Do not look on Linux from developer's point of view. Look from the point of view of "mere mortals" experience:
The most usable use case for most of those still using Windows is... to start a web browser!... Other group are gamers, and yet another one: all those forced to use Windows 11 by their employer (with cr*wdstr*ke, w*bsense, etc one cannot uninstall)...
First group can switch to any of top 9 first "distrowatch" items immediately and their user experience will be mostly the same! Second group will also require Steam/Proton installed in addition...
And the third one... hmm... I would not recommend any solutions, but there are some!
PS. My 15year old PC with MX Linux (XFCE!) installed is still faster than my brand new Windows 11 laptop with cr*wdstr*ke and w*bsense and other corporate survellience cr@p!))
An article that only gives a few vague sentences about what's wrong with Windows 11 is not even close to sufficient for justifying a cause to switch. The author clearly wanted to write a long piece about his experience installing Linux. Big whip. Waste of time.
Nice article, thank you for sharing. I think we have some common traits when it comes to computers, for example: using Greenshot in Windows, supporting complete open-source transparency, and preferring the low bloat + performant + easy-to-manage Linux distros. I appreciate your explanation of Artix, so that is one I will try. I would also recommend Lubuntu to you and others...that is my go-to.
We all complain but in the end the result is the same. The majority of PC gamers will stay on windows for 2 reasons:
1. Retro game compatibility
2. Online multiplayer anti cheat
There are old game mods or patches that are no longer in development but still fairly popularly among their respective communities in online multiplayer circles. They were designed and mostly tested for windows. They likely do run on linux but you may run into unexpected behaviour, additional bugs or crashes due to lack of testing.
Then there's the obvious more modern online multiplayer games with their kernel anti cheats that break Linux compatibility and cause issues.
If there was some kind of universal compatibility layer like proton but for online multiplayer servers and anticheat that could solve this, I think people would switch in a heartbeat, at least I would.
If you only game offline, on single player, idk what you're doing still on windows. Same if you don't game at all.
Nothing against Linux on the desktop I myself have dabbled in several distributions trials over the years to see if I can switch from Windows. In the end I ended up moving to Mac OS mainly because I feel Windows was going the wrong direction after many decades of using it. My issue with Linux isn't the OS but rather what can run on the OS as is the case always. But I have no issue with anyone who can switch to a Linux distribution and find alternative applications that work for them. I unfortunately never felt comfortable with anyone who of the alternatives and Mac OS has mostly offered them as the same as in Windows.
For decades we have been ripped off by Microsoft's monopoly when we were forced to pay Windows without even being given the option to refuse paying for them every time we bought a PC. Only recently other option became more popular, and some OEM's started giving the option to NOT include Windows.
This article expresses the author's opinion, and he has every right to have one. But I am socked to see so many bullies with Stockholm syndrome defending their corporate overlords!
Been using Linux since 2008 and I have to say -- first with Ubuntu -- maybe a different distro would be more fitting for normies, like Ubuntu, but Arch definitely isn't, because repairing (or even reinstalling) it 0.5-3 times a year is going to be required.
This isn't journalism so much as a personal rant dressed up as advice. The piece relies almost entirely on anecdote, makes sweeping claims without evidence, and then jumps straight to "you should too" as if one individual's experience on a niche, non-systemd Linux distro is remotely representative of the general user base.
There are no benchmarks, no comparative data, no discussion of software compatibility, enterprise use, hardware support variance, or the very real trade-offs most users face. Even the privacy claims are asserted rather than demonstrated. That might be fine for a personal blog, but it's weak coming from a site that presents itself as a hardware and technology review outlet.
Linux can be a perfectly good choice for the right user. Declaring Windows 11 "garbage" on the basis of a single frustrated setup, then recommending an advanced distro to everyone else, isn't insight. It's just confirmation bias with a headline.
Pretty arrogant to presume moving to Linux would be equally successful and pleasant for everyone because it was for you.
I have never experienced your problems with Windows 10 or 11, I create these issues when I tinker with registry hacks, group policy, permissions and security settings. I have had several minor issues from Windows 11 updates, but nothing affecting usability. It is puzzling to me that people won't learn the changes to the Settings menus or changes in Windows interface and take the time to learn about the inner workings of Windows so moving to Linux is the easier choice.
Much of Windows 10\11 telemetry can be disabled in Services by disabling 'Connected User Experiences and Telemetry' and 'Inventory and Compatibility Appraisal service' to keep Microsoft from inventorying your PC, also keeping your data collection on "required data'. Given the vast quantities of our data that is collected, Microsoft's telemetry through Windows 10\11 is trivial. Copilot can be disabled in group policy (in Pro or higher versions) and since I avoid Edge browser like the plague it is a nonissue.
You give out more personal data on the Internet and in real life than Microsoft ever collect!
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