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Ubuntu. Fedora. Arch. Open Suse . Pick one, stop trying to make Windows look like a decent os. My local Windows install just gave up. I'm very close to tryi

Ubuntu. Fedora. Arch. Open Suse . Pick one, stop trying to make Windows look like a decent os. My local Windows install just gave up. I'm very close to trying Windows 11 in a VM on top of Fedora or whatever, can't really do that on my 16gb ram value laptop though. If Maschine offered official Linux support, that's what I make music with, I'd be 100% Windows free.

cookiengineer 1y ago
Pick KDE if you want the same integrated experience. The Desktop on Linux has come pretty far already and most of the complaints are from people that made the wrong choice for their UX. Sometimes setting up a WINE environment is worth it, but I'd argue that as long ss you still need to use the CLI to create environments, it's not there yet. Proton has been amazing for better support. Also, don't pick Arch when you come from Windows, it's not the right choice for you. Pick a beginner friendly distro, everyone has to start somewhere. Debian, LinuxMint, or Ubuntu are incredibly easy to learn.
- 999900000999 1y ago
  Debian based distros lag in hardware support. KDE is heavy, but that's the magic of Linux. It's to you to figure out your perfect combination. I'd argue that if you don't care how computers work, buy a Mac. If you actually enjoy the process Linux is great.
  - devilbunny 1y ago
    The Mac is so much simpler. I just want a big screen iMac again. 27” with Apple silicon and no more of this inability to be used as a big dumb monitor when it’s ancient and slow.
    - MarcusE1W 1y ago
      I think for users who don't want to learn about their computer and just use it a (new or used) Mac is the best option if you want cover many use cases. Linux on Desktop is especially great for used Laptops. In that case the Linux community had a bit of time to adjust to the hardware. Laptop also offer a well defined hardware environment where you know exactly what's inside. Once you additional devices the range of hardware that needs to be supported is so much wider and so is the risk that something does not work. However, especially for more casual users to just use your Laptop and not connect anything ever is in my opinion a quite common use case. There you can optimise to support some Laptops really well. And that is where Linux can shine.
    - microtonal 1y ago
      Target display mode on the old iMac 27" was nice. But why not get a Studio Display now? It's pretty much the same thing, but not burdened by having an old Mac inside and having to fiddle with target display mode. They are overpriced for 2025 (especially because the height-adjustable stand costs quite a bit extra). But they wake very fast from sleep and work fantastically with a Mac.
      - devilbunny 1y ago
        Because there is no reason to throw away a beautiful 27” display that works?
  - scns 1y ago
    > KDE is heavy In terms of install size, performance is usually higher than on lightweight DEs.
- Krutonium 1y ago
  >Sometimes setting up a WINE environment is worth it, but I'd argue that as long ss you still need to use the CLI to create environments, it's not there yet. Proton has been amazing for better support. Go grab an installation of Bottles and prepare to be amazed.
NexRebular 1y ago
Or if you'd prefer not to contribute to linux monoculturalization, FreeBSD is available in addition to the other BSD variants and even illumos-based systems.
- fruitworks 1y ago
  I prefer to contriubute to linux monoculturization
esperent 1y ago
A few months ago I switched from Windows 11 to Ubuntu on my laptop. Coming from a decade of experience running servers with various flavors of Linux it's not much of a learning curve for me. And look, I love Ubuntu. I'm sticking with it (although kinda wish I'd been less safe and chosen Fedora or OpenSuse). But, to be honest, I've had, and continue to have, a ton of problems related to hardware. Problems waking from sleep (I gave up trying to fix this and just restart every time now), problems with external monitor not reawakening after screen timeout, problems with the wifi speed suddenly dropping until I restart (apparently Linux doesn't play well with Intel Killer 6e laptop wifi), problems with my Brother printer (won't wake from sleep over wifi, works fine on Android and Windows though). None of these are quite deal breakers. Sure, I have to open and close my laptop lid three or four times to get the external monitor to switch back on, and and the login prompt will only show on my laptop screen which gets set to 1% brightness every restart, so if it's sunny I have to stick my face right against the screen to see it. Nevertheless, I persevere. I've fixed 70% of the initial issues. But you know what I will not do? Recommend Linux desktop to a non-technical person. My mother, my sister, my girlfriend, most of my acquaintances. They would hate to deal with this stuff, and simply don't have to on Windows, for all it's faults. I think that people who recommend Linux desktop nearly all started by buying a laptop that officially supports Linux, or at least is known to not have issues like these. Then they forget how important this step was and go around recommending it to everyone. Most people shouldn't install a Linux desktop on any normal Windows laptop. Not a decade ago when I last seriously tried it out, and not now either. Although the experience definitely has improved, so maybe in another 5 or 10 years.
- ashellunts 1y ago
  Very similar to my experience. I also still use it because benefits for me as a developer are much more important, especially 30% docker performance win over wsl on same hardware.
- vbezhenar 1y ago
  Just to present my anecdote, I'm using Lenovo Thinkpad Gen 4 Intel with Arch Linux and I don't have a single issue with hardware. Literally everything works. Suspend works, my laptop connected to the display via USB-C cable which also delivers power to laptop. My laptop stays with closed lid (clamshell mode). Sony BLE headphones work. Even fingerprint sensor worked when I tried it (but I don't use it, as I'm working with external keyboard). My only issue is that this CPU is a bit too slow, I should have bought laptop with a performance line CPU. And of course I have a lot of issues with Linux approach to usability, but that has nothing to do with hardware support, more like opinions.
Krasnol 1y ago
I don't understand this comments on forums like this one. Who do you think you are addressing with this? People here are either on Apple, already on some other X or do use Windows because they have to. Most of the rest of the people on this planet won't use either of your recommendations because they have no idea how to work this, how to fix errors, how to find programs they need, jump over compatibility issues with other Windows users, or don't even have a PC at home and have to work with windows at their workplaces. So what is the point of your comment?
- cheschire 1y ago
  You seem to be under the misconception that everyone is at the same point in their life journey as you are. Plenty of people here on this site are right on the edge of a major change in operating system and benefit from that slight peer pressure to go ahead and make that change. What is the point of your comment? Just use the downvote button. Edit: see? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45155975 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45155975
herbst 1y ago
A lot of cool music software is running natively it not better on Linux like reaper. After some config pain I am also surprised to see mixxx being a serious alternative to Rekordbox. It's not impossible, and everything is better than booting into windows just to be surprised with a new updated and new bloatware, every fing time.
- scns 1y ago
  Bitwig too. Pain point for me is hardware support. My Native Instruments interface works great, due to the in kernel drivers supplied by NI. My other one with loads of IO sadly won't.
jmclnx 1y ago
You forgot Slackware :)
t0bia_s 1y ago
Now try be windows free when you need Adobe software for living... Impossible.
codedokode 1y ago
If you have enough USB host controllers, you can pass one into a Windows VM and it will have direct access to the connected audio interface (no latency issues). And if on top of that you have two GPUs, you can pass one into Windows VM as well. If you have only one GPU, passing it around will be tricky (you need to terminate all apps working with GPU before taking it away). If you plan to run a single application in VM, you can allocate just 3-4 Gb to it.
GuB-42 1y ago
> If Maschine offered official Linux support That's exactly the reason why people use Windows. Hardware and software support.
beefnugs 1y ago
Once already I got an automatic update start the next day with a full screen unskippable SET UP A MICROSOFT ACCOUNT. I dont even recall what i did in the haze of anger, but i think just restarting a couple of times, eventually removing the internet cable, it eventually just went away? These animal fucks are going to force people away

