this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026
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Linux

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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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There. That's out of the way. I recently installed Linux on my main desktop computer and work laptop, overwriting the Windows partition completely. Essentially, I deleted the primary operating system from the two computers I use the most, day in and day out, instead trusting all of my personal and work computing needs to the Open Source community. This has been a growing trend, and I hopped on the bandwagon, but for good reasons. Some of those reasons might pertain to you and convince you to finally make the jump as well. Here's my experience.

[...]

It's no secret that Windows 11 harvests data like a pumpkin farmer in October, and there is no easy way (and sometimes no way at all) to stop it. The operating system itself acts exactly like what was called "spyware" a decade or so ago, pulling every piece of data it can about its current user. This data includes (but is far from limited to) hardware information, specific apps and software used, usage trends, and more. With the advent of AI, Microsoft made headlines with Copilot, an artificial assistant designed to help users by capturing their data with tools like Recall.

[...]

After dealing with these issues and trying to solve them with workarounds, I dual-booted a Linux partition for a few weeks. After a Windows update (that I didn't choose to do) wiped that partition and, consequently, the Linux installation, I decided to go whole-hog: I deleted Windows 11 and used the entire drive for Linux.

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[–] smeenz@lemmy.nz 6 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Your work laptop ? I guess you work somewhere where corporate policy isn't dictated and you're able to do that.

[–] HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.org 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I am not the article author. But I am doing mainly signal processing and embedded development, and most places I worked for in the last 25 years either have switched to Linux (and pay better because it's more productive), or allow a development machine or VM with Linux. (Granted, in one company, I wrecked the department head's nerves with using git instead of MS Team Foundation Server and ~~MS source forge~~ MS Visual Source Safe, but now it's ten years later and even they offer a Linux platform product now, since Microsoft pulled Windows CE for not being able to compete with Linux.)

[–] evol@lemmy.today 3 points 2 weeks ago

My work just handed me a laptop then let me flash whatever distro I wanted onto it

[–] Damage@feddit.it 3 points 2 weeks ago

He's a writer, his work laptop is probably owned by him