I have a hypothesis that Linux and EVs have a similar characteristic: Once you switch, you’ll never want to go back. Nathan Edwards in The Verge:
It didn’t take long for my Linux install to stop feeling new and exciting and start feeling like, well, my computer. It’s not exactly like a less annoying version of Windows, though it is less annoying than Windows, but it’s been a much easier transition than I thought it would be. There are a few extra steps sometimes in finding and installing apps — usually it’s easier than in Windows, and occasionally it’s harder. And there are a few apps I still haven’t been able to replicate in Linux. I’ve also had a smattering of fun bugs, and a few genuinely frustrating moments, but the overall experience is a lot calmer and more robust than I expected. Even troubleshooting is (mostly) satisfying in a weird way.
That’s largely been my experience switching from a mainly Mac existence, too.
PS: After months of putting it off, I’m now a Verge subscriber: another decision I don’t regret.
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5 responses to “No regrets switching to Linux”
Yeah, that’s been my experience as well. While I’ve setup my NAS with any Linux distro that reasonably supports ZFS for over a decade, I have been primarily using Fedora based desktops (currently Nobara) for a few years now. It’s a nice blend of being up to date for my needs (unlike Debian) but not turning into a maintenance and problem fixing hobby like Arch.
The big thing is to just realize that we have years of intermittent problem solving we’ve already learned using win/mac, and that using Linux will require enduring and applying a compressed version of that up front before the frustration involved becomes basically identical or better.
That coupled with steady and significant improvements in user experience in the Linux ecosystem over that past 5 years, and continual corporate degradation of user experience in Mac and especially windows, we are basically at an optimal inflection point now where crossing over makes sense for those able enough to install an operating system.
Congratulations! Which distribution did you end up going with?
I went with Ubuntu at least while I get used to things. QGIS seems to have the best support for it. I reserve the right to change my mind, of course.
My two complaints about Linux:
– There’s like ten ways to install a piece of software, some of which will cause that software to just not work
– “Wait… before I copy this with Ctrl+C, am I in an app, or am I in a terminal? And if I’m in an app, am I sure I’m not in a terminal in the app?” (To be fair, Windows has the exact same flaw. And AFAIK Elementary Linux has a workaround.)
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