I just bought my first linux laptop last month - prompted proximally by Apple’s decision to start putting unblockable ads on the start page of their books app.
This is like one of the worst takes I’ve ever seen on this platform. Like yeah dude, the legions of users who sat through Windows 10 ads, Windows 8 ads, Windows Vista, EOL support for every OS, and forced packaged apps everywhere have finally had it with Windows 11 sir. The tidal wave of users embracing the glory of Linux is nigh.
There’s an easy way to get rid of the ads throug the router settings, but I for one have no intention of sharing that secret with the Crapindows users. :D
I anticipate switching to a full Linux setup once I build my new PC, hopefully later this year. I can’t see myself even unwillingly buyingpirating buying Windows.
A very important one besides backing up your files is that you should more or less stop searching the web for applications to download and install. You should first try to use your package manager (read the wiki of your distribution to know which one it is and how to search for and install software with it). If you miss some applications from Windows, you could have a good chance to look for alternatives at sites like https://www.opensourcealternative.to/
Do not fear the terminal too much. I know, Windows tried to make it as dreadful as possible to use, but if you do not run sudo rm -rf / (deletes your whole filesystem), there is not much that can go awfully wrong. And you should only execute commands you understand.
If something does go wrong however, it is a good thing to have a backup ready (I would recommend Pika Backup or Vorta, both based on the great CLI application borg)
For things that are not explained in the wiki of your distro, you have a pretty good chance to find a good explanation and even troubleshooting tips at the Arch Wiki (e.g. I use Void Linux and still search for most things at the Arch Wiki). It is also good to read some parts of the manual pages if you did not find enough information at the Arch Wiki (the command man is your friend) and the software’s wiki page if it exists.
If you ever find yourself in the editor vi or vim, type :q and press enter to quit until you feel the need to potentially invest a lot of time in learning vim movements to increase your editing speed and you never want to go back. Use nano, micro or a graphical app at first instead and keep using it if you are not someone who edits text a lot.
When building the computer, go for generic middle of the road normal hardware. Fairly easy to do with off the shelf ATX PC hardware. Inside the case, this usually means look out for weird graphics cards or motherboards. I’ll warn you that Asrock RGB lighting doesn’t like to play with open source control software. Outside the case, pick a keyboard and mouse that don’t require (much) in the way of configuration because Razer and Corsair don’t publish their bullshitware for Linux yet.
Back up your files.
I recommend spending some time with whatever current hardware you have trying out a few distros in a virtual machine. Don’t just look around and go “ah that’s nice. ah that’s weird.” Actually use it to do your work. Even though you’re running Linux IN Windows, try to use Linux to do actual stuff.
Back up your files.
Choosing a distro. Isn’t really all that important, at least at first. Most of the meaningful differences are going to be in the Desktop Environment anyway. There’s about 18 different GUIs you can use, from weird tiling window managers the hardcore nerds tend to like, to more Windows like experiences in KDE and Cinnamon, to more Apple like experiences with Gnome and Pantheon. Try a few out in virtualbox.
Back up your files.
Learn a little bit about the terminal. A lot of people hate and fear that suggestion, but it can honestly be fun. Wait till you see what the command fortune | cowsay | lolcatdoes. Learn how to edit files, run commands, install software via the terminal, even if you don’t plan on doing it that way routinely. Mainly, so that if you ask the community for help, you’re not completely in the dark when given a terminal command to run. Which is often the case; because “click here then here then there then tell us what it says” is harder to convey than “copy paste this command into the terminal, and then copy-paste what it says.” There’s a lot of cool stuff hidden in there.
For windows you dont need to buy it, you can activate it using microsofts own tools, its on github (dont remember its name right now.)
As for linux, i would recommend openSUSE Tumbleweed, it is fresh, and the best part about it is that whenever you update the system, it creates a snapshot, so if the update had some kind of undesired sideeffects, you can just startup the old version. (These snapshots only effect the system’s packages, your apps will keep their state iirc. My brother uses tumbleweed and he is very content with it.)
I switched to NixOS full-time after dual-booting Void for some time, and I couldn’t be happier to get away from Microsoft’s bullshit.
My only gripe is that I do a lot of audio production, and virtually none of the big names in the audio plugin space make Linux builds, despite the most common framework (JUCE) having Linux support out of the box.
Yabridge & WINE do a decent job of filling the gap, but using iLok protected plugins can be a bitch and a half, and unfortunately iLok is everywhere… Oh how I long for audio developers to start taking Linux seriously.
