4 ms·

Linux is also free and doesn't have this problem.

by weberer 4y ago

pipeline_peak 4y ago
“ Linux is only free if your time has no value”
- badsectoracula 4y ago
  Meanwhile with Windows not only you pay for the OS but also with your time to make it approximate a decent environment (with increasingly less options ever new version).
- account-5 4y ago
  Only when you start to learn to use it, just like when you start to learn to use Windows.
  - pipeline_peak 4y ago
    [flagged]
  - AnIdiotOnTheNet 4y ago
    Tell me that after trying to get VR working in Linux. You'll have to buy an Index first of course, since it's basically the only one that works. Only just barely, of course.
    - account-5 4y ago
      I'll take your word for it, never tried and not interested in it at all. Though I'd suggest the lack of Linux support from VR vendors is nothing to do with Linux and everything to do with the VR vendors.
- Drawde 4y ago
  That line seems to often be said in threads where people are fighting against Microsoft's latest barrage of dark patterns. For some reason the time spent on dealing with that is never compared fairly: "Windows is only usable if your time has no value".
  - mikymoothrowa 4y ago
    Even when that line was true, I could get Linux working with a few hours of effort No amount of effort is going to make windows usable when there’s a company actively working to make it user-hostile
- zamalek 4y ago
  This quote dates back to earlier than 2010. I don't think jwz would agree with it in 2023. On Windows you burn time eliminating ads, Edge, "set up your machine" popups, and other bullshit. On MacOS you burn time papering over what is a completely incompetent OS for dev: containers, package management, fourty-fucking-five minute security patches, and other bullshit. Linux generally just works.
  - dekhn 4y ago
    jwz still complains about linux, but less than mac! He uses Linux throughout his club and tech stack and still grumbles but I think he's finally recognized over time that Apple's attitude toward the UNIX core of Mac and its non-commitment to backwards comptability have repeatedly burned him.
- gary17the 4y ago
  > “Linux is only free if your time has no value” This motto, although actually true in the past, is probably no longer valid. Install the latest Ubuntu/Kubuntu with KDE/Plasma and you get a high performance, GUI-configurable, aesthetically pleasing desktop. You will need to drop down to the Linux command line only if you need to pull off some kind of advanced networking, virtualization, etc. setup. (While you're at it, switch to the free ZFS filesystem and enjoy disk bit rot checking without Windows Enterprise/Pro ReFS). The entire Linux system and almost all user apps upgrade automatically from a set of pre-defined online installer repositories. If you want to game, boot Linux on a CPU-integrated graphics card and pass-through your stand-alone GPU to a Windows-guest KVM-host (QEMU) virtual machine for 99% native gaming performance, no need to dual-boot.
  - deafpolygon 4y ago
    GNOME is a joke for triple monitor, and KDE's multi-monitor support is somewhat broken.
- jemmyw 4y ago
  Time wasted. I tried to install Windows recently on a completely wiped laptop. I couldn't do it, it failed after partitioning or copying in several different ways. I find comments online that it might be sensitive to what USB drive is used (might be?). I had a license and an image from Microsoft and one from the laptop manufacturer, both failed the same way. I've installed a bunch of Linux distros on it in the past with no problem. When reinstalling a Mac you just go into recovery and net install. I find it bizarre that windows is as bad as it is.
vsareto 4y ago
Each desktop OS has its downsides. Nothing is clearly the best choice.
- DrBazza 4y ago
  No, but the least-bad choice clearly isn't Windows.
DangitBobby 4y ago
Games.
- gombosg 4y ago
  I saw your same - not really valuable - comment above. If you're using Windows for games only, then having or not having an Edge icon on the desktop is not an issue. If you're using it professionally, then it's annoying, along with all the ads, tracking, dark patterns and other bullshit you receive in Windows - especially that you already pay for a license. Compare that with Linux, which mostly gets out of your way, doesn't track you and is free. I've been using (Fedora) Linux for professional work for more than 5 years now and still very happy with it. I'm also gaming occasionally on a dual-booted Windows (browsing HN while Death Stranding is installing :)) and get annoyed every time when booting into it. It always feels good to go back to Linux, where you can play most non-AAA game titles anyway.
  - pjerem 4y ago
    > It always feels good to go back to Linux, where you can play most non-AAA game titles anyway. With Proton you can play most games now. AAA or not. Like, Death Stranding, it works.
    - DangitBobby 4y ago
      https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34479686 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34479686
  - DangitBobby 4y ago
    Would you consider (smugly) reminding people that Linux exists to be a "valuable comment"? GIGO
labrador 4y ago
I prefer Windows

