Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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142

Why did you move from Windows to Linux? (leminal.space)

submitted 4 weeks ago by umbrellacloud@leminal.space to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Personally, I’m not brand loyal to any particular OS. There are good things about a lot of different operating systems, and I even have good things to say about ChromeOS. It just depends on what a user needs from an operating system.

Most Windows-only users I am acquainted with seem to want a device that mostly “just works” out of the box, whereas Linux requires a nonzero amount of tinkering for most distributions. I’ve never encountered a machine for sale with Linux pre-installed outside of niche small businesses selling pre-built PCs.

Windows users seem to want to just buy, have, and use a computer, whereas Linux users seem to enjoy problem solving and tinkering for fun. These two groups of people seem as if they’re very fundamentally different in what they want from a machine, so a user who solely uses Windows moving over to Linux never made much sense to me.

Why did you switch, and what was your process like? What made you choose Linux for your primary computing device, rather than macOS for example?

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[–] victorz@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

I moved from Ubuntu for the same reasons I moved from Windows, to be honest. I felt like I was losing control of what my system was doing. All this bullshit being forced on me that I didn't like. I wanted to be able to pick my own DE without uninstalling something else first. Major upgrades would fail sometimes, etc.

Installing Arch was a challenge I was willing to take on. Learned a lot.

I don't share the trope about Arch Linux users being annoying per se, but the joke about "Arch btw" is just fun to participate in lol. But I don't think Arch users preach that much. I see way more preaching about Fedora and NixOS, e.g. And like, Mint. 😆 Meanwhile Arch users are just silently enjoying themselves. 🤷‍♂️

[–] umbrellacloud@leminal.space 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

So you're saying you don't own a Guy Fawkes mask?

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

Not what I was saying, no, but it is true, that I don't own one. 😄