After dithering with dual boot for years I jumped ship to Linux only (LMDE) with their incessant reminders about moving to W11 from W10 popped up. Missing a few apps but fuk’ em.
small brain move: install windows on a seperate disk to linux and then let your BIOS decide what it wants to boot, instead of relying on a unified boot loader
Small brain move: install Windows as a guest on a Linux host. Rip out so much of it’s guts it can’t show any ads and barely works at all. Declare victory over the desecrated husk of Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft is seeking feedback on the changes, so it’s possible the company could decide to ditch these ads […]
are they really looking to see if people want to see more ads? i can’t imagine this is anything more than a meaningless corporate “we value your feedback” message. they already know what people think about ads in their operating system, they’ve tried it many times
It’s likely they’re looking for feedback from their shareholders, and their advertising partners rather than the users themselves. They know they’ve got a good portion of the market cornered and if it looks profitable to them; why wouldn’t they do it?
They are not seeking feedback between “I like it” and “I hate it”, they want feedback between “I tolerate it because I still feel locked in” and “that’s it I’m moving to a competitor”.
That whole sentiment only works in a monopolistic / oligopolic market. In a free market, competition would make companies sell better products. Only if there is no decent competition does enshittification work.
No; in a free market without regulation. the bigger fish outcompetes the smaller ones, or buys them outright. Which then is exactly why enshittification works in the first place.
What you’re saying is true, but in my book, a market is not free because of the lack of regulations.
Free markets are not stable things, and without regulation, they fail. Regulation keeps markets free. My definition of a free market is the econ 101 one, which is many competing companies, who all are individually unable to affect market prices. Not the weird ancap one, where we throw the reins in between the horses and let companies consolidate into a fascist dictatorship.
deleted by creator
For me only thing stopping me from Linux is no good vr support.
I just bought my first linux laptop last month - prompted proximally by Apple’s decision to start putting unblockable ads on the start page of their books app.
I don’t like ads.
This is like one of the worst takes I’ve ever seen on this platform. Like yeah dude, the legions of users who sat through Windows 10 ads, Windows 8 ads, Windows Vista, EOL support for every OS, and forced packaged apps everywhere have finally had it with Windows 11 sir. The tidal wave of users embracing the glory of Linux is nigh.
There’s an easy way to get rid of the ads throug the router settings, but I for one have no intention of sharing that secret with the Crapindows users. :D
Don’t
wethey already have sponsored apps and such?Assembler guys - ASSEMBLE! Spin up super DOS and slap a couple of user interfaces on top and voila! I give you DOS 7.0 .
I anticipate switching to a full Linux setup once I build my new PC, hopefully later this year. I can’t see myself even unwillingly
buyingpiratingbuying Windows.Any tips for when that day comes?
A very important one besides backing up your files is that you should more or less stop searching the web for applications to download and install. You should first try to use your package manager (read the wiki of your distribution to know which one it is and how to search for and install software with it). If you miss some applications from Windows, you could have a good chance to look for alternatives at sites like https://www.opensourcealternative.to/
Do not fear the terminal too much. I know, Windows tried to make it as dreadful as possible to use, but if you do not run
sudo rm -rf /(deletes your whole filesystem), there is not much that can go awfully wrong. And you should only execute commands you understand. If something does go wrong however, it is a good thing to have a backup ready (I would recommend Pika Backup or Vorta, both based on the great CLI application borg)For things that are not explained in the wiki of your distro, you have a pretty good chance to find a good explanation and even troubleshooting tips at the Arch Wiki (e.g. I use Void Linux and still search for most things at the Arch Wiki). It is also good to read some parts of the manual pages if you did not find enough information at the Arch Wiki (the command man is your friend) and the software’s wiki page if it exists.
If you ever find yourself in the editor vi or vim, type :q and press enter to quit until you feel the need to potentially invest a lot of time in learning vim movements to increase your editing speed and you never want to go back. Use nano, micro or a graphical app at first instead and keep using it if you are not someone who edits text a lot.
Yes.
Back up your files.
When building the computer, go for generic middle of the road normal hardware. Fairly easy to do with off the shelf ATX PC hardware. Inside the case, this usually means look out for weird graphics cards or motherboards. I’ll warn you that Asrock RGB lighting doesn’t like to play with open source control software. Outside the case, pick a keyboard and mouse that don’t require (much) in the way of configuration because Razer and Corsair don’t publish their bullshitware for Linux yet.
Back up your files.
I recommend spending some time with whatever current hardware you have trying out a few distros in a virtual machine. Don’t just look around and go “ah that’s nice. ah that’s weird.” Actually use it to do your work. Even though you’re running Linux IN Windows, try to use Linux to do actual stuff.
