts and for premium features not found in the free version. I'm ok with that business model.

And it goes to devs and not execs to get another yacht they don't need