If you are a seasoned Windows user, why Linux?

[Pvee]

I ask this question because at first I thought it would save money by not Buying Window at over 100.00 per License KEY.

But I have been able to find widows 10 and 11 Keys for around 25.00 each. I have built 54 PC's since the AMD Ryzen cpu's came out and over 100 before that.

So, every six months or so I get the urge to try linux anyway. The last couple times I loaded it on very fast hardware thinking that would make me like it more...

The PC becomes fast and reliable, but I run into things I can't figure out in a short time and I lose Interest. I get along with the file system ok and I can access my NAS system fine.

I Like Quicken, I use the for our checking accounts and another person's that I am power of Attorney for. Linux had some look alike programs but I didn't find a Quicken for Linux install yet.

Anyway after about 30 years of Windows experience, how long does it take you to totally adapt to Linux Mint for example and be able to totally rely on it ??

 

[infinitevalence]

Because I got sick of MS overwriting my preferences, turning on more and more metrics, constantly adding Ads to the start menu, making the start menu search totally useless.

I am stuck on windows 10 for work because of a small handful of professional apps, but otherwise I have fully transitioned to Linux for everything personal. It has met all my needs, and been great for gaming as well as the simplicity of updates and adding/removing software.

I have dabbled in linux for ages so I had a lower barrier to entry when it comes to learning "new" things, but that said one day I got sick and tired of the BS Microsoft was putting me through and the lack of stability on my system.

So I pulled out an old HD, did a disk clone using CloneZilla, and did a windows partition with all the same files backed up but accessible so I dont have to mount the clone image.

I did not dual boot, I only run linux on that NVME, and that was the main thing that made it easy to switch. The hassle of reinstalling windows has always been more than enough to keep me from going back, and my backup was already unstable enough that I dont want to clone it back onto my drive.

Best way to do it is to just jump in and swim.

 

[mcpherson1031]

Switching to Linux Mint from Windows can be a big adjustment, especially after 30 years of Windows experience. The learning curve varies depending on your familiarity with Linux concepts, how comfortable you are with troubleshooting, and your specific use cases. Here are some thoughts based on your situation:

1. Getting Comfortable: For many users, it can take a few weeks to a few months to feel fully comfortable with Linux Mint. The basics, like file management and accessing your NAS, seem to be well within your grasp, which is a great start.
2. Software Alternatives: One of the biggest challenges is finding Linux alternatives for the software you're used to on Windows. In your case, Quicken doesn't have a direct Linux equivalent, which can be a dealbreaker. Some people use financial software like GnuCash or Moneydance on Linux, but they come with their own learning curves. Alternatively, running Quicken through a Windows virtual machine using software like VirtualBox, or via Wine, might be a solution, though it’s not always perfect.
3. Community and Support: The Linux community is incredibly helpful, and forums, documentation, and tutorials can be great resources when you run into issues. Engaging with the community can speed up your learning process and help you solve problems more efficiently.
4. Mindset and Patience: It’s important to approach Linux with a mindset that it’s different, not necessarily harder, than Windows. Some tasks might take longer to figure out, but the flexibility and control that Linux offers can be very rewarding once you get the hang of it.

If you’re open to experimenting and don’t mind a few bumps along the way, you might find that Linux Mint becomes just as reliable and comfortable for you as Windows. That said, if specific software needs (like Quicken) are crucial, a dual-boot setup or a virtual machine might offer the best of both worlds until you’re more confident in Linux.

Good luck with your Linux journey! It might take a little time, but many find it to be worth the effort.

 

[Audioaficionado]

A little late on this thread, but once MS forces people to move to 11, I'm out. I'm going with Linux Mint Cinnamon 22, a Debian and Ubuntu based distro that's not too much effort to maintain and won't take a screen shot of my desktop every few seconds lol. I might keep a copy of Windows on a VM to play with now and then.

 

[Nebulous]

If I can run all my games without any issues on Linux, then I'll swap. I tried linux some years ago and trying to get Wine to work at all and get the games to run was impossible to say the least.
I almost grew a brain tumor after all my efforts.

I already have several winders 11 keys to swap my rigs and laptops over.

 

[Audioaficionado]

Steam has vastly facilitated game play in Linux. WINE is kinda dated and they seem to be coming up with other ways to run Windows apps on Linux.

 

[dfonda]

I am surprised SteamOS isn't available for use on X86 yet.

 

[infinitevalence]

I am surprised SteamOS isn't available for use on X86 yet.

soon, Valve just partnered
with Arch to facilitate that transition.

If I can run all my games without any issues on Linux, then I'll swap. I tried linux some years ago and trying to get Wine to work at all and get the games to run was impossible to say the least.
I almost grew a brain tumor after all my efforts.

I already have several winders 11 keys to swap my rigs and laptops over.

https://www.protondb.com/

This site covers almost every game on linux and its support level.

 

[Nebulous]

https://www.protondb.com/

This site covers almost every game on linux and its support level.

Good to know, thx.

 

[rainless]

I ask this question because at first I thought it would save money by not Buying Window at over 100.00 per License KEY.

But I have been able to find widows 10 and 11 Keys for around 25.00 each. I have built 54 PC's since the AMD Ryzen cpu's came out and over 100 before that.

So, every six months or so I get the urge to try linux anyway. The last couple times I loaded it on very fast hardware thinking that would make me like it more...

The PC becomes fast and reliable, but I run into things I can't figure out in a short time and I lose Interest. I get along with the file system ok and I can access my NAS system fine.

I Like Quicken, I use the for our checking accounts and another person's that I am power of Attorney for. Linux had some look alike programs but I didn't find a Quicken for Linux install yet.

Anyway after about 30 years of Windows experience, how long does it take you to totally adapt to Linux Mint for example and be able to totally rely on it ??

I can't believe it took you THIRTY YEARS to try Linux... Like... WHY?!

About... 20-25 years ago they came out with RedHat boot CDs where you didn't even have to install ANYTHING... You just put the disc in the drive... selected "Boot from CD" in the Bios... and you were IN Linux.

That was my first non-work experience (and that was probably closer to 30-35 years ago).

The hell with Quicken. You don't need "Quicken." NOBODY needs Quicken. You need some lightweight accounting software.

Doesn't matter what the name of it is. Doesn't matter that it isn't the exact same thing you've been using for 30 years.

After something closer to 40 years people, who have used them all their lives, are abandoning Adobe (for example).

They're not using Photoshop, or Premiere, or even Acrobat anymore.

And you know what? By and large those people are HAPPIER.

No more monthly fees... No more sinister Terms of Service... Is there a learning curve? YES. Is it exactly the same? NO.

But people have finally wised-up and realized that what they've gained is far greater than any perceived inconvenience.

I'm a writer. I LOVED Wordperfect. To me it was 50 times better than MIcrosoft Word. But there is no more Wordperfect.

Eventually I realized that... although I did love Wordperfect... what I really loved was writing.

So I learned some new software and kept it moving.

Nine years ago my Windows laptop died, I had no desktop, and the easiest thing I could get my hands on, at the time, was a MacBook Pro. I never really looked back. It was the best of both worlds: Mac AND Linux.

Hell... I bet I could even use Quicken if I wanted to! (I really... REALLY don't want to.)

Once you let go of simple force of habit... and begin to embrace the advantages of any new platform (Mac, Linux, Unix, whatever) then you stop thinking about what you liked about the old platform and start wondering what took yourself so long to switch it up.

 

[Audioaficionado]

I still remember the command line only days to install Gentoo and the hours or days to get it compiled on your machine. I like the GUI installers much better.