Linux is also free and doesn't have this problem.

pipeline_peak 4y ago

“ Linux is only free if your time has no value”

badsectoracula 4y ago
Meanwhile with Windows not only you pay for the OS but also with your time to make it approximate a decent environment (with increasingly less options ever new version).
account-5 4y ago
Only when you start to learn to use it, just like when you start to learn to use Windows.
- pipeline_peak 4y ago
  [flagged]
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 4y ago
  Tell me that after trying to get VR working in Linux. You'll have to buy an Index first of course, since it's basically the only one that works. Only just barely, of course.
  - account-5 4y ago
    I'll take your word for it, never tried and not interested in it at all. Though I'd suggest the lack of Linux support from VR vendors is nothing to do with Linux and everything to do with the VR vendors.
Drawde 4y ago
That line seems to often be said in threads where people are fighting against Microsoft's latest barrage of dark patterns. For some reason the time spent on dealing with that is never compared fairly: "Windows is only usable if your time has no value".
- mikymoothrowa 4y ago
  Even when that line was true, I could get Linux working with a few hours of effort No amount of effort is going to make windows usable when there’s a company actively working to make it user-hostile
zamalek 4y ago
This quote dates back to earlier than 2010. I don't think jwz would agree with it in 2023. On Windows you burn time eliminating ads, Edge, "set up your machine" popups, and other bullshit. On MacOS you burn time papering over what is a completely incompetent OS for dev: containers, package management, fourty-fucking-five minute security patches, and other bullshit. Linux generally just works.
- dekhn 4y ago
  jwz still complains about linux, but less than mac! He uses Linux throughout his club and tech stack and still grumbles but I think he's finally recognized over time that Apple's attitude toward the UNIX core of Mac and its non-commitment to backwards comptability have repeatedly burned him.
gary17the 4y ago
> “Linux is only free if your time has no value” This motto, although actually true in the past, is probably no longer valid. Install the latest Ubuntu/Kubuntu with KDE/Plasma and you get a high performance, GUI-configurable, aesthetically pleasing desktop. You will need to drop down to the Linux command line only if you need to pull off some kind of advanced networking, virtualization, etc. setup. (While you're at it, switch to the free ZFS filesystem and enjoy disk bit rot checking without Windows Enterprise/Pro ReFS). The entire Linux system and almost all user apps upgrade automatically from a set of pre-defined online installer repositories. If you want to game, boot Linux on a CPU-integrated graphics card and pass-through your stand-alone GPU to a Windows-guest KVM-host (QEMU) virtual machine for 99% native gaming performance, no need to dual-boot.
- deafpolygon 4y ago
  GNOME is a joke for triple monitor, and KDE's multi-monitor support is somewhat broken.
jemmyw 4y ago
Time wasted. I tried to install Windows recently on a completely wiped laptop. I couldn't do it, it failed after partitioning or copying in several different ways. I find comments online that it might be sensitive to what USB drive is used (might be?). I had a license and an image from Microsoft and one from the laptop manufacturer, both failed the same way. I've installed a bunch of Linux distros on it in the past with no problem. When reinstalling a Mac you just go into recovery and net install. I find it bizarre that windows is as bad as it is.

vsareto 4y ago

Each desktop OS has its downsides. Nothing is clearly the best choice.

DrBazza 4y ago
No, but the least-bad choice clearly isn't Windows.

DangitBobby 4y ago

Games.

gombosg 4y ago
I saw your same - not really valuable - comment above. If you're using Windows for games only, then having or not having an Edge icon on the desktop is not an issue. If you're using it professionally, then it's annoying, along with all the ads, tracking, dark patterns and other bullshit you receive in Windows - especially that you already pay for a license. Compare that with Linux, which mostly gets out of your way, doesn't track you and is free. I've been using (Fedora) Linux for professional work for more than 5 years now and still very happy with it. I'm also gaming occasionally on a dual-booted Windows (browsing HN while Death Stranding is installing :)) and get annoyed every time when booting into it. It always feels good to go back to Linux, where you can play most non-AAA game titles anyway.
- pjerem 4y ago
  > It always feels good to go back to Linux, where you can play most non-AAA game titles anyway. With Proton you can play most games now. AAA or not. Like, Death Stranding, it works.
  - DangitBobby 4y ago
    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34479686 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34479686
- DangitBobby 4y ago
  Would you consider (smugly) reminding people that Linux exists to be a "valuable comment"? GIGO

labrador 4y ago

I prefer Windows