• ChuckEffingNorris@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    I keep seeing these " time to move to Linux" threads. For my work I have to use super proprietary software which I know for a fact is Windows only. Not only that it’s GPU intensive CPU intensive and niche. I’m sure there’s a way to run Windows within Linux but I can only imagine the pain in trying to get proprietary shite to work.

    On top of that I need specific CAD software, Photoshop and Illustrator. I don’t think any of these daily used programs support Linux.

    From the outside, Linux just seems like an absolute ball ache to get working with all of the things I currently do without even thinking about it.

    I’d love to do it. Not sure it’s going to work. Am I wrong?

    • sue_me_please@awful.systems
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      1 month ago

      Different OSes for different use cases. You have a job to do. Just use Windows.

      If you want to use Linux, use it on your own machines on your own time.

      That said, there are a few things you can do if you really want to use Linux:

      1. Test if the app works on Wine, Proton, etc. Even GPU accelerated apps can work, depending on the software/driver stack.
      2. Run a Windows VM and pass-through a GPU. That way you’ll get native performance on the app that’s GPU intensive. Use KVM and the CPU overhead will be negligible.
      3. If you’re doing 3D modeling, SFX, video editing or ML/AI, there are a lot of options on Linux. Some options that exist in Windows also have Linux versions.
      • dragonlobster@programming.dev
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        1 month ago

        I would like to try #2 but for some reason my 5900x doesn’t have graphics so I literally need to buy a whole other GPU for this

      • RedditRefugee69@lemmynsfw.com
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        1 month ago

        For the life of me I cannot figure out how to run KVM locally. Every tutorial I’ve found is targeted at people doing servers.

    • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
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      1 month ago

      FWIW, Photoshop and Illustrator generally work very well through Wine, not sure about CAD so I can’t comment on that.

      In general though, yeah, if you have to use some super proprietary Windows-only software, you very well may be out of luck for Linux. In which case, yeah, you have to put up with Windows and jump through whatever hoops Microsoft wants you to jump through.

    • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      As a gamer, I’m always going to have at least one Windows PC.

      But I’m planning to upgrade next month, and turn my old PC into a non-gaming Linux rig for all non-gaming purposes.

      • scemmy@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        I don’t play every game out there, but in the last couple of years, I’ve not had a reason to switch to Windows to play a game.

        Most games these days seem to work fine on Linux, especially with all the work Valve has put in.

        • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          When I ran a dual-boot over June and July last summer only about 60% of my library functioned, so for me, it’s just not feasible to go entirely without Windows.

          • Zeoic@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            Same here. Its just a much better experience through windows. I made a new system for my daily driver which runs linux and I only turn on my gaming desktop when i want to game. I stream it through steam remote play and it works great

    • InFerNo@lemmy.ml
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      1 month ago

      If your work requires Windows, then use Windows. Switch to Linux when everything you need is available on it. If alternatives don’t exist, then that’s it.

    • smiletolerantly@awful.systems
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      1 month ago

      No, you are right. In your situation, Linux is just not an option - yet.

      I think these posts are meant for the 95% of people that use a browser, and maaaaybe a mail client on their PC.

      Photoshop/Illustrator will only ever get ported if enough people have already made the move that Adobe can’t afford to ignore Linux any longer.

      That being said, if those requirements are just for work, what’s keeping you on Windows on your private devices?

      • doctortran@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        Photoshop/Illustrator will only ever get ported if enough people have already made the move that Adobe can’t afford to ignore Linux any longer.

        I disagree. They have a strong enough hold on the industry they can resist moving to Linux and it will have the affect of choking Linux’s growth.

        Moreover, there’s no way in hell Adobe ever allows their subscription bullshit on a platform that gives the user as much control as Linux. They won’t touch Linux until they can be guaranteed no one will be able to alter or interfere with how their software operates (oppressively).

        The issue with Linux going forward is software in general is all moving towards a more locked down, gatekeeping model. The iOS philosophy is infecting every space, from Android to Windows. Linux stands in opposition to that type of control over the user’s system, and therefore tech companies won’t develop for it if the trend continues.

