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Windows 8 is what pushed me to Linux. Linux is better than ever. Proton is just amazing.
this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2025
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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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I finally dumped Windows for KDE Neon on my desktop and my Surface about 5 months ago now. Never looked back.
Bro I'm not going to wait 15 seconds to read that article fucking cloudflare, takes years to complete on a smartphone.
You're clearly not a human.
I certainly feel dehumanised
I hope this doesn't mean the enshitifcaiton of Linux as we start to cater for people who don't want to learn.... We watched it with Microsoft products, though they also had a profitable reason to nerf their software.
That's the beauty of Linux- there are so many distros to choose from.
Something for everyone.
And if enough people don't like the existing options, you are always free to fork what exists and make something that fits your needs better.
It doesn't have to. KDE is a great example here. Out of the box, it's extremely simple to use, as well as familiar in look and feel to Windows. But if you want to - it gives you a lot of customization options. So it doesn't seem to lose out on anything due to being simplified by default.
And frankly, a lot of Unix software could use a similar approach. I know it's not that simple, but it helps the users greatly - particularly new ones, but experienced ones too. Perhaps this wave of Windows refugees will in some way lead to progress in this area.
Being simple to use out of the box is NOT a bad thing on its own. We are simply used to seeing the proprietary profit-driven version, which is the path to enshittification. When something works great out of the box but you still own your machine and have access to any damn thing you want that's hidden from view by default, that is just a good product.
I've been an engineer in electronics and software for over 20 years. I have a masters in software engineering. I currently work on C and C++ code every day for embedded systems, including one that's embedded linux. The terminal is my comfort zone. Screens full of super-legible monospaced text please my eyes.
I run Linux Mint Cinnamon (btw) on every computer of mine, even my work machine, and I don't care who knows it!
I recommend it to anybody of any skill level who will listen.
Lol, have you seen Gnome? It's already too late.
Yeah what a nightmare. Amazing volunteers building incredible software for everyone for free.
Gnome devs threatening me with a good time on my surface laptop. Please stop.
Just Canonical.
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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.
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
back then, I thought it was some scary OS for people who's tech savvy
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.
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.
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).
Maybe its M$ Propaganda.
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Swapped to pop!Os on my gaming PC on the 14 and not looking back.
Same, really liking it. Bit of a learning curve, but in a fun way.
I'm using it on my laptop as a teacher. My gaming PC with steam is linux. I see improvements in performance every half year.
Had a student want to use it. I told him he needs to dual boot. Keep his options open. Then time will tell whether he will make the great leap.
Dual boot should be default suggestion for everyone trying Linux out. No pressure, just try it.
VMs are a solution too, depending on what you use each OS for. I've worked some jobs where my main work machine was Linux, but would sometimes need to use Windows-only software, and would just run it on a VM.
First boot may create problems (especially with legacy nVidia) so dual boot makes the blame not fall on Linux.
I really really hope, Zorin brings up a screen and says that it has detected a "legacy application" when it proposes better alternatives...
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