Back up your files.
Choosing a distro. Isn’t really all that important, at least at first. Most of the meaningful differences are going to be in the Desktop Environment anyway. There’s about 18 different GUIs you can use, from weird tiling window managers the hardcore nerds tend to like, to more Windows like experiences in KDE and Cinnamon, to more Apple like experiences with Gnome and Pantheon. Try a few out in virtualbox.
Back up your files.
Learn a little bit about the terminal. A lot of people hate and fear that suggestion, but it can honestly be fun. Wait till you see what the command
fortune | cowsay | lolcatdoes. Learn how to edit files, run commands, install software via the terminal, even if you don’t plan on doing it that way routinely. Mainly, so that if you ask the community for help, you’re not completely in the dark when given a terminal command to run. Which is often the case; because “click here then here then there then tell us what it says” is harder to convey than “copy paste this command into the terminal, and then copy-paste what it says.” There’s a lot of cool stuff hidden in there.Back up your files.
Have fun!
For windows you dont need to buy it, you can activate it using microsofts own tools, its on github (dont remember its name right now.)
As for linux, i would recommend openSUSE Tumbleweed, it is fresh, and the best part about it is that whenever you update the system, it creates a snapshot, so if the update had some kind of undesired sideeffects, you can just startup the old version. (These snapshots only effect the system’s packages, your apps will keep their state iirc. My brother uses tumbleweed and he is very content with it.)
Go slow, pick an easy distro like pop OS and take it easy.
If its for gaming, even https://nobaraproject.org/ is great as it has a lot of gaming optimisations.
Remember, Linux with a GUI is not more complicated than windows with a GUI, you have just spent your whole life learning the windows one.
Thank you for your reply and information!
Winbros: But it’s opt-out, you can disable it!
Gonna opt-out of Windows 11.
I switched to NixOS full-time after dual-booting Void for some time, and I couldn’t be happier to get away from Microsoft’s bullshit.
My only gripe is that I do a lot of audio production, and virtually none of the big names in the audio plugin space make Linux builds, despite the most common framework (JUCE) having Linux support out of the box.
Yabridge & WINE do a decent job of filling the gap, but using iLok protected plugins can be a bitch and a half, and unfortunately iLok is everywhere… Oh how I long for audio developers to start taking Linux seriously.
Hope they will not be confused with “i use arch btw” comments
Arch is going to be the new mint. Just wait.
You wouldn’t enshittify an entire operating system
Absolutely, a friendly Linux user got me to install Mint!
After dithering with dual boot for years I jumped ship to Linux only (LMDE) with their incessant reminders about moving to W11 from W10 popped up. Missing a few apps but fuk’ em.
small brain move: install windows on a seperate disk to linux and then let your BIOS decide what it wants to boot, instead of relying on a unified boot loader
VM is even better. It prevents Windows updates from fucking up your real OS.
Nah, I just install minimal Win10 distro with updates disabled to single drive, and then disable the internet. Easy peasy.
That’s what I do. Linux is primary, and I keep Windows around just in case. Haven’t booted Windows in over a year.
Small brain move: install Windows as a guest on a Linux host. Rip out so much of it’s guts it can’t show any ads and barely works at all. Declare victory over the desecrated husk of Microsoft Windows.
deleted by creator
are they really looking to see if people want to see more ads? i can’t imagine this is anything more than a meaningless corporate “we value your feedback” message. they already know what people think about ads in their operating system, they’ve tried it many times
It’s likely they’re looking for feedback from their shareholders, and their advertising partners rather than the users themselves. They know they’ve got a good portion of the market cornered and if it looks profitable to them; why wouldn’t they do it?
They are not seeking feedback between “I like it” and “I hate it”, they want feedback between “I tolerate it because I still feel locked in” and “that’s it I’m moving to a competitor”.
Basically the same idea as “what the market will bear.”
That whole sentiment only works in a monopolistic / oligopolic market. In a free market, competition would make companies sell better products. Only if there is no decent competition does enshittification work.
No; in a free market without regulation. the bigger fish outcompetes the smaller ones, or buys them outright. Which then is exactly why enshittification works in the first place.
What you’re saying is true, but in my book, a market is not free because of the lack of regulations.
Free markets are not stable things, and without regulation, they fail. Regulation keeps markets free. My definition of a free market is the econ 101 one, which is many competing companies, who all are individually unable to affect market prices. Not the weird ancap one, where we throw the reins in between the horses and let companies consolidate into a fascist dictatorship.