        • smiletolerantly@awful.systems
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          1 month ago

          Maybe. But there are third options as well - maybe if Adobe acts like you describe, and there is sufficient Linux adoption, that opens the door for an actual crossplatform competitor.

          Or maybe they change their mind when not doing so costs them money.

      • zeekaran@sopuli.xyz
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        1 month ago

        For people just using a browser and mail, they could just use Android. Samsung Dex is pretty great as a laptop replacement.

  • solsangraal@lemmy.zip
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    1 month ago

    the problem is so many office workplaces use windows and google, so unless you want to bring your own computer and buy a wifi hotspot to take to work, you’re stuck on windows and google

    • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      My work all takes place in a Linux environment. Unfortunately, my workplace still mandates using Windows.

      I don’t require any Windows software for work. My boss just insists that I must use a Windows laptop, then do all of my work either in WSL or a traditional VM setup.

      It’s baffling.

      • doctortran@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        Security.

        They want everything to be managed by Windows because they’re managing Windows themselves from Azure or Intune or whatever.

        Corporate IT around the country is basically being instructed that the best and only viable security policies are the ones Microsoft writes, which also just so happen to involve all of their products exclusively. Insurance companies are starting to demand compliance with Microsoft’s security recommendations. It’s going to keep getting worse, and even though there should be heavy regulation on this monopoly, there won’t be.

    • GreyBeard@lemmy.one
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      1 month ago

      And Google? I’m sure some companies use Google Apps for Business or whatevere they are calling it now, but the vast majority use Microsoft 365. Which does basically tie you to Windows, annoyingly. Especially if they are following industry and Microsoft best practices with MDM and Conditional Access.

      • solsangraal@lemmy.zip
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        1 month ago

        lol we use google suite for email, calendars etc. but MS for SSO. our sister institutions mostly use MS 365, teams etc, so we also have to have all the MS crap in addition to the google crap

  • oce 🐆@jlai.lu
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    1 month ago

    I am quite disappointed. Given the title, I was like, wow, a generalist PC gaming website recommending people to switch to Linux! Read the article, Linux is not mentioned at all, I don’t even know why it is in the title. Getting a few clicks from hippies?

  • georgemoody@lemmy.zip
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    1 month ago

    there are people out there still (willingly) using windows xp, windows 10 is gonna live on for the time being

  • SteelCorrelation@lemmy.one
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    1 month ago

    I’m a government contractor, so I’m stuck on Windows and Microsoft products for work. It really sucks, but the government ain’t switching to Linux anytime soon… if ever. At least Windows 11 Enterprise (or Government, whatever) should have a lot of this shit stripped out. I hope.

    • terminhell@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 month ago

      Usually at that scale you create images with all this crap removed. When deployment time comes, the machines are reimaged from local/state IT.

      I feel bad for the average home user that, at this point views more ads than content, and all this telemetry collection to boot.

      • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        I use 11 and don’t see any ads and have telemetry turned off. I’m not sure where this is coming from, but I keep hearing it, and it doesn’t mesh with my experience.

        I’ve personally thought about going back to Linux, and I still might next time I upgrade my MOBO, but the thought of all the effort it will take to get all of my hardware working again is exhausting. That was the greatest struggle before I even approached software issues. I’ve heard it is better these days, but I’m not an expert or a programmer, so I’m essentially relying that someone else has had my use case, solved it, and made it publicly available which is not always the case.

          • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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            1 month ago

            That could very well be the case. I was on a beater laptop previously that was no longer functioning with windows and I needed something for school. I remember I that I wasn’t able to get the wifi card to work with Linux so I ended up getting an external card. It likely is different now and I have a proper desktop, but the experience was rough and I’m not eager to repeat it, lol.

  • nick@midwest.social
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    1 month ago

    Pirate a copy of windows 11 N. It’s the eu version that doesn’t have any of this dogshit in it.

