this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
188 points (90.2% liked)

Linux

48363 readers
477 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

edit: hey guys, 60+ comments, can't reply from now on, but know that I am grateful for your comments, keep the convo going. Thank you to the y'all people who gave unbiased answers and thanks also to those who told me about Waydroid and Docker

edit: Well, now that's sobering, apparently I can do most of these things on Windows with ease too. I won't be switching back to Windows anytime soon, but it appears that my friend was right. I am getting FOMO Fear of missing out right now.

I do need these apps right now, but there are some apps on Windows for which we don't have a great replacement

  1. Adobe
  2. MS word (yeah, I don't like Libre and most of Libre Suit) it's not as good as MS suite, of c, but it's really bad.
  3. Games ( a big one although steam is helping bridge the gap)
  4. Many torrented apps, most of these are Windows specific and thus I won't have any luck installing them on Linux.
  5. Apparently windows is allowing their users to use some Android apps?

Torrented apps would be my biggest concern, I mean, these are Windows specific, how can I run them on Linux? Seriously, I want to know how. Can wine run most of the apps without error? I am thinking of torrenting some educational software made for Windows.



Let me list the customizations I have done with my xfce desktop and you tell me if I can do that on Windows.

I told my friend that I can't leave linux because of all the customization I have done and he said, you just don't like to accept that Windows can do that too. Yeah, because I think it can't do some of it (and I like Linux better)

But yeah, let's give the devil it's due, can I do these things on Windows?

  1. I have applications which launch from terminal eg: vlc would open vlc (no questions asked, no other stuff needed, just type vlc)
  2. Bash scripts which updates my system (not completely, snaps and flatpaks seem to be immune to this). I am pretty sure you can't do this on Windows.
  3. I can basically automate most of my tasks and it has a good integration with my apps.
  4. I can create desktop launchers.
  5. Not update my system, I love to update because my updates aren't usually 4 freaking GB and the largest update I have seen has been 200-300 mbs, probably less but yeah, I was free to not update my PC if I so choose. Can you do this on Windows? And also, Linux updates fail less often, I mean, it might break your system, but the thing won't stop in the middle and say "Bye Bye, updates failed" and now you have to waste 4GB again to download the update. PS: You should always keep your apps upto date mostly for security reasons, but Linux won't force it on you and ruin your workflow.
  6. Create custom panel plugin.

  1. My understanding is that the Windows terminal sucks? I don't know why, it just looks bad.

I am sure as hell there are more but this is at the top of my mind rn, can I do this on Windows. Also, give me something that you personally do on Linux but can't do it on Windows.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I can use my computer without it installing software I don't want (like when Windows installs candy crush) and without it advertising to me.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

without it advertising to me

Ubuntu users cough awkwardly

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

[This comment has been deleted by an automated system]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The only thing Windows installs without you wanting to is Edge. Ads like Candy Crush will only be installed after installing windows for the first time, not after any updates.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lol the excuses. "Windows only ever messes up all your settings twice a year with the big updates. The rest of the time it's fine."
How about they don't touch my shit at all?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

shit on windows for what it does, not for what it doesn't.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The leopards only eat the bad zoo patrons. Well, that, and every new leopard gets to eat one child, but only when we first get the leopard.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm not saying it's good, I'm saying the original comment is factually incorrect. Criticize windows for the shit it's doing, not for something it isn't.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Even today there’s a lot of included unwanted stuff like my people, phone link, the new unified electron awful office app, onedrive, Skype/teams, Cortana, news, meet now, 3d viewer, mixed reality portal, solitaire, onenote, sticky notes, tips, xbox stuff…

It’s not like updates uninstall stuff either and they still have giant ad live tiles today