punrca

I Gave Up on Windows 11. Linux Mint Is Simply Better in 7 Big Ways (PCMAG)

https://piefed.world/c/linux/p/1014535/i-gave-up-on-windows-11-linux-mint-is-simply-better-in-7-big-ways-pcmag

I Gave Up on Windows 11. Linux Mint Is Simply Better in 7 Big Ways (PCMAG)

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Apr 5 at 12:14pmWeb
Show threadatropa1d ago
Welcome to linux ,ive started with mint12 cinnamon,had great times wih it
Show threadone_old_coder1d ago

I have used every Linux distribution for the past 20 years. I stayed with Linux Mint because it’s up to date, pretty but simple, and reminds of Windows 98/2000, i.e. no fluff.

A good reminder that most versions of Linux now have a live ISO version that doesn’t require you to install it and destroy your computer in the process.

Show threadKhleedril1d ago
@one_old_coder @punrca I've used Linux-based systems since ~1992 and I've never known a computer become worse, let alone destroyed.
Show threadSkipcast1d ago

There’s also this if you want to do simple tests for a lot of different distros

distrosea.com

Test Linux distros online - DistroSea

Instantly test run Linux distros online in the cloud for free, right from your web browser. No installation or live boot required.

DistroSea
Show threadn4sdaq1d ago
This is awesome. I’m definitely going to use this to try out various distros even though I’m happy with Linux Mint. Thanks for sharing!
Show threadSkipcast1d ago
No problem!
Show threadGloomy1d ago
Awesome, thanks.
Show threadneidu31d ago

One can argue that Linux Mint isn’t that up to date. But in my opinion, it’s up to date enough.

It’s new enough that you’re not living in the digital medieval era, and at the same time, any software installed is for the most part mature, well tested, and stable. And I find that more important than bleeding edge versioning.

And on the few occasions where I need something newer than what can be found in the standard repos, there’s always the option of building from git or adding additional sources.

I’ve been a linux user off and on in varying capacity since the 90s, combined with some FreeBSD, but linux was only a secondary OS on my desktop until I made the complete switch once I saw the trajectory of Windows 8.

Mint reminds me of how Windows 7 was designed: Simply a good OS.

Show threadDie4Ever1d ago
I think it might give you problems if you try to install it on brand new hardware though, because Mint uses an older kernel by default
Show threadneidu31d ago

Yes, but it’s easy to work around.

Source: I bought a brand new Lenovo Legion autumn 2024, and the GPU needed a very recent nvidia driver, which in turn needed a newer kernel than what was available by default. I had to install a mainline kernel, and download nvidia driver from their site. Took maybe 30 minutes to get it up and running properly.

Show threadDie4Ever1d ago
Yeah but it’s harder when something else is incompatible, like WiFi on a laptop, or Ethernet on a desktop. Not so easy to update the kernel without internet. I wonder if it would be possible for the installer to include multiple versions of the kernel to choose from.
Show threadneidu323h ago
You’ve never had to bike over to a friend’s house 8km away to download a modem driver and copy it onto a floppy, and it shows
Show threadTaasz/Woof1d ago
Yes too up to date can be a downside for most, I want stability and just want my OS to be there and do its thing with a monthly or so update I run.
Show threadDie4Ever1d ago
Also use Lutris to easily test multiple distros
Show threadprunerye1d ago

The article states that you can’t link your phone to Linux Mint like you can on Windows or Mac.

Huh?

Show threadhenfredemars1d ago

You certainly can. I think part of this perception comes from this idea that you’re stuck with the same desktop environment or utilities that came with the system, whereas on Linux you can completely reinstall things you didn’t even know were options from the Windows World.

For example, I can run Gnome and use the KDE connect application if I want to.

To some users, if the system doesn’t recommend the use case or hold your hand through it, they confuse that with being impossible.

Show threadRenardDesMers1d ago
And there is an extension for GNOME shell called GSconnect using kdeconnect protocol. But I understand there’s none called Linux mint so it’s not as easy for discoverability.
Show threadKoboldCoterie1d ago

It’s valuable to see comments like this, though. You could claim it’s ignorance on the part of the writer, but a better takeaway is that Linux doesn’t do a good job of explaining how it works. This could have been prevented with some kind of post-install documentation explaining exactly what you just posted, for example. The “New To Linux” experience is really not great if you don’t have online communities or external-to-the-OS resources to reference to find out things like this. I went quite a long time after making the switch before really understanding that the desktop environment is largely independent from the OS and how the two relate.

On that note, having multiple desktop environments available to “demo” on the live USB pre-install would help massively. Hearing “Oh, there’s X desktop environments to choose from!” isn’t useful if you don’t know what the difference is or which one you prefer, and online resources aren’t particularly helpful if you’re coming to Linux from another OS. Fuck anyone who installs, say, CachyOS that has what, like 15-20 options? rather than 3 for Mint.

Show threadyoung_broccoli1d ago
You can run kde connect on Mint Cinnamon without problems too
Show threadsteel_for_humans1d ago

It’s true. Sort of ;) Tried connecting my openSUSE with my Android phone today.

https://github.com/GSConnect/gnome-shell-extension-gsconnect/issues/2116

Supposedly fixed and merged but not released yet. I decided to wait.

