How do y'all deal with programs not supported on Linux?
I've been seeing all these posts about Linux lately, and looking at them, I can honestly see the appeal. I'd love having so much autonomy over the OS I use, and customize it however I like, even having so many options to choose from when it comes to distros. The only thing holding me back, however, is incompatibility issues. A lot of programs I work with very often are Windows-exclusive, and alternatives supporting Linux are rare. So I guess I'm stuck with Windows, since I deem those particular programs really important.
Any advice from Linux nerds here? All constructive replies are very appreciated.
Depends on the program.
In general, I would recommend trying the Linux alternative, and if it's not good enough, use a Windows VM or dual-boot. If you spend 90% of your time in Photoshop or any other professional software without a Linux version or feature-complete alternative, you should stay on Windows, and maybe use Linux only when you're not working.
I second this, OP, this is pretty much the state of it, but I do recommend trying out a Linux program called Wine, it can run some windows programs in your Linux environment. It's not always the best, but I run a circuit making program there and I only had a bit of issue once. I just wanted to mention wine since some stuff works well with it, but now I'm realizing a VM might be better if it's multiple programs lol. Oh well.
Which circuit maker?
LTspice
Have you compared kdenlive to shotcut? Wondering how they compare as I've been working with SC for a few months an dfinally getting used to it, but the lack of a titler feature is a glaring omission.
Unless you have very specialized requirements (and quite possibly you do) the solution is usually to unhook yourself from thinking of needing specific programs and to instead focus on needing to perform specific tasks. (Then finding the Linux way to perform that task.)
Barring that, the codeweavers suggestion is a good one. I used it in my early days when I thought I couldn't live without particular pieces of Windows software and although that was several years ago, even then it was pretty good about being able to easily run arbitrary Windows software. IMO it's cheap enough to be worth the investment.
If you truly have bespoke requirements that just can't be satisfied by either of the above, staying on Windows may legitimately be your best option.
More generally - if you decide to take this step, expect to have to learn to use a computer substantially differently than you have in the past. It's not harder; in many ways it's easier. But if you are very experienced and comfortable with Windows, a lot of concepts are going to feel foreign to you. Tackle one task at a time and your experiences will build upon each other. Go into it expecting to have to learn, and you'll do fine. Bizarrely I find the least tech-savvy folks sometimes have the easiest time transitioning.
Use an alternative, or
Use Wine/Proton, or
Use a web app if it exists, or
Run Windows in a VM.
For me, the first 3 options covers 99.9% of my usage. It's been a long time since I had to worry about installing Windows in a VM.
But to be fair, my requirements to use Windows software are very limited and non-critical. If:
...then I would certainly consider keeping a Windows laptop around. Right tool for the job and all that.
Well you can't really use something not useful to you. Yes Linux is very nice but at the end of the day you gotta use the thing that gets the job done.
Agree.
Take this from someone who has spent entirely too long fighting to make certain software and games work on Linux..seriously way too much time.
Just dual boot. It's the best of both worlds. You can spend your time in Linux but when you want to play that game or need to use your special software you can just switch into it.
It also gives you the flexibility to try alternative software but you always know you have the real deal on your windows partition if you get stuck.
I hate rebooting to play games (or even just closing my other software, for that matter), so I choose to reject games I'd have to reboot for.
I chose to reject Linux for this same reason. I was rebooting 4-5 times daily to be able to play games, so I just reset the default to windows
Depends on the game and version of windows...old games with new windows 99% of time won´t work.
It always depends on the game and the software. Sometimes even games and software that should run well on Linux have issues. At some point you'll realize you're spending more time troubleshooting thab enjoying the game or using the software.
I've had that realization with Apex. It works fine 80% flawlessly on PopOS. But over the last year there has been a bug or something that throws an error. It's always after updates. A file fails to update all the way so I have to manually revalidate game files and download the ones that are inevitably broken.
I was spending 5-10-15minutes fighting this issue each time I wanted to play and I have a finite amount of time these days. So as soon as the error happens, I restart into windows and play.
It's unfortunate since it's been flawless until recently, but at the end of the day I want to play apex not troubleshoot proton,respawn,steam, and PopOS.
Since many years i do not play because have no time for that, including the fixing the issues. Used to play and like to fix issues because that is a good learning technique.
You're no more stuck with Windows than a Mac user is stuck on a Mac.
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I'm a Linux admin at work and I use Linux for my main system.
I do need to administer some Windows only things too. I got them to give me an older desktop system running windows that I leave running in my cube.
Anytime I need to do Windows stuff I remote into that machine.
If they are Windows exclusive then your best bet is to simply run Windows in a virtual machine inside Linux and run the applications from there.
Specifically KVM since it's type-1. VirtualBox is nice, but it can't beat KVM in my experience. I run Windows VMs on my Linux work laptop all day to test end-user experiences and KVM is the smoothest experience I've found.
How did you manage with video performance? I don't game and have had a lot of experience with both vbox and kvm. Kvm performance for video is excruciatingly slow. It got to a point I said "that does it" and went back to vbox.
Yea KVM is great but it's not so easy to pass device's through. Whereas in Virtualbox you go to the menu, select devices, the type of device (eg usb) and then select the device (eg printer) to have it show up on Windows.
Is there a good KVM GUI client like Virtual Box?
virt-manager
I switched to Linux from Windows 3.11 because Microsoft software didn't do what it was supposed to.
My method is that I don't even know what's available for Windows, so I don't miss it at all. The opposite isn't true though, and time spent in a Microsoft environment can quickly become painful.
My only regular contact with Windows is the Steam partition which hasn't been used for quite some time. I have a laptop that has a small win11 partition that I boot every now and then to see what they're up to these days.
However, in the end, the only real answer is that if you really need a piece of software, you just run whatever system that supports it. It's not a religion, you use whatever is convenient for you at a given time.
Ooh, Win 3.11? Which version of Linux did you switch to at the time?
I don't recall the kernel version, but my first was Red Hat 5.2 in the late 90s. I didn't switch to Linux permanently though, had it on dual-boot. But eventually it was SuSE that won me over, with their YaST tool and polished KDE implementation - seemed lightyears ahead of Win 9x and ME at the time.
At the time, I installed slackware with a lot of floppies.
Now, after trying quite a few, I settled on OpenSuSE Tumbleweed. It has one of the best KDE desktops, and basically just works, whatever you do with it. It's comfortable and boring which I see as great qualities.
Can you give us specific examples of the programs you use, and what you use them for?
Certified Linux answer
I mean, it took me awhile to learn the names of all the software I currently use. And in some fields, it's still "Yeah there's not a good substitute."
When I needed Windows for a piece of software, I ran Windows on another computer. Later I got into a position where I didn't need to use that software. đ
My approach has been to slowly learn how to play to the strengths of Linux and not pine after anything on Windows because ultimately I've gained a lot more than I've lost.
The one piece of software I haven't been able to avoid keeping around is Sigma Studio, so I have a 10 year old shit top for running it, but it also runs in a VM if I need it. Thankfully I only need to use it once or twice a year.
If you rely on multiple pieces of software for important everyday activities and they aren't usable in wine or a VM, you probably have no choice but to use the operating system that is the best vehicle for those tools. Doesn't stop you from also using linux for other stuff, but I can understand how that's not the same as going all in.
Libre Office completely takes care of my Office needs.
if the documents exchanged by others used complex macros written on VBA using excel it looks pretty bad on Libreoffice.
Office 365 online can be a good stopgap for those cases if you need it.
Or reference managers. I'm in academia and it's a pain because I can't edit anything on Linux without breaking the fine, I tried everything, LibreOffice, Only office... Nothing works.
I simply resorted to using a windows+office VM for work, back when I was exchanging office documents with coworkers a lot. Even subtle things like font rendering would be different, making a 2 page doc into a 3 pages, etc. (Rendering, not just support - mscorefonts was already installed)
Any company that doesn't support Linux doesn't deserve my patronage.
I'd say make a wholehearted attempt to try open alternatives even if you stay on Windows for the time being. I had been doing so for a few years before I even considered Linux and by the time I finally did switch the transition was a lot smoother.
That being said I've been surprised by how much stuff actually does run under WINE!
We ignore them, mostly. You cannot miss what you don't know.
There are plenty of options however to access software not available natively. Both VMs and Remote Desktop solution work for a wide range applications. Web-based solution can be as good as desktop programs.
So many casual applications are now either web-based or on your (not FOSS) phone, so for my personal use the thought of using Windows has never crossed my mind. Professionally, I resort to remote Windows or a Mac.
It would be easier if you told us specifically what programs you need that aren't supported.
Web apps (for MS Office/Teams), Wine (mostly for games and random apps), and for everything else, an optimized Tiny11 Core VM + WinApps for seamless windows/integration with Linux. My Tiny11 only uses 0-1% CPU and 600MB RAM on idle so I've got no issues running it in the background, besides it takes only a couple of seconds to launch, if I wanted to start it on demand.
I've also got a portable SSD with a copy of Windows installed on it, just in case I need it for some firmware updates or something (although I'm on a Thinkpad so pretty much everything can be updated via LVFS, but I keep it around just in case + it's portable so there's no harm in having it around).
Winapps is pretty cool! Thanks for sharing. I didnt know that existed till now.
Iâve been looking at Tiny10 and 11, have you run into any particular problems using it?
I only use it to run productivity apps inside a VM (Adobe Reader etc), so no issues here.
I think the most problems people have with it is running it on real hardware, since it lacks drivers and stuff.
hmmm, good to know I may have to track down drivers for a regular install, I missed that. Thanks for the feedback!
The same thing Iâve always done - booted another OS that works with that software. No need to artificially limit yourself.
Once upon a time I remember running Dos, windows, os2 warp, and linux on one hard drive. Those were the daysâŚ. Ya ya, Iâm going back to my retirement home bedroomâŚ
There are numerous ways to deal with it, depending on the specific application and use-case. For some, there's an open-source alternative that, while not 100% similar in every aspect imaginable, does offer basically the same functionality (LibreOffice for MS Office Suite, Thunderbird for various email clients, Firefox or just Chromium for Google Chrome). For others, you can use an emulator (WINE, for example). For games specifically, Steam offers an emulator that works for most games (Proton); in fact, all the games I've tried worked. Then, there's the very last option, which is using a virtual Windows machine within Linux. I mention it last because I honestly haven't found many cases where I absolutely needed to do this, and because the set-up is rather "involved", shall we say. But if you're using Adobe Suite stuff then, yeah, you basically got no choice there.
Would you mind listing some of the essential programs that you use so we can get a better idea what your workflow is?
It would be nice if you say in the post which apps are those that hold you. People would be able to suggest solutions.
I generally just avoid it, otherwise I use it on windows, I still use dual boot with windows and Linux, will probably stop after w10 stops getting security updates since I don't really care all that much about windows specific stuff
I either find an alternative or use it under Wine-GE
I already used open source programs on Windows. The programs I'm using to do all my work with are Krita, Blender 3D, Gimp, and Libre Office.
They either started out on Linux or support Linux natively, so switching to Linux didn't really change any of the programs I use. The biggest change is playing games, but Valve has made it very pain free.
Oh hey, same here! I've always been pretty poor so open source programs were the easiest way to do a lot of things
And can I just say, GIMP opens way faster in linux it really took me by supprise the first time
If you must and you have the hardware maybe run Windows in a VM just for those applications. You can even suspend the vm state to resume from where you were.
Native>wine>pwa>VM
My win11 VM sits on my disk, most days it stays off. It starts in 30 seconds and I use remina to remote into it. It sucks that I lose 60gb of disk, but it's fast and everything just works.
We use Google docs at work so that's an easy win.
Outlook's Progressive web app is 99% awesome.
Lots of Linux-only software too
Without knowing the exact programs, you can only get general answers.
If there is no direct alternative program, you can change your workflow to use other programs. Or you can try to run those important programs in wine. Or i can run those in a terminal server, or via a windows vm. Or more lately many programs come in web versions that works for everyone.
I have used linux exclusivly on my daily driver for about 23ish years.i mostly work with the linux side of things. And the few windows things the company require i use web versions, or a windows vm.
Dualboot. Use windows only with the things that need windows (ie CADs) and linux for everything else.
Downside of dualbooting is you have to manage essentially 2 computers.
Thats true, but it is not that different from running windows in a VM or a separate machine like a laptop. If you only use windows for little stuff, it does not require that much maintenance. Especially W10 since it stopped getting feature drops.
Depends. Steam and Proton handles most games and if not, I'll check Lutris. FWIW, some games like Doom and RollerCoaster Tycoon (the Sawyer, 2D era) have open-source remakes that work on modern machines.
For regular software, I will try it in WINE and if it provides a good enough experience for daily use, I'll keep it there. If it doesn't, for any reason, I'll stick it in a Windows VM. For instance, Exact Audio Copy will work fine in WINE provided you get .NET 3.5 installed for the MusicBrainz metadata plugin, but MusicBee has severe enough problems (font redirection problems, lag when scrolling, can't drag tabs) for me that I just use it in a virtual machine or another PC. (I actually have another rig I'm considering using as a "jukebox" machine, since I have macOS on it and use it for Apple Music, so I'm compartmentalising my music to one machine if that makes sense)
I'm not sure which programs you're using so hopefully something here can help but here's some stuff I've read/done:
If you have any specific programs that you have questions about, feel free to ask. Hope this helps!
Try WINE. Raise issue with devs. Or just decide not to use it.
One of my computers has windows on one of the ssds because I have to use windows for work software once every week or so for about 20-30 minutes and there are a few other windows programs that I need to use occasionally.
Basically I use Windows for a couple of hours a month and Linux the rest of the time.
write my own
I try my best to look for open source alternatives. If a company does not support Linux, they don't deserve my support as someone who has only used linux for almost 5 years now. Luckily I am not dragged all the way up into many of these ecosystems which don't work on