cookiengineer 1y ago

Pick KDE if you want the same integrated experience. The Desktop on Linux has come pretty far already and most of the complaints are from people that made the wrong choice for their UX. Sometimes setting up a WINE environment is worth it, but I'd argue that as long ss you still need to use the CLI to create environments, it's not there yet. Proton has been amazing for better support. Also, don't pick Arch when you come from Windows, it's not the right choice for you. Pick a beginner friendly distro, everyone has to start somewhere. Debian, LinuxMint, or Ubuntu are incredibly easy to learn.

999900000999 1y ago
Debian based distros lag in hardware support. KDE is heavy, but that's the magic of Linux. It's to you to figure out your perfect combination. I'd argue that if you don't care how computers work, buy a Mac. If you actually enjoy the process Linux is great.
- devilbunny 1y ago
  The Mac is so much simpler. I just want a big screen iMac again. 27” with Apple silicon and no more of this inability to be used as a big dumb monitor when it’s ancient and slow.
  - MarcusE1W 1y ago
    I think for users who don't want to learn about their computer and just use it a (new or used) Mac is the best option if you want cover many use cases. Linux on Desktop is especially great for used Laptops. In that case the Linux community had a bit of time to adjust to the hardware. Laptop also offer a well defined hardware environment where you know exactly what's inside. Once you additional devices the range of hardware that needs to be supported is so much wider and so is the risk that something does not work. However, especially for more casual users to just use your Laptop and not connect anything ever is in my opinion a quite common use case. There you can optimise to support some Laptops really well. And that is where Linux can shine.
  - microtonal 1y ago
    Target display mode on the old iMac 27" was nice. But why not get a Studio Display now? It's pretty much the same thing, but not burdened by having an old Mac inside and having to fiddle with target display mode. They are overpriced for 2025 (especially because the height-adjustable stand costs quite a bit extra). But they wake very fast from sleep and work fantastically with a Mac.
    - devilbunny 1y ago
      Because there is no reason to throw away a beautiful 27” display that works?
- scns 1y ago
  > KDE is heavy In terms of install size, performance is usually higher than on lightweight DEs.
Krutonium 1y ago
>Sometimes setting up a WINE environment is worth it, but I'd argue that as long ss you still need to use the CLI to create environments, it's not there yet. Proton has been amazing for better support. Go grab an installation of Bottles and prepare to be amazed.

