Switching from Windows to Linux
- Thread starter michelin
- Start date
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
Noob question: Can you play games on Linux and how they run?
There are complaints about how Linux has a massive learning curve, and I tend to agree, especially if you've never interacted with the terminal or written commands before. For 90% of people in this day and age, I would say that they shouldn't switch to Linux unless they are adamant that they want to learn more about computers, operating systems, and how to interact with their data. I've had my fair share of swearing fits with linux, especially with distros like arch. But once you are over that, you are far better off. As previously stated, if you fuck up real hard, you can reinstall the distro with not much loss, and get it back to where you had it previously in an hour. If you reinstall Windows, you are looking at numerous hours, days even, before you have everything back in line, drivers and all.
As soon as you step over the learning curve, Linux is massively powerful. You'll notice how much the Windows command line limits you, and that the structure of proprietary OS's is to make you fall in line with whatever the developer intended. Sometimes for the better, other times for the worse. For example, partitioning hard drives in linux is 5 times easier than windows or mac, and there are tons of file protocols you can access in something like gparted that are impossible or downright messy to get to in windows. Want to partition an external drive for exFAT so you can access files across all operating systems? Good luck in Windows.
The complaints about file/package managers are unfounded. I can download and install 50 programs from repository by typing in their names after a pacman -S or apt-get command in one fell swoop. Go click on 50 websites, and use each of their GUI installers, and come back to me with our times. You can be so much more productive in a Linux environment, if you know what you're doing. Command line is and always will be king for doing exactly what you want, and with speed and precision.
If you have any inclination towards software development, programming, or the like, you will use Linux. No, you still can't play many games on linux distros, but do as I do and have a Windows boot partition for that very purpose, it's pretty easy. I really enjoy the ability to have a deeply interactive experience with my computer, and the customizeability is second to none.
If you're wondering if you should do the switch, ask yourself if you're willing to spend the time to learn a tangible skill in computer understanding. But in today's world, I'd argue you'd be short-sighted to not expand your knowledge in this field. While everyone else is dumbing themselves down with IOs and Ipads, you can understand what really is going on under the hood, and design the applications that others use. It was a great decision to switch for me, and it could very well be for you, too.
As soon as you step over the learning curve, Linux is massively powerful. You'll notice how much the Windows command line limits you, and that the structure of proprietary OS's is to make you fall in line with whatever the developer intended. Sometimes for the better, other times for the worse. For example, partitioning hard drives in linux is 5 times easier than windows or mac, and there are tons of file protocols you can access in something like gparted that are impossible or downright messy to get to in windows. Want to partition an external drive for exFAT so you can access files across all operating systems? Good luck in Windows.
The complaints about file/package managers are unfounded. I can download and install 50 programs from repository by typing in their names after a pacman -S or apt-get command in one fell swoop. Go click on 50 websites, and use each of their GUI installers, and come back to me with our times. You can be so much more productive in a Linux environment, if you know what you're doing. Command line is and always will be king for doing exactly what you want, and with speed and precision.
If you have any inclination towards software development, programming, or the like, you will use Linux. No, you still can't play many games on linux distros, but do as I do and have a Windows boot partition for that very purpose, it's pretty easy. I really enjoy the ability to have a deeply interactive experience with my computer, and the customizeability is second to none.
If you're wondering if you should do the switch, ask yourself if you're willing to spend the time to learn a tangible skill in computer understanding. But in today's world, I'd argue you'd be short-sighted to not expand your knowledge in this field. While everyone else is dumbing themselves down with IOs and Ipads, you can understand what really is going on under the hood, and design the applications that others use. It was a great decision to switch for me, and it could very well be for you, too.
Linux is great but some things are infuriatingly annoying. I still can't figure out how to install Flash. As Lenny said "dont bother", I guess this is why Steve Jobbs hated it too.
It's still infuriatingly annoying that you can't just click-click-click install something like that.
As a work OS, it is a godsend though. Point Linux makes 10 year old Thinkpads run faster than low end new Windows machines.
It's still infuriatingly annoying that you can't just click-click-click install something like that.
As a work OS, it is a godsend though. Point Linux makes 10 year old Thinkpads run faster than low end new Windows machines.
Long time Linux user here. Debian and openSUSE are my primary operating systems. I had tried Elementary OS (almost look like a Mac OSx), Fedora, Mint, Parrot OS, and Red Hat. When I have time, I am planning on setting up a server machine with CentOS.
