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I am a programmer that in 1996 installed my first Linux - a Debian 2.0. It's true that the current state is way better than before. However I don't want to reme

I am a programmer that in 1996 installed my first Linux - a Debian 2.0. It's true that the current state is way better than before. However I don't want to remember the 3 days I lost trying to fix an issue with printer drivers and by going to the source the "driver" worked by parsing the web interface of the network printer. (don't let me start on laptops & battery usage) It's a good idea, but not for consumer grade computing and even me sitting for 14 hours/day in front of one - still don't want to spend the time to fight my laptop to work properly. I won't allow anything other than linux on my servers, but desktop computer or phones are better left without it.

Aachen 2y ago
Specifically for printers, since you mention it, my experience since about 2017 or so has been that my Debian just finds them and can immediately print out of the box (both network and USB), whereas on Windows e.g. my dad has to re-add it in the configuration panel every couple days and drives him mad, but also in a normal case you're expected to configure it on first use I have come across one unsupported printer where you were advised to pick a driver for a similar model number, and even that didn't work for me, but I'll trade that outlier for all the other times where it was so much easier than Windows ever was. One can check the model before purchasing if it's about your own printer (I don't own one anymore, cartridges aren't worth it at the 5 pages per year that I need for outdated transport companies nowadays; copyshops exist) I'm not into printers and their drivers so I've got no idea what changed or who made this happen, but whoever did this for printers on Linux is a real hero "Sadly", I recently helped my dad get set up on a new Windows 11 and that seems to have this behaviour now, too, so Windows does seem to be catching up in usability > (don't let me start on laptops & battery usage) That one is a real trade-off indeed. It's not all sunshine and roses Another one is GPU drivers and WiFi chips, but it's a one-time hardware check and setup thing, so for those issues you could ask someone else to install your system to a functional state and anyone can use it from there with the same learning curve as when they'd use macOS for the first time (Cinnamon looks a whole lot like XP, if that's what they're coming from like I was)
- amatecha 2y ago
  I recently set up a new Debian install. Just went into the Printer Settings, and my printer is there. I did nothing, it just worked on its own. Printer issues are almost always the fault of the manufacturer -- if you're using Linux/BSD, check support before making hardware purchases and you'll be golden :)

Aachen 2y ago

Specifically for printers, since you mention it, my experience since about 2017 or so has been that my Debian just finds them and can immediately print out of the box (both network and USB), whereas on Windows e.g. my dad has to re-add it in the configuration panel every couple days and drives him mad, but also in a normal case you're expected to configure it on first use I have come across one unsupported printer where you were advised to pick a driver for a similar model number, and even that didn't work for me, but I'll trade that outlier for all the other times where it was so much easier than Windows ever was. One can check the model before purchasing if it's about your own printer (I don't own one anymore, cartridges aren't worth it at the 5 pages per year that I need for outdated transport companies nowadays; copyshops exist) I'm not into printers and their drivers so I've got no idea what changed or who made this happen, but whoever did this for printers on Linux is a real hero "Sadly", I recently helped my dad get set up on a new Windows 11 and that seems to have this behaviour now, too, so Windows does seem to be catching up in usability > (don't let me start on laptops & battery usage) That one is a real trade-off indeed. It's not all sunshine and roses Another one is GPU drivers and WiFi chips, but it's a one-time hardware check and setup thing, so for those issues you could ask someone else to install your system to a functional state and anyone can use it from there with the same learning curve as when they'd use macOS for the first time (Cinnamon looks a whole lot like XP, if that's what they're coming from like I was)

amatecha 2y ago
I recently set up a new Debian install. Just went into the Printer Settings, and my printer is there. I did nothing, it just worked on its own. Printer issues are almost always the fault of the manufacturer -- if you're using Linux/BSD, check support before making hardware purchases and you'll be golden :)