I’ve always used Windows and am super comfortable with it. I have set up a dual boot with fedora but don’t use it because I have never identified a need to use it. I see a lot of windows hate, so what does Linux have that I need? What can motivate me to migrate? What is a good Linux to have for a desktop + steam?

  • nickwitha_k (he/him)
    42•1 year ago

    I’ll preface this with: If you like Windows and don’t particularly care for Linux experiences, that’s ok. Not everyone needs to use Linux - the world is more interesting with variety.

    For me, I hate when my computer does things that I don’t tell it to. I also hate ads. These, along with but really using it for a decade were deal breakers for me with windows.

    Some things that Linux has that Windows does not:

    • Native package managers: Realize that you need to use an image editor and don’t have one installed? You can just install it with your distro’s package manager. It will usually take care of any dependencies and make it easy to update or uninstall if you decide you want to. Some distros have particularly massive offerings in their package repos.
    • Freely customizeable UI: Tired of how your system looks and want to try something else? Install a tiling window manager through the package manager. Or, maybe Gnome or KDE or XFCE. Huge amounts of customization in your GUI are possible.
    • Programming: Interested in programming? Install some development tooling through the package manager.
    • Embedded Programming: Interested in programming but want it to be more physically tangible or automate parts of your home? Setup the Arduino IDE, or Mu, or go old school and use vim/emacs. Then, compile and push it out to your microcontroller. Or, you can use something like Blinka on a Raspberry Pi or similar SBC and directly interact with sensors and devices across the built-in GPIO pins.
    • Tinkering: Enjoy just poking about? The kernel being open-source means that its APIs are well documented and you can find lots of tools to tweak your system’s behavior or do so yourself.
    • Job opportunities: The Internet runs primarily on Linux servers. If you’re interested in tech work, getting familiar with Linux can’t hurt.
    • Tux: What is Windows’ mascot? A window? How about an awesome penguin? Distros and DEs often also have their own, like a chameleon, wildebeest, or dragons (2/3 of the examples can readily smash a window while the other one could at least get an E for Effort and scream at it in german).

    For distros that work well with steam, I definitely suggest Linux Mint or Ubuntu for beginners. They’re just way more “batteries included”. However, if you could also give SteamOS, the distro developed by Valve (on top of Debian) a try and it will probably work quite well.

    Most of all, have fun, whether you decide to take Linux for a spin or not.

    • @bundes_sheep@lemmy.one
      5•1 year ago

      +1 for the package manager. No need to find some website to download what you want while having to worry about whether you’re at the right one and if you’re going to download a virus or ransomware or something. I can’t believe that’s the normal way to install software on windows, download something from a website and hope it’s the right thing. Much better to browse a bunch of software that is designed to work well on your system and is free besides.

      One big thing for me is that linux doesn’t try to push you to do anything. I run simulations and they are a pain to set up again sometimes so having the computer decide to update itself out of the blue is completely unwanted. Linux will wait until you are ready. This can have a downside if you don’t keep up on updates, but it’s far less a concern than it is in the Windows ecosystem.

      • nickwitha_k (he/him)
        2•1 year ago

        The updates issue is real. My spouse uses some specialized hardware and software for work in a non-technical field. Windows would regularly, due to poorly-QA’d auto-updates break the drivers every few weeks, leading to a lot of list work. As much as I’m not a fan of Apple, this us to purchase a Mac Mini as stability and reliability on Windows for this specific use case was pure garage and I don’t have the time to run support at home and my day job.

    • @cloudy1999@sh.itjust.works
      4•1 year ago

      This is a positive take. No OS is perfect, but there are lots of reasons to give a Linux distro a whirl. Tech right now IMO has become disappointing, but Linux continues to be a shining beacon of fun and hope.

    • xigoi
      3•1 year ago

      Technically, Windows does have a native package manager – the Microsoft Store or whatever it’s called. But yeah, it sucks.

      • @imkali@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        1•1 year ago

        It also has winget for terminal package managing now, but it takes its packages from ms store and is super inconsistent in my experience.