this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Why is Linux so frustrating for some people? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago by leninmummy@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Don't get me wrong. I love Linux and FOSS. I have been using and installing distros on my own since I was 12. Now that I'm working in tech-related positions, after the Reddit migration happened, etc. I recovered my interest in all the Linux environment. I use Ubuntu as my main operating system in my Desktop, but I always end up feeling very limited. There's always software I can't use properly (and not just Windows stuff), some stuff badly configured with weird error messages... last time I was not able to even use the apt command. Sometimes I lack time and energy for troubleshooting and sometimes I just fail at it.

I usually end up in need of redoing a fresh install until it breaks up again. Maybe Linux is not good for beginners working full time? Maybe we should do something like that Cisco course that teaches you the basic commands?

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[–] ashok36@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This. I get a wild hair every couple years to daily drive Linux and there's always something small but crucial that breaks within a day or so and there's no way for me, a relative novice, to fix it.

Example: I picked up a old ThinkPad on ebay last year. I put Ubuntu on it and after a day or two the wifi just stops working. No error messages. Nothing. I tried digging into the settings via ui with no luck. Googling didn't help because I couldn't tell what was helpful, unhelpful, or would have been helpful but is five years out of date.

After a few days of trying to make it work, I just threw on windows and haven't had any issues since.

[–] flubba86@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I've always had the opposite experience, especially with hardware like older thinkpads. Trying to use windows, everything runs so slowly, I have to try to find the right wifi and sound drivers from the manufacturers website, and make sure you get the right driver version that works with Windows 10. Then windows update runs and overwrites your drivers with Microsoft drivers that don't work.

Installing Ubuntu, everything works straight out of the box, don't need to go hunting all over the internet for installer packages.

[–] HughJanus@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have to try to find the right wifi and sound drivers from the manufacturers website, and make sure you get the right driver version that works with Windows 10.

Meanwhile these drivers don't even exist for Linux

[–] priapus@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'm pretty sure every thinkpad uses network adapters with linux drivers.

[–] HughJanus@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sure, and ThinkPads make up like 1% of computing devices.

[–] priapus@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

Fair, but the person above you was talking about ThinkPads... Laptops with network adapters that have no Linux drivers are very rare. In the large majority of cases network adapters have drivers in the kernel, and almost all of the rest have drivers that need to be installed after. I used to work at a PC shop where I would very often use a Linux live CD to test hardware if Windows was having issues that seemed to be driver related. 90% of the hardware we worked on were laptops, so I booted Linux on a lot of them. There was never a laptop that didn't work out of the box on Linux. They certainly exist, but they are not as common as you think they are.

[–] amanneedsamaid@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago

Whenever I've used an old Thinkpad with windows on it, it has been slow to the point of being unusable. Linux is much better in this regard, let alone after a few years of use.