this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2024
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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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Rant: My recent experience of trying to install windows for gaming and why I'm really thankful for Linux (feddit.uk)
submitted 8 months ago by sirico@feddit.uk to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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I thought I'd chuck windows on my gaming laptop an Acer nitro 5 from last year, to see how it's going do some bits I can't on Linux VR, certain multiplayer games etc.

What a disaster! I've spent the whole day brute forcing drivers and generally dicking about trying to get my setup sorted.

Upon installation, Wi-Fi drivers don't exist, so you cannot use the internet while installing if you're on Wi-Fi. Mint's had this since what 2006? But that's cool, Cortana is here to chat away and not understand any requests. Once finally in the OS after 20 questions that could be considered harassment if it was a person, nothing was ready to go. Every single driver needed sourcing and installing.

People have the cheek to complain about Linux's Nvidia install, literally two clicks on most distros if it isn't already baked in. Go to website find driver, download click click click agree click wait more software click click wait.

Plug in my sound card OK it's a bit old now UA-25 but nothing happens...hmm find obscure video partially install a driver from Vista then cancel the installation program so you can side load a driver from 8,1 but wait there's more disable core isolation to allow the driver to work reboot into a now slightly more compromised OS.

OK plug in wheel again not new stuff G25 oh it works cool. Oh, no H-shifter OK download driver. "Can't find device, ensure it's plugged in". Windows decided it knew better, downloaded its own driver that blocks the official one and loads a steering wheel as a gamepad..GG cool cool.

I do not understand why we still have this image that Windows is noob friendly, it's such a convoluted obfuscated process to do anything. It does worse than nothing, it thinks it's smart enough to carry out tasks on the user behalf and just bork it.

All of these issues are because I don't have the new shiny things, but it really highlighted why I love Linux now if you'll excuse me I'm going to install a distro and play on my 20-year-old peripherals

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[–] nat_turner_overdrive@hexbear.net 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

you can't blame Roland or Microsoft for not supporting a 20 year old device on the latest versions of the OS.

Why not?

You can't expect indefinite hardware support for every random little device you happen to find, this like the sound card above is on you, not Microsoft.

Why not? Linux development is mostly volunteer, and these things are easily compatible with Linux. It seems like you can absolutely expect support for every device, it's just that Microsoft isn't willing to provide it.

None of the above quoted examples are noob issues, this is like you are talking to a person in old english from the mideval times and being mad that a random guy in the middle of Londing in 2024 can't understand you.

Notice that you had to exaggerate a 20 year timespan into a 500 year timespan to make this analogy work?

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 1 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Why not?

Because it is a paid OS and it's developers are writing code for financial gain, if they are not being paid to write the code, it doesn't get written.

Voulenteers write the code because they want or need to, if there are no drivers for a device in on Linux, you need to write it yourself.

Notice that you had to exaggarate a 20 year timespan into a 500 year timespan to make thisnanalogy work?

Yes, that was deliberate. Have you ever noticed how much faster technology develops compared to languages? That is why the analogy works.

[–] nat_turner_overdrive@hexbear.net 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The analogy doesn't even work if we ignore the massive difference in time scale. Languages develop organically, they are not managed. Comparing a managed and developed system and a twenty year timespan to an organic language system over a five hundred year timespan is just ridiculous.

Because it is a paid OS and it's developers are writing code for financial gain, if they are not being paid to write the code, it doesn't get written.

They are being paid to write the code. Microsoft is just choosing which code they should write, and it doesn't include any old devices because they want you to buy new devices.

It's perfectly reasonable to expect compatibility, and lay blame when there isn't any. Microsoft simply doesn't provide it.

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 1 points 8 months ago

I disagree with you, but don't have the energy to keep arguing, this argument has been going on for days, and I made my point back on day one.

[–] sawne128@hexbear.net 1 points 8 months ago

Because it is a paid OS and it's developers are writing code for financial gain,

No shit. But that only explains why Windows is bad. It doesn't mean that Windows isn't bad. We shouldn't give Windows pity points just because poor Billy Gates is addicted to money.