    • Troy@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      Is there a “government” version or similar, where security is paramount? Like, how does MS sell windows 11 to the navy or whatever…?

      • rmuk@feddit.uk
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        1 month ago

        For locked-down devices, they’ll be running LTSC or LTSB editions (Long-Term Support Channel/Branch), or Windows Embedded, which are simplified and heavily customisable versions of Windows. For general-purpose devices, they’ll be using Pro or Enterprise versions of Windows which, crucially, support Group Policy. Using GP it is very, very easy for a single admin to configure an arbitrarily large number of Windows machines to work exactly how they want them to work, including configuration options that aren’t otherwise exposed to the end user in any way.

      • doctortran@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        Probably, but the activation of it would be stringent.

        The issue with any Windows OS going forward, no matter what version, is that Microsoft detests local desktop computing now, and so much of it is being ejected to the cloud. That includes all the various methods of managing it for enterprise customers. They’re slowly working towards the Apple model where the OS basically can’t live in isolation. If it touches the internet, it will phone home and kill itself if told to.

      • zaph@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        I got out just before 11 released and had only been on 10 for a year or so. Military moves very slowly at rolling out the latest windows. I’d be extremely surprised if anyone who isn’t a very high rank running 11.

    • Pissman2020@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      As someone who understands windows fairly well, but until recently couldn’t use the command line to save my life, I started dual booting Ubuntu and it’s pretty easy to figure out once you understand what you’re looking for. Only things I’m still trying to get running are alternatives for the stream deck software, iCUE, and voicemeeter, but I havem’t really invested much time into them yet.

      • Troy@lemmy.ca
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        1 month ago

        Sometimes people get caught up trying to find exact matches for software, when instead it’s a combination of tools that gets the job done on another OS. The annoying thing is learning new toolsets – but it’s only annoying until you know them.

        • Pissman2020@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Yeah I don’t expect to get all the functionality in one piece of software, so I’ll have to cobble it together. Of course, icue depends on the .net framework so it’s not getting ported, and the other 2 just don’t have an official native linux app. Jack mixer is my current target for voicemeeter, but I have to start researching the others at some point.

          • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            1 month ago

            ICUE has a full replacement, I think it’s called CKB next, I can double check that once I’m home if I remember

            I use it to manage my Corsair 12-button mouse and it actually has MORE features and is MORE usable than ICUE ever was

              • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                1 month ago

                It is, I think?

                It also does button mapping and supports Corsair shit out of the box, so it’s what I use it for. I planned to use it for the RGB portion as well but it didn’t support other devices and OPEN RGB is right there so I use that for lighting and CKB for mouse buttons and DPI config, smooth as butter experience compared to ICUE never fucking saving anything to memory no matter HOW HARD I TRY WHY ICUE WHY

                • Pissman2020@lemmy.world
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                  1 month ago

                  I feel that pain in my soul! Sometimes my settings get applied, sometimes not, sometimes integrations work, sometimes not, sometimes the app updates properly, sometimes it breaks itself so windows doesn’t know it’s installed and won’t run it, but the installer thinks it’s installed, so it won’t repair it so I have to delete fucking anything I can find from icue, reinstall it, uninstall with revo, and then reinstall fresh and import all my saved profiles, which only sometimes work. Why the fuck is iCUE so goddamn shitty?!

          • Troy@lemmy.ca
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            1 month ago

            Weirdly enough, .Net works relatively well on Linux (at least the core components). Parts of the framework are even various degrees of open sourced.

            • marlowe221@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              I do a lot of .NET development at work (back end web APIs). It’s all done in Linux via WSL2. All my code runs in Linux containers on Azure.

          • tekato@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            Pipewire has some mixing functionality through tools like pwvucontrol, and graph connections through Helvum.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      For those use cases, there’s very little actual learning to be done.

  • Katana314@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I made my move just recently. It was rocky, I ran into some issues and some of them were my fault.

    I’m willing to put up with it currently not because Linux has gotten markedly better, but Windows has decided (yes, decided) to become significantly worse. Microsoft could have done nothing and I would have stayed a loyal, koolaid-drinking consumer of theirs.