I mainly use Linux for browsing, web development (LAMP) and movies.
Only drawback with Linux is the lack of decent software - i.e., Adobe Suite such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, InDesign, etc. This is why I still use Windows 7 and Mac OSx.
Because it is designed and developed by a bunch of snowflakes at Google. This has been discussed in another thread elsewhere. We don't want to support a company that is run by a bunch of hardcore Liberals and SJWs. Of course, they are in bed wth the CIA and NSA so we can't trust them.
I mainly use Linux for browsing, web development (LAMP) and movies.
Only drawback with Linux is the lack of decent software - i.e., Adobe Suite such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, InDesign, etc. This is why I still use Windows 7 and Mac OSx.
semibaron said:
Because it is designed and developed by a bunch of snowflakes at Google. This has been discussed in another thread elsewhere. We don't want to support a company that is run by a bunch of hardcore Liberals and SJWs. Of course, they are in bed wth the CIA and NSA so we can't trust them.
One of the main reasons why people still keep a Windows partition is so they can play games, now that issue has now been mostly solved in past month with the latest version of Steam Play.
Valve has been supporting WINE (Windows emulation project) for a while now and are adding Proton in the latest update, a piece of software that allows you to run Windows games on Linux. See here for the current compatibility list of games.
Valve has been supporting WINE (Windows emulation project) for a while now and are adding Proton in the latest update, a piece of software that allows you to run Windows games on Linux. See here for the current compatibility list of games.
louiebeans
Robin
LINUX said:
I was hoping for LINUX to comment in the Linux thread, was not dissapointed.:biggrin:
[email protected] said:
Activist intersectional feminist daughter. He had an expiration date.
Heart Break Kid
Kingfisher
Any good guides to learning the basics of Linux? Book or web video are welcome.
There are some suggestions on here from 2012, not sure if those books are dated.
There are some suggestions on here from 2012, not sure if those books are dated.
Heart Break Kid said:
The important stuff hasn't changed too much. In the "Linux Infiltrated By SJWs" thread I made a post which covered the basics of getting a hygenic linux going. If this is your first time it helps to have a spare computer or at least a spare drive for your computer that you can dedicate to your linux learning. Skip Ubuntu/RedHat/Debian and all the other SJW crap.
- Start from scratch with Gentoo. You'll learn more about how the pieces fit together.
- Don't get ung up on any one program you might want, explore alternatives
- And finally treat this like exercise or language learning.
Leonard D Neubache said:
That's it!
You can literally buy a $35 machine on ebay that would be bogged down with windows and it is as fast as a new $1400 WorstBuy special.
Here's a hint. Search for the term in quotes "NO OS" on ebay and you will find nice machines for nothing. Linux ready.
kuqezi
Woodpecker
Alight, I will contribute my $0.02 here.
First some questions you need to answer to yourself:
- Are you techy? Are you techy curious? Are you willing to learn some of the coolest things about the OS and its nuts and bolts?
If you answered yes to at least one of the above questions then you should totally be using Linux, master the command line, learn how to leverage it to your needs and NOT be a slave of its learning curve. Linux/Unix is very friendly, it's just selective about who his friends are. You can do everything in Linux, from normal things like file management and browsing and media stuff to real engineering projects. I read above about netflix and other things like this...of course you can do them in Linux, it's just you need to know how-to...thus back to the questions above. Linux (or any other Unix-like) is your server and you're the master, not the other way around.
- Are you mostly a gamer? Are you into heavy software that need a lot of graphics and specific GPUs and high memory? Do you use the PC for media mostly?
If you answered yes to any of the above then Windows is for you, this is a business decision looking at this market. Linux never went into this angle, Windows did. Shoot the shit with Linux for fun sometimes but it's not for you. Stick to the flashy Windows and all its shitty things. No shame in this.
- Are you always bothered by the chores you need to do on your PC? Do you not care at all about how things are done, you just need the result?
If you answered yes then MacOS is for you. MacOS does everything, all you need to do is drag and drop stuff. You don't care what happens. You should not care if you're not interested to.
(A controversy here is that most tech people don't want to be their own help-desk so that's why you see a lot of engineers using Macs, shit just runs there, their projects are more important than setting up your own LAMP)
Happy to answer anything in specific here but there is no right or wrong OS, it all depends on what you're into and what do you want to do.
Cheers
First some questions you need to answer to yourself:
- Are you techy? Are you techy curious? Are you willing to learn some of the coolest things about the OS and its nuts and bolts?