NexRebular 1y ago

Or if you'd prefer not to contribute to linux monoculturalization, FreeBSD is available in addition to the other BSD variants and even illumos-based systems.

fruitworks 1y ago
I prefer to contriubute to linux monoculturization

esperent 1y ago

A few months ago I switched from Windows 11 to Ubuntu on my laptop. Coming from a decade of experience running servers with various flavors of Linux it's not much of a learning curve for me. And look, I love Ubuntu. I'm sticking with it (although kinda wish I'd been less safe and chosen Fedora or OpenSuse). But, to be honest, I've had, and continue to have, a ton of problems related to hardware. Problems waking from sleep (I gave up trying to fix this and just restart every time now), problems with external monitor not reawakening after screen timeout, problems with the wifi speed suddenly dropping until I restart (apparently Linux doesn't play well with Intel Killer 6e laptop wifi), problems with my Brother printer (won't wake from sleep over wifi, works fine on Android and Windows though). None of these are quite deal breakers. Sure, I have to open and close my laptop lid three or four times to get the external monitor to switch back on, and and the login prompt will only show on my laptop screen which gets set to 1% brightness every restart, so if it's sunny I have to stick my face right against the screen to see it. Nevertheless, I persevere. I've fixed 70% of the initial issues. But you know what I will not do? Recommend Linux desktop to a non-technical person. My mother, my sister, my girlfriend, most of my acquaintances. They would hate to deal with this stuff, and simply don't have to on Windows, for all it's faults. I think that people who recommend Linux desktop nearly all started by buying a laptop that officially supports Linux, or at least is known to not have issues like these. Then they forget how important this step was and go around recommending it to everyone. Most people shouldn't install a Linux desktop on any normal Windows laptop. Not a decade ago when I last seriously tried it out, and not now either. Although the experience definitely has improved, so maybe in another 5 or 10 years.

ashellunts 1y ago
Very similar to my experience. I also still use it because benefits for me as a developer are much more important, especially 30% docker performance win over wsl on same hardware.
vbezhenar 1y ago
Just to present my anecdote, I'm using Lenovo Thinkpad Gen 4 Intel with Arch Linux and I don't have a single issue with hardware. Literally everything works. Suspend works, my laptop connected to the display via USB-C cable which also delivers power to laptop. My laptop stays with closed lid (clamshell mode). Sony BLE headphones work. Even fingerprint sensor worked when I tried it (but I don't use it, as I'm working with external keyboard). My only issue is that this CPU is a bit too slow, I should have bought laptop with a performance line CPU. And of course I have a lot of issues with Linux approach to usability, but that has nothing to do with hardware support, more like opinions.

Krasnol 1y ago

I don't understand this comments on forums like this one. Who do you think you are addressing with this? People here are either on Apple, already on some other X or do use Windows because they have to. Most of the rest of the people on this planet won't use either of your recommendations because they have no idea how to work this, how to fix errors, how to find programs they need, jump over compatibility issues with other Windows users, or don't even have a PC at home and have to work with windows at their workplaces. So what is the point of your comment?

cheschire 1y ago
You seem to be under the misconception that everyone is at the same point in their life journey as you are. Plenty of people here on this site are right on the edge of a major change in operating system and benefit from that slight peer pressure to go ahead and make that change. What is the point of your comment? Just use the downvote button. Edit: see? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45155975 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45155975

herbst 1y ago

A lot of cool music software is running natively it not better on Linux like reaper. After some config pain I am also surprised to see mixxx being a serious alternative to Rekordbox. It's not impossible, and everything is better than booting into windows just to be surprised with a new updated and new bloatware, every fing time.

scns 1y ago
Bitwig too. Pain point for me is hardware support. My Native Instruments interface works great, due to the in kernel drivers supplied by NI. My other one with loads of IO sadly won't.

jmclnx 1y ago

You forgot Slackware :)

t0bia_s 1y ago

Now try be windows free when you need Adobe software for living... Impossible.

codedokode 1y ago

If you have enough USB host controllers, you can pass one into a Windows VM and it will have direct access to the connected audio interface (no latency issues). And if on top of that you have two GPUs, you can pass one into Windows VM as well. If you have only one GPU, passing it around will be tricky (you need to terminate all apps working with GPU before taking it away). If you plan to run a single application in VM, you can allocate just 3-4 Gb to it.

GuB-42 1y ago

> If Maschine offered official Linux support That's exactly the reason why people use Windows. Hardware and software support.

beefnugs 1y ago

Once already I got an automatic update start the next day with a full screen unskippable SET UP A MICROSOFT ACCOUNT. I dont even recall what i did in the haze of anger, but i think just restarting a couple of times, eventually removing the internet cable, it eventually just went away? These animal fucks are going to force people away