Deprecated / obsolete usage of Gio.DesktopAppInfo for GNOME 49+ · Issue #2116 · GSConnect/gnome-shell-extension-gsconnect

Describe the bug Deprecated / obsolete usage of Gio.DesktopAppInfo in latest stable GNOME Jan 11 11:14:46 cerberus gsconnect[2911]: Gio.DesktopAppInfo has been moved to a separate platform-specific...

GitHub
Show threadpunrca1d ago

AirDrop/Quick-share FOSS alternative to transfer files across cross-platforms (LocalSend): https://localsend.org/

LocalSend is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

It’s free and open source, source code is here: https://github.com/localsend/localsend

LocalSend: Share files to nearby devices

LocalSend is a free, open-source, cross-platform file sharing tool that allows you to share files to nearby devices.

Show threadPhoenixz1d ago

Bullshit

KDE connect has finally been working well for years now

Show threadPossibly linux16h ago

I wouldn’t say bullshit

KDE connect is fairly obscure

Show threadPapierkorb4h ago
Comes by default on KDE.
Show threadPossibly linux2h ago
The article in question is about Linux Mint
Show threadSteveTech16h ago

Also,

it doesn’t run some major software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud or Microsoft 365 desktop apps.

I don’t use it, but I’ve heard Adobe CC can work now. Microsoft Office also still works for me with CrossOver, although they’ve just given up on support for it. Sure, these are much more nitpick things, but I think the author could’ve at least done some research.

Show threadHeroicBillyBishop1d ago
Curious that Ubuntu seems to get passed over in discussions/publications, yet is the largest install base (I seem to recall reading, open to contradicting info)
Show threadCyberSeeker1d ago
Not curious, Canonical is widely seen as antithetical to open source ethos. But it is stable and has put in a lot of work for vendor support, which is why so many distros (including Mint) are downstream derivatives from Ubuntu.
Show threadEldritch1d ago
Yep. Purely for interface simplicity mint is gonna feel a lot more familiar to people fleeing windows. Yes Ubuntu can install the same DE or even KDE. But it’s not the default. And that confuses people.
Show threadDie4Ever1d ago
This is why I think Kubuntu is a better suggestion than Ubuntu, and also Discover is better than the Ubuntu Software Center anyways and it makes it easy to avoid Snaps and does a good job managing Flatpaks.
Show threadEldritch1d ago

For family I’ve been pushing Bazaar. Depending on distro, discover can be lacking on integration. Updating some packages but not others. If your distro does flatpak, and it does. It’s click bang done most of the time. No PPAs, or several user/community repos to cock you up randomly.

Personally I like native and rolling release. But I’ve been using Linux for 30 plus years. When you just need it to work and be a relatively recent release. Can’t argue with results.

Show threadDie4Ever1d ago
I haven’t tried Bazaar
Show threadEldritch1d ago
My biggest gripe about it is it uses gtk. Other than that it’s fantastic. It’s an awesome way to discover and keep your flatpaks up to date.
Show threadDie4Ever1d ago

It’s an awesome way to discover

discover

I see what you did there

Show threadEldritch1d ago
Honestly in a lot of ways that’s kind of what it’s like. Discover but woth a central unified Repository for all distros.
Show threadHanrahan1d ago

But it is stable and has put in a lot of work for vendor support, which is why so many distros (including Mint) are downstream derivatives from Ubuntu.

which is why I’m on LMDE

Show threadTrackinDaKraken1d ago

I started on Ubuntu, then I read more about Ubuntu, and switched to Mint. Ubuntu brings a lot of people to Linux, and then a lot of people leave Ubuntu after learning more about it.

You could read more about Ubuntu, too, the information is available.

Show threadHeroicBillyBishop1d ago

Thank you - what made you leave Ubuntu?

What might people read that would convince them to switch?

Show threadOnomatopoeia1d ago
Most basic thing - devs target it for things like schools, yet rip out things for remote management.
Show threadFizz1d ago
it takes less than 5seconds to “reinstall” them. I swear distros cant win with whatever software they include/dont.
Show threadLumpyPancakes1d ago
For me, among other things it hijacked apt for snap silently, or something sneaky like that.
Show threadTaasz/Woof1d ago
Ubuntu is not great due to Canonicals choices.
Show threadPossibly linux16h ago
Ubuntu was great 15 years ago
Show threadtabarnaski1d ago
The logo is backwards and it pisses me off
Show threadmorto23h ago
It’s so awesome to see linux getting more and more media attention. I hope it helps grow the userbase
Show threadSunshine16h ago
Let’s get it to 6% on steam!
Show threadluciole (they/them)20h ago
I’ve used Mint for a while and then I started getting curious about all these sexy Arch setups. I was intimidated with the install process though, so I tried out CachyOS and Endeavour. I ended up staying with the latter. It’s got that bleeding edge Arch flavour while easing you into it. I prefer Endeavour’s approach (we’ll help you learn) to CachyOS’s one (it just works).