If you answered yes to at least one of the above questions then you should totally be using Linux, master the command line, learn how to leverage it to your needs and NOT be a slave of its learning curve. Linux/Unix is very friendly, it's just selective about who his friends are. You can do everything in Linux, from normal things like file management and browsing and media stuff to real engineering projects. I read above about netflix and other things like this...of course you can do them in Linux, it's just you need to know how-to...thus back to the questions above. Linux (or any other Unix-like) is your server and you're the master, not the other way around.
- Are you mostly a gamer? Are you into heavy software that need a lot of graphics and specific GPUs and high memory? Do you use the PC for media mostly?
If you answered yes to any of the above then Windows is for you, this is a business decision looking at this market. Linux never went into this angle, Windows did. Shoot the shit with Linux for fun sometimes but it's not for you. Stick to the flashy Windows and all its shitty things. No shame in this.
- Are you always bothered by the chores you need to do on your PC? Do you not care at all about how things are done, you just need the result?
If you answered yes then MacOS is for you. MacOS does everything, all you need to do is drag and drop stuff. You don't care what happens. You should not care if you're not interested to.
(A controversy here is that most tech people don't want to be their own help-desk so that's why you see a lot of engineers using Macs, shit just runs there, their projects are more important than setting up your own LAMP)
Happy to answer anything in specific here but there is no right or wrong OS, it all depends on what you're into and what do you want to do.
Cheers
BadBoyGamer
Woodpecker
Just found this threat and wanted to say this;
Been using Linux for about 15 years now. Never used Windows anymore. Linux is the perfect system to really learn about computers. Especially about servers, networking and programming. It is also worth to learn about OpenBSD and FreeBSD.
It is worth to learn how to build your own distribution and to fine tune it to your own hardware as best as you can. This is simply to learn more.
After learning about Linux and scripting in Linux and programming in Linux I instantly had a much better understanding about how the Internet works. This because the Internet runs mostly on Unix based systems.
Linux is pretty much ready for the desktop. It lacks certain applications and is not perfect for gamers. In all other endevours Linux is much more friendlier to work with than Windows or MacOs.
When I now look at a Windows 10 machine or a Mac I just look in horror. Those companies are doing horrible things to Operating Systems. You do not own your own data anymore when using either Windows Or Mac. You have no control over your own machine.
I seriously suggest everyone who is in the slightest a bit technical to at least try Linux and give it a serious chance. It can do much more than you think and is superior to Windows and Mac.
Been using Linux for about 15 years now. Never used Windows anymore. Linux is the perfect system to really learn about computers. Especially about servers, networking and programming. It is also worth to learn about OpenBSD and FreeBSD.
It is worth to learn how to build your own distribution and to fine tune it to your own hardware as best as you can. This is simply to learn more.
After learning about Linux and scripting in Linux and programming in Linux I instantly had a much better understanding about how the Internet works. This because the Internet runs mostly on Unix based systems.
Linux is pretty much ready for the desktop. It lacks certain applications and is not perfect for gamers. In all other endevours Linux is much more friendlier to work with than Windows or MacOs.
When I now look at a Windows 10 machine or a Mac I just look in horror. Those companies are doing horrible things to Operating Systems. You do not own your own data anymore when using either Windows Or Mac. You have no control over your own machine.
I seriously suggest everyone who is in the slightest a bit technical to at least try Linux and give it a serious chance. It can do much more than you think and is superior to Windows and Mac.
Ive been thinking of switching from windows after windows 7 is no longer supported because I hate windows 10. I hate how microsoft tries to force you into using their software that you dont want to use. I hate how they limit the users ability to tinker with the technology and really take full advantage of it. The entire time I'm using windows 10 I feel like I should be finger banging it on some icrap device. Then there's the privacy issues, not that we really have any privacy on anything electronic anymore, but Windows 10 is just so much more intrusive.
I have been running ubuntu in a vm to try it out but what I personally find to be the biggest obstacles to using linux is that almost everything is a pain in the ass to install if it will install at all without you having to screw around with it for 20-30 minutes. That and I don't know enough about the Linux file structure to be able to clean up mistakes I make while trying to get things that should work easily working properly.
I have been running ubuntu in a vm to try it out but what I personally find to be the biggest obstacles to using linux is that almost everything is a pain in the ass to install if it will install at all without you having to screw around with it for 20-30 minutes. That and I don't know enough about the Linux file structure to be able to clean up mistakes I make while trying to get things that should work easily working properly.