    • mrcleanup@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I’m just starting out with Bazzite right now. Still awkward, but pretty painless, and all the gaming stuff like proton is already configured and baked in. I still need to figure out how to get stuff done though.

  • jaschen@lemm.ee
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    1 month ago

    Real talk.

    I have been around long enough to know that this conversation has happened ever since Windows 7.

    And each time and every time an OS EOL I spend time investigating a couple of Linux distros to try that switch.

    This time is no different. From Redhat to Debian to Ubuntu to popOS to Mint. Each one is significantly better than the last.

    But even 2024, I’m having to spend time inside the terminal to make the OS act more like Windows.

    Tailscale has no native app. Gotta install it in the terminal. I want to use my touch screen in the browser to swipe the back button. Nope, I spent 2 hours on forums and ChatGPT and had to install something in the terminal. I was not successful. My Nvidia video card is not working properly. I gave up after.

    Why am I spending hours trying to make my experience like Windows when Windows is right there. Sure sure, privacy and advertising yada yada. Install Adguard and disable services that you don’t agree with.

    • Derp@lemmy.ml
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      1 month ago

      Maybe you’ve been sold a bit of a lie.

      Linux is not like Windows. Linux will never be like Windows. It is first and foremost a general operating system, not necessarily a Desktop operating system.

      IMO, that means you will never truly be able to completely avoid using the terminal here or there.

      Telling people that it’s easy to switch from Windows to Linux is just not true. Linux just works differently and going in with the expectation that things will work the same way only serves to disappoint those brave enough to attempt the switch.

      If you try again, go in with the mindset that you’ve never used a computer before, and without needing to depend on Linux for your day to day computer work. See it as a tinkering side project, and maybe it will stoke your curiosity enough that you’ll want to use it day to day.

    • kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 month ago

      Because posts like these are fundamentally misleading, Linux isnt a Windows replacement nor is it meant to be (it also wouldn’t make sense since Linux is older then Windows, at least the NT kernel). Honesty if you’re trying to make Linux as similar to Windows as possible just use Windows.

    • mrvictory1@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      If you still have time & energy to troubleshoot you can create posts for your issues. ChatGPT may give incorrect advice.

      I switched because my OS drive was HDD and Win10 was slow & unstable. The background tasks of Win put heavy load on the PC because I didn’t have an SSD. Linux was also slow but a bit more bearable, plus it was stable. Did an SSD upgrade years later.

    • SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      I deal with this issue every few years grappling with a new linux install. And then gaslighted into thinking it’s a non-issue when asking for help. “No big deal, just copy these long lines into the terminal to install this thing that would take a single click on Windows”. Like being obstinant is a virtue

      • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        So you’re saying you don’t spend hours on a new Windows install?

        Or that things that take a moment on Linux may take half an hour on Windows, but God forbid it happens the other way around, unacceptable?

        I mean, things that take a single click on Windows are apparently not all you do to make Windows usable, otherwise installing it and setting it up would take less time, right?

        • jaschen@lemm.ee
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          1 month ago

          I have never spent hours on a Windows install. Full stop.

          This is my routine. Install windows, sign in. Install tailscale. Change my trackpad settings. Done.

          My Adguard takes care of the rest.

          • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            So you are an Edge user then, without any non-MS desktop software, I take it?

            A lot of time we spend installing Unix-like systems is, well, picking unnecessary stuff, like themes, fonts, moving widgets on a taskbar, moving profiles for various software, like Firefox, qBittorrent, aMule … , setting up audio players.

            If I could do that on Windows to any satisfactory result, I would.

            If I don’t count that, installing the OS itself usually takes me like 15 minutes maybe. Not counting the time to write the image, or the time to free a partition, or something like that.

            • jaschen@lemm.ee
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              1 month ago

              Yes, I use edge.

              On Linux, you would get random things you have to fix. Oh, weird, the back button on my mouse doesn’t work in Firefox. Hm… Interesting, my Nvidia video card isn’t working correctly. Ummm, my laptop doesn’t go to sleep when I close it, but overheats it instead. Random shit like this.

          • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            The point frankly was that I don’t see your point.

            Unix-like systems have Unix shell as the most basic and universal interface.

            If your point was that it’s a downside that it even exists, then you are basically saying that something you can’t use should be taken away from those who can. Not many allies.

            • SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
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              1 month ago

              I didn’t say it should be taken away, did I?

              My first computer was all terminal, all the time. It was called the Commodore 64. After that, MS-DOS on an IBM PC (& compatible). I can do the typity-type. But most new adopters of tech aren’t using terminals or command lines… they’re using touch screens and voice commands.

              Microsoft and Apple adapted, making their graphical user interfaces more robust, user-friendly, and compatible with modern workflows… and in turn, those workflows evolved syncretically. The terminal, or command-line, is still accessible, but it’s no longer the primary method for installing or accessing programs.

              No Linux distribution that I know of has reached the same level of usability, and I think it’s because Linux is a platform built by nerds, specifically for nerds to use. I’m a massive nerd myself, but I can see how a lot of new users, who are used to being able to use their computer with just a mouse, would feel excluded and unable to invest the time to learn to adapt.

              There’s no need for bad faith replies; there is nothing attacking nor scathing in my words.

              Is my viewpoint unreasonable?

    • flashgnash@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      I literally used this as an example to demonstrate gaming on Linux is easy now

      Works perfectly out of the box, all you gotta do is install steam, download it and click play

    • kugiyasan@lemmy.one
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      1 month ago

      You install Steam, enable proton compatibility (on all games or on RL specifically), download and launch the game. Even more chance that it works on the first try with Arch linux-based distro, since the kernel version is closer to the ones running on the Steam Deck.

      If you got the game from the Epic Games store, you download and install Heroic games launcher and proton. In the game settings, you specify the install path of proton and it should be good to go

      • Kraven_the_Hunter@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 month ago

        I don’t see it available in Steam though, only Epic through Heroic launcher. I haven’t been able to get it to work though, just get a black screen.

        • flashgnash@lemm.ee
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          1 month ago

          Have you got your filters set to only Linux native games or something? Little penguin icon in the steam search bar

    • bitwolf@lemmy.one
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      1 month ago

      You can through Proton still. It still is a Platinum game even though Epic fucked it up

  • proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    There’s Windows 10 LTSC, which gets security updates til 2027. And IoT Enterprise LTSC, which gets security updates until 2032.

    “But should you even use those versions?!? They are not meant to be installed on a desktop PC/laptop” - idk, it’s either this or Win11.

    For more info on how to install, check https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links

    • ililiililiililiilili@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      For what its worth: I’ve been running enterprise since 2015 (when it was called LTSB) then switched to LTSC IoT around 2021. Its fantastic and doesn’t have all the Candy Crush and other bullshit. I highly recommend.

      • SailorMoss@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        My biggest concern for using the LTSB IoT is how long third-party application support will remain if Microsoft goes through with dropping support next year. I guess a lot of stuff still works under Windows 7 so maybe it will be fine?

        I don’t expect but also won’t be surprised if it ends up being a Windows XP situation where they extend support for Windows 10 several times.

        • doctortran@lemm.ee
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          1 month ago

          I don’t expect but also won’t be surprised if it ends up being a Windows XP situation where they extend support for Windows 10 several times.

          They absolutely will, and they’re planning on this, they’re just not going to announce the true EOL date. The deadline will scare people into upgrading, then they’ll start extending it.

    • grubbyweasel@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      Guys there’s countless tools out there for removing bloat and telemetry and tweaking the UI. it takes like fifteen minutes to make windows 11 completely acceptable for daily usage

      • doctortran@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        The problem is there are many things you can’t disable, remove, or alter, and that will continue to get worse over time.

        Just because some bullshit is listed in Winaero Tweaker or whatever as an option to disable doesn’t mean all the bullshit in the system is listed there.