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I'm a big fan of Linux, but the idea that it's free is only the case, as they say, if your time is worthless. I use Debian, which is generally considered to be

I'm a big fan of Linux, but the idea that it's free is only the case, as they say, if your time is worthless. I use Debian, which is generally considered to be pretty stable and sane, and yet I've still spent tens and tens of hours dealing with issues that simply aren't a problem on Windows or Mac. Currently I'm fighting what I think is a DPMS issue where my external monitor wont wake up from the laptop dock after the monitors all sleep. Ultimately, I think it's a price worth paying for the experience and flexibility I want, but it's very head-in-the-sand to pretend that it's not just as expensive as Windows, just you don't pay in cash.

deleted 8y ago
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craftyguy 8y ago
Meh. Both partner and a very close family member have been users of Antergos Linux (based on Arch) for 2 years, and they don't even know it. The close family member has been using Linux on laptops since about 2005 (started with ubuntu). One is a philosophy major, the other an elementary school teacher. Neither has any technical background whatsoever. The hardest problem hit so far was changing from Gnome to Cinnamon (one didn't like Gnome's layout).
yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago
> the idea that it's free is only the case, as they say, if your time is worthless. I wouldn't actually disagree, except that you seem to be implying that Windows is better. Especially with their increased rate of bugs in some recent updates, I'm not convinced.
justtopost 8y ago
Idk, I spend more time installing drivers on a windows install than the entire install and config of most linux boxes. Sure there are gotchas, but honestly i geat nearly as many in windows, but don't spend my time fixing the issue because I literally can't, and just have to live with the problem, or use crude workarounds.
- L0stLink 8y ago
  For a long time now windows update has automatically installed the drivers for me and is what I typically recommend to everyone. Searching the web for drivers and downloading them manually will usually end in (even tech savvy) people installing crap-ware at best and malware at worse along side them. Configuring Linux is not a problem too as long as you pick the right hardware (which is usually just staying away from Qualcomm and Realtek NICs in my experience) and distro. The real time sink on linux is customizing it to the point where I am comfortable using it.

deleted 8y ago

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craftyguy 8y ago

Meh. Both partner and a very close family member have been users of Antergos Linux (based on Arch) for 2 years, and they don't even know it. The close family member has been using Linux on laptops since about 2005 (started with ubuntu). One is a philosophy major, the other an elementary school teacher. Neither has any technical background whatsoever. The hardest problem hit so far was changing from Gnome to Cinnamon (one didn't like Gnome's layout).

yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago

> the idea that it's free is only the case, as they say, if your time is worthless. I wouldn't actually disagree, except that you seem to be implying that Windows is better. Especially with their increased rate of bugs in some recent updates, I'm not convinced.

justtopost 8y ago

Idk, I spend more time installing drivers on a windows install than the entire install and config of most linux boxes. Sure there are gotchas, but honestly i geat nearly as many in windows, but don't spend my time fixing the issue because I literally can't, and just have to live with the problem, or use crude workarounds.

L0stLink 8y ago
For a long time now windows update has automatically installed the drivers for me and is what I typically recommend to everyone. Searching the web for drivers and downloading them manually will usually end in (even tech savvy) people installing crap-ware at best and malware at worse along side them. Configuring Linux is not a problem too as long as you pick the right hardware (which is usually just staying away from Qualcomm and Realtek NICs in my experience) and distro. The real time sink on linux is customizing it to the point where I am comfortable using it.