This post was brought on by watching YouTube videos, many of them talking about switching to Linux, which I believe is Great for some people.
I understand the frustration with Windows 11. Just to simply use Linux has become very much easier in the past few years.
To start your Linux journey and possibly to keep for the long haul I recommend Linux Mint.
It is one of the more stable and easy ones to use. Linux overall is a
stable OS. It does not crash much when used with a decent running computer.
I also use Pop_OS, sometimes MX Linux and Ubuntu.
The Linux distro I use the most for the last few months is Pop_OS.
I tend to use one distro for quite a while, then experiment with one distro or another here and there.
I don't know that I like Pop_OS better than Mint, but I am now using more.
The best Linux Distro, is the one you use!
Recent Trend towards AI
Artificial Intelligence
I am not a fan of how AI is being pushed!I know I am not alone that it is, too much too soon, with what seems like disregard for consequences.
Much like what is happening with data centers. In my opinion It does not make good wholesome sense!
I am rambling, but that is on my mind a lot these days.
I use Windows, Mac OS & Linux. It is not as simple for everyone
to just switch to Linux, like many of the Linux users / fans say.
I do believe more users can switch than they realize if they use a browser for most of their computing which is quite common
for email, social media, and shopping.
They can use Libre Office which comes with most Linux distros, including Pop_OS, Linux Mint, Ubunto and many more distros for perhaps a letter or spreadsheet here and there
For work, I use Windows 11 - right, wrong, or other,
I have to use it.To the "Simply switch saying people", that is not realistic for many of us).
I do truly think it is great that there are "Linux Only" people.
Apps / Tools I use on different Operating Systems and trying to find similar or equivalent apps on Linux:
So far I like iMovie (Included with Mac OS) better than Kadenlive.Kadenlive can be used on: Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD.
Perhaps I will get more proficient with Kadenlive, but now it seems less user friendly than iMovie.
ShotCut on Windows was okay but does not have the polish, and ease of use that iMovie has.
I am not going the M$ ClipChamp route either - one more thing to sign up for.
To use all of it;s features, you must pay $11.99 / per month at the time of this post.
PikiMovie (no download) - not too bad - all OSes that have Chrome, Chromium, or Edge browser
(no download /browser based)
can work with it without downloading software, also
PhotoPea (no download / browser based) is pretty good for Adobe PhotoShop-like program, but
likely not as powerful.
Inkscape - I have seen it in action and reviewed on
YouTube, it gets pretty good reviews but not yet where Adobe Light Room is.
I have not used it.
What works well for me on Linux other than browsing and using Libre Office is:
K3B - for ripping Music CDs. (Yes I still do that - get cheap CDs from Thrift Shops - sometimes eBay.)MakeMKV - for ripping movies
VLC for watching movies.
VLC on my iPhone along with KDE Connect - to share the MP3s that I ripped from Linux computer to my iPhone.
I also save playlists in VLC on my iPhone and use it for a music player app.
KDE Connect:
NOTE: Somewhat complex.
You must download PhoneUtils, PhoneLib, and a couple other helper apps / tools that make it all work.
NOTE 2: KDE connect also allows you to copy your photos from your phone to your computer.
You can use KDE connect as a back up - or use your photos to create movies in Kdenlive.
I know - too much information, but in order to actually
consider switching to Linux, or partially switching
(which is only as far as I get, and possibly ever will get, maybe).
Other than using a computer for work I get on social media,
buy things through Amazon, or eBay, sometimes Facebook Marketplace.
I also use for a music and movie entertainment and study tool - via YouTube and reading various articles.
I also use a computer and phone for reading the Bible every day.
I have had a few people in person and many people that I follow on YouTube
that mention switching to Linux. If i use "Linux only", to me that is like being
a mechanic and only use a pair of pliers, when many times another tool would be much better.
If and when some day I retire from my job as a tech support / customer service representative for a company, I may fully leave Windows.
I don't use Photoshop that much really at all. I actually have an older version
of it on an old Window XP computer. I recently had to replace the hard drive on the old 2004 computer.
The Photoshop version I have is not Windows 10 or 11 compatible.
So, I could venture away from Windows fairly easy, if and when I
retire some day.
At the time of this writing, I am not ready to retire. I work
less than 5 days per week generally, but not ready to hang up the routine and
the money, quite yet.
I am a Linux user - but not a "You all need this only", type of person. At least not so far.
I understand where those people are coming
from and respect and appreciate them.
Regarding Linux, I do have fun with it. It is more work to set it up and make Linux do what you want it to do
than Mac or Windows, unless you are just using a browser and Libre Office for documents and
perhaps a Spreadsheet now and again.
IF YOU WANT TO RESURRECT AN OLD 2014, or 2015 Intel or AMD based machine, possibly an old Mac
Then Linux is the way to go IMHO!Speaking of old Macs - IR1.
Using Linux as a tool and replacing what I did or do on other computers is a challenge!
Sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating.
I am a Mac user since OS 7.6.1 I am a Linux User since Caldera 2.3, and other
distros of the late 1990's era. Though I did not use it as much starting out.
It was and is an adventure. I am a DOS user since DOS 4, a Windows user since 3.0.
I took my first computer class "DOS and Intro to BASIC" classes in College in 1985.
I have used MS Active Directory on Windows Server 2003, 2007 and 2012 and 2016.
I have used Windows 2000 and NT3.5 -and NT4 - but not that much.
M$ improved from Windows 3.1 to Windows 98 (Millennium blipped for a short while - what was that?)
and Windows 7 (then pooped out Vista) and 8. I understand some
liked 8 and I appreciate that. I could use it but did not like it. Windows 10
was pretty good - then M$ pooped on us all with Windows 11. It has some good
points except for the OneDrive, CoPilot, Ads junk it dumps on us, and M$ has no
respect for privacy. Some of those settings can be improved on as well - look up
Windows 11 Privacy settings. Many Youtubers have videos on using settings to
make your computer more private and likely run better. Perhaps an update will
reset our privacy settings, perhaps a good idea to check setting after upgrades.
The Windows 11 Start Menu Items - and right click context menus - I don't like -
not an improvement to me - but not too bad to me either. You can turn off ads
pretty easily in settings - search it online - pretty easy to find. It should be
a simple choice though ,shouldn't it? My non-work Win 11 machine is set up with
a local account. Best to you all - many prayers! If you got this far, you are
likely the only one.
