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this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2025
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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I've been a Windows user since 95. I tried a few times to move to Linux, but basic user unfriendly problems always brought me back to Windows. Now there's no option to go back. Linux Mint has had some bumps, but I'm properly motivated to jump over those hurdles now. I've become a proud Linux user this last week. Finally free of Microsoft's gravity.
Welcome brother or sister or nb thing inbetween! This is the way!
Sibling is the word you want lol
I'm really enjoying the learning curve with Linux because it's a valuable skill to master. On the other hand, every time I've had to "go under the hood" with Windows, it's been to keep it from doing something awful to me.
Good luck. I jumped ship 10 years ago, you get used to it to the point Windows starts feeling weird.
Don't hesistate to reach out when you're stuck
I remember someone on Discord server I used to be on kept telling people to "use Linux" which back then, I thought it was some scary OS for people who's tech savvy and wrote him off to be annoying. It was few years when I have my own laptop as early birthday present that I find Windows 10 annoying and remembered Linux exist so I run up a virtual machine and watch so many videos on YouTube about it. Then, I made USB-Boot and installed Linux Mint.
Far from perfect but I feel so much more comfortable using Linux over Windows, feels so much more smoother
That "too hard, too scary" reputation is a big part of what has held back linux adoption.
But when people actually give it a try, most realize that reputation isn't really true.
There was a time...I was there. (Insert flashback scenes) But that time has long passed.
Distros have become easy enough that one doesn't need to interact with the CLI if you don't want to. I'm running Fedora Kinonite right now. I don't even need to worry about installing updates. I checked a box or two and it does it all without my attention. And then applies the updates on the next reboot. But, you can open a terminal anytime or anywhere and have at it as much as you like. Linux is whatever you want to make it. And that's pretty cool.
I think installing Linux exposes you to higher severity issues, like "now it won't boot". Once you get over that initial setup, it's not much different than windows or apple.
If more computers came with it pre installed, it would be even easier for folks.
I think about half the time I've installed Linux it was fine. The other half were problems with esoteric solutions.
Still glad I made the switch.
I think that's also the case any time you are the OS installer and administrator for your own system. I haven't purchased an off the shelf PC for myself since the '90s, and in the years since then I've had many more basic "this shit won't boot" issues with Windows, though granted I used Windows much more during that time.
And even if you ARE setting up your pen system from scratch, I would submit that the install process for Linux Mint is an order of magnitude simpler than Windows these days.
Maybe its M$ Propaganda.
As a Linux Noob, Linux was lot easier than I expect it to be. Think it was me having the "This isn't Windows so I might as well as research about anything Linux related" mindset which it paid off for me. It got to point where Windows is now my secondary OS (Mainly to use it to use Tomb Editor to make custom Tomb Raider levels which is annoying to get it running with Wine which I don't know how to troubleshoot at all.)
It's ironic how it's now my main OS and if you told me several years ago that I would be mostly using Linux, I would think you're talking total nonsense.
Looks like someone made a tutorial specific to tomb engine and wine: here Doesn't look super complicated compared to some other windows only applications I've been tasked with getting working, (I'm looking at you proprietary Harley Davidson software my father in law was struggling with).
It boils down to a) install wine, b) install winetricks c) install tomb engine, d) use winetricks to fix a dll.
You're right though; Native wine isn't particularly noob friendly.
Alternatively you could try bottles (basically wine with a better GUI) or just install your application using native wine, then add it to steam as a non-steam application and enable proton compatibility (this works surprisingly often with no extra config weirdness).
I've been on Mint for 2 years now. So far the only roadblock I've hit is my obsolete audio interface not talking to it, and that's not Mint's fault. Everything else was a seamless transition for me. I will admit that I'm not super enthusiastic about GIMP though. Welcome to the club.
It might be worth getting a cheap Soundblaster card for your computer. Mint seems to have good support for all of them.
It's a laptop. Really I just need to buy a slightly newer interface. My old one was running in Windows 10 with a Windows 7 legacy driver. I haven't been bit by the recording bug lately so it hasn't mattered. I've been focusing on playing badly around campfires instead. Eventually I will get around to it. My list of hobbies is stupid long.
Well if you're still interested in updating your laptop, Soundblaster actually makes a sound card on a USB stick for less than $20 (Amazon). :)
Right on. It's mostly the 1/4" and XLR inputs that I need. I should have picked something up by now, I just haven't. I'm sure Uli has something available that'll talk to Linux.
I miss Windows 95.
That ui was so damn clean. There was basically zero bloat and everything had a place.
A computer was a tool and only did what you wanted it to. Nothing more, nothing less.
You might be interested in serenity.
https://serenityos.org/
Aww, man alive. Most perfect desktop environment I've seen in years, and then it's a full OS rather than just a DE. Had been looking in the ArchWiki for how to install it and everything.