I get the feeling that Lemmy has a relatively higher concentration of Linux users. Iâm preparing to move over to Linux when I build my new computer. I already put Linux Mint Cinnamon edition on one of my old laptops and I like it quite a bit. I figure that since Iâve been wanting to switch over for years, I should just do it. The games were the thing holding me back, and Proton seems to have taken care of that(I donât really play multiplayer games that require anticheat⌠Iâm a singleplayer kind of girl).
For me, anyway, I want to switch because Windows has been creeping me out with its telemetry. Windows 11 looks lousy, and Iâd have to jump through some hoops to get my old hardware on 11, anyway.
Been a full-time Linux user since 1999 â fed up with Windows ⌠I guess it would have been 98? I found Red Hat Linux on CD at, I think, Office Depot. It was a dive into the deep end. I was having x-server problems at first, and a math professor buddy told me where to find the config file and how to fire up vi. I think I probably spent two days sorting out how to use vi. But I never looked back. Found ways early on of making sure I was compatible with colleagues and others and, of course, have needed to spin up Windows VMs over the years for things as silly as getting Adobe DRM content to display. But itâs all so easy, now, though I do see a lot of good advice here about being certain about compatibility, etc., if youâre on bleeding-edge hardware (given what you posted, I seriously doubt youâll have any issues).
Iâve used Fedora as a daily driver for at least the last seven or eight years, Ubuntu before that. Iâve run Arch on a few things and always run Ubuntu on servers (just got used to it). Windows will very quickly become something you donât miss at all.
Having said all that, Iâve never been a gamer of any kind, and I know that makes a big difference.
Current user. Itâs been my primary OS since around 2001.
People have a lot of opinions. My TLDR is if youâre interested, try it out.
Full time Linux user for about 6 years now. Both at work and at home.
If games is whatâs holding you back, donât worry about it so much. There are very few games that donât run on Linux these days, like you said, because of anticheat, or just because the underlying company is horrible. Valorant comes to mind for games, Epic and EA for companies.
Some example of game iâve been playing on Linux, with no issues: Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, Everspace 2, Dying Light, Sekiro, Warhammer 40k: Darktide, Guild Wars 2, Doom Eternal, Elite Dangerous, Valheim, Minecraft etcâŚ
Thereâs more things working than not working these days.
That said, I would also be lying if I said there isnât going to be a learning curve. Itâs a little bit more work (especially for games not available on Steam), but itâs really not that bad, and the community is very helpful.
Been using Linux for over 10 years at this point. Havenât considered going back to Windows. Even put my boomers on Fedora with GNOME without issue.
Itâs improved a lot :)
You do run the risk of a driver issue giving you trouble, especially for brand new cards, but the kernel is so well-populated now that itâs unlikely to be anything other than plug-and-play đ
Last time I tried Linux was 23 or so years ago. I had no idea what I was doing or at that time knew how to figure it out. That being said, I want to use Linux but am apprehensive.
I see computers as tools. I think that tools should be intuitive and fairly easy to use. My brief experience with Linux left me feeling that it requires a fair amount of time dedicated to setup and upkeep. Thatâs time I would much rather spend on other endeavors.
Windows has gotten to a point where I donât like using it. I will not switch to Apple products, full stop. But I wonât make Linux a full-time hobby.
What should I do, friends?
Try a live version(run from a thumb drive) or a virtual box environment. Itâs come a long way in 20 years. Iâd recommend an easier distribution to start like Ubuntu or mint. Note Ubuntu comes in gnome and kde interfaces. Kde is more start menu like to me.
Once I got everything working on my hardware, I was able to stop fussing with it. Privacy and lack of bloat was my reason to switch from windows.
You just gotta do whatâs right for you. That might be windows, Mac, Linux, or something else.
From a thumb drive, you say? That sounds like a low commitment experiment I can get behind. I shall have to look into that more. Thanks!
Yep, boot from a thumb drive or if youâve got the power for it run a vm in windows. When youâre ready for the half commit phase, dual boot. Then you can pick windows or Linux at startup.
Iâve never posted a question on a Linux forum, but Iâve searched and used lots. I currently run Linux mint and then put windows in a VM if I really need a windows app.
If youâre not a gamer (with caveats) and donât have to use msoffice desktop apps youâll likely be fine in Linux.
For gaming a lot of steam games are supported but not all so thereâs some gap there.
