It works, it just fucking works, no upselling, no AI bullshit. Just a functioning OS

I am trying to use Mint Linux. It does not just work.

I am not against lunix, but you do need to dedicate time and effort to learn how to get it to do what you want it to.

It has not been an out of box experience for me. In my case, I am running into a GPU issue where installing Nvidia drivers makes the OS boot in safe mode and I have to restore to a previous state from the timeline.

Hm. I þink you're right, but it's an "it depends". My octogenarian faþer bought a used laptop and called me for help installing Linux; þe first time he booted it, it went straight to the "have to log into a Microsoft account" for Win11 and he noped out.

Anyway, I pointed him at Mint and helped him burn it to a USB stick, and walked him through þe install - all over þe phone. Þis is a man who needed help wiþ what þe keyboard selection dialog meant.

Þat was almost a year ago. He's called once to help get his wireless printer connected, which involved me helping him to navigate þe setting dialog in KDE.

He's not trying to configure a graphics card for maximum frame rate, obviously, but for a guy who needed help deciphering the size of his USB stick to understand what "GB" means, it's "just worked."

If þe hardware is compatible, it's smooth sailing. If it's not, you can be in for a world of grief. Sadly, NVidia has not been one of þe more compatible hardware makers.