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Is it uncommon for folks to use a Linux desktop as their primary OS? I've been doing so for about 10 years and I've had no complaints. Whenever I need some spec

Is it uncommon for folks to use a Linux desktop as their primary OS? I've been doing so for about 10 years and I've had no complaints. Whenever I need some specific software I boot to Windows or use Virtualbox. I also have a Macbook Pro 2015

geophile 6y ago
Same. I’ve been on Pop OS on a System76 Darter for over a year. Very happy with the combination, and the price.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ultrarunner 6y ago
Unified keyboard shortcuts and I'd be all there. I've come kinda close-ish in Elementary, but it's still clunky enough that I can't commit full-time.
- 72deluxe 6y ago
  I used to use Linux as a daily driver until switching to macOS because I wanted to get stuff done instead of faffing around and learning edge cases for every app. I used to use KDE 3.5 which was near perfect and didn’t require learning new methods of using a computer for each app, but then KDE4 and GNOME3 got released which was like stepping backwards 20 years. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head that unified interactions (and with the keyboard, not some dumb new hamburger menu for mouse users like the new gedit) are what’s required and missing for speedy daily use. I couldn’t articulate it until reading your comment, thanks.
dylan604 6y ago
>Is it uncommon for folks to use a Linux desktop as their primary OS? Serious question? Otherwise I have to respond with LOL. Only people inside the tech bubble would think a Linux desktop was normal, and even inside the tech bubble you truly have to have a reason. The largest install of Linux as a desktop for a company I've seen has been at a post house where all of the software ran on Linux. The users only used it to launch the specific app they needed. They had TDs (technical directors) to do all of the Linuxy type of stuff.
- PaulDavisThe1st 6y ago
  Welcome to this website. It's name is "Hacker News". The name, in case you didn't guess, comes from the main demographic that it targets/is driven by.
jki275 6y ago
Uncommon? Yes. Very few people run Linux as a their primary OS.
- ironmagma 6y ago
  Not sure why this is downvoted, it’s objective truth. I’ll go one farther though and say that Linux sucks, and in fact we must admit that if we want it to ever be good. It requires constant investment by the community to remain competitive with the other big players, who are constantly reshaping and making advances we need to keep up with. This is spoken as a desktop Linux user.
  - bitcharmer 6y ago
    Out of curiosity; if Linux sucks, why do you still choose it over other systems?
    - jki275 6y ago
      Why would that surprise you, given the comment? The desire is to make it better, using it in spite of its issues is a way to do that. More users = more inertia to make it better, more resources for reporting issues, etc. I personally use Linux all the time, but not on the desktop because it's just bad enough that I can't stand it (It's really not Linux, it's X and all its associated crap). I won't criticize those who do because they want a better OS though, that's a good thing.
      - bitcharmer 6y ago
        > Why would that surprise you, given the comment? Because people choose the least shitty solution for themselves whenever they can. So it doesn't make sense to torment yourself with an OS you don't like or cannot utilise to the extent that you'd like.
        ironmagma 6y ago
        It's more about generativity. I have the capability to make this thing better, and I see vendor-imposed problems all the time with the proprietary solutions. Put two and two together and there's really only one responsible choice.
pfranz 6y ago
I think even in the tech community it's uncommon...especially if you mainly use a laptop. Thankfully, laptop options have expanded quite a bit. However, a few years ago a Steam update had potential to erase a bunch of data[1]. Is there a Linux option similar to Time Machine or Windows Backup (backing to a local network drive)? I've used things like rsync and restic. They work great for jobby-job like needs, but isn't something I could show a point-and-click user to manage themselves. How soon did you install Linux on your Macbook Pro 2015? Which distro did you go with? When I get a new Mac I usually test out a few Linux distros and it can take years (if ever) to get decent support. Things like; wifi, palm rejection of trackpad, power management (decent battery optimizations or sleep/wake). [1] https://www.pcworld.com/article/2871653/scary-steam-for-linux-bug-erases-all-the-personal-files-on-your-pc.html https://www.pcworld.com/article/2871653/scary-steam-for-linu...
pjmlp 6y ago
Yes, I gave up on Linux for anything desktop related about 15 years ago. Still have an ASUS Netbook with Ubuntu LTS, which allows me to validate the "progress" of Desktop Linux on laptops. Naturally I occasionally get to deal with it via VMs and server deployments, however for my choice of languages the OS hardly matters anyway.
mariopal 6y ago
I've been using Debian GNU/Linux with KDE as my main Desktop from 1999 (21 years now): in home and work. As a "family administrator" my father use Linux in the Desktop too from about the same time. My 2 sisters and my brother also use it all the time. If they have any problems, they call me and I'll take care of it. I got married in 2004, and since then my wife and in-laws have also used Linux on the desktop as their only operating system. My oldest daughter is 16 years old and has always used Linux at home, and she had no problem when Windows was found in some classes in the High School. I think it is possible, as long as you have someone to turn to if there are problems (I am that someone in my family).

geophile 6y ago

Same. I’ve been on Pop OS on a System76 Darter for over a year. Very happy with the combination, and the price.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ultrarunner 6y ago

Unified keyboard shortcuts and I'd be all there. I've come kinda close-ish in Elementary, but it's still clunky enough that I can't commit full-time.

72deluxe 6y ago
I used to use Linux as a daily driver until switching to macOS because I wanted to get stuff done instead of faffing around and learning edge cases for every app. I used to use KDE 3.5 which was near perfect and didn’t require learning new methods of using a computer for each app, but then KDE4 and GNOME3 got released which was like stepping backwards 20 years. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head that unified interactions (and with the keyboard, not some dumb new hamburger menu for mouse users like the new gedit) are what’s required and missing for speedy daily use. I couldn’t articulate it until reading your comment, thanks.

dylan604 6y ago

>Is it uncommon for folks to use a Linux desktop as their primary OS? Serious question? Otherwise I have to respond with LOL. Only people inside the tech bubble would think a Linux desktop was normal, and even inside the tech bubble you truly have to have a reason. The largest install of Linux as a desktop for a company I've seen has been at a post house where all of the software ran on Linux. The users only used it to launch the specific app they needed. They had TDs (technical directors) to do all of the Linuxy type of stuff.

PaulDavisThe1st 6y ago
Welcome to this website. It's name is "Hacker News". The name, in case you didn't guess, comes from the main demographic that it targets/is driven by.

jki275 6y ago

Uncommon? Yes. Very few people run Linux as a their primary OS.

ironmagma 6y ago
Not sure why this is downvoted, it’s objective truth. I’ll go one farther though and say that Linux sucks, and in fact we must admit that if we want it to ever be good. It requires constant investment by the community to remain competitive with the other big players, who are constantly reshaping and making advances we need to keep up with. This is spoken as a desktop Linux user.
- bitcharmer 6y ago
  Out of curiosity; if Linux sucks, why do you still choose it over other systems?
  - jki275 6y ago
    Why would that surprise you, given the comment? The desire is to make it better, using it in spite of its issues is a way to do that. More users = more inertia to make it better, more resources for reporting issues, etc. I personally use Linux all the time, but not on the desktop because it's just bad enough that I can't stand it (It's really not Linux, it's X and all its associated crap). I won't criticize those who do because they want a better OS though, that's a good thing.
    - bitcharmer 6y ago
      > Why would that surprise you, given the comment? Because people choose the least shitty solution for themselves whenever they can. So it doesn't make sense to torment yourself with an OS you don't like or cannot utilise to the extent that you'd like.
      - ironmagma 6y ago
        It's more about generativity. I have the capability to make this thing better, and I see vendor-imposed problems all the time with the proprietary solutions. Put two and two together and there's really only one responsible choice.

pfranz 6y ago

I think even in the tech community it's uncommon...especially if you mainly use a laptop. Thankfully, laptop options have expanded quite a bit. However, a few years ago a Steam update had potential to erase a bunch of data[1]. Is there a Linux option similar to Time Machine or Windows Backup (backing to a local network drive)? I've used things like rsync and restic. They work great for jobby-job like needs, but isn't something I could show a point-and-click user to manage themselves. How soon did you install Linux on your Macbook Pro 2015? Which distro did you go with? When I get a new Mac I usually test out a few Linux distros and it can take years (if ever) to get decent support. Things like; wifi, palm rejection of trackpad, power management (decent battery optimizations or sleep/wake). [1] https://www.pcworld.com/article/2871653/scary-steam-for-linux-bug-erases-all-the-personal-files-on-your-pc.html https://www.pcworld.com/article/2871653/scary-steam-for-linu...

pjmlp 6y ago

Yes, I gave up on Linux for anything desktop related about 15 years ago. Still have an ASUS Netbook with Ubuntu LTS, which allows me to validate the "progress" of Desktop Linux on laptops. Naturally I occasionally get to deal with it via VMs and server deployments, however for my choice of languages the OS hardly matters anyway.

mariopal 6y ago

I've been using Debian GNU/Linux with KDE as my main Desktop from 1999 (21 years now): in home and work. As a "family administrator" my father use Linux in the Desktop too from about the same time. My 2 sisters and my brother also use it all the time. If they have any problems, they call me and I'll take care of it. I got married in 2004, and since then my wife and in-laws have also used Linux on the desktop as their only operating system. My oldest daughter is 16 years old and has always used Linux at home, and she had no problem when Windows was found in some classes in the High School. I think it is possible, as long as you have someone to turn to if there are problems (I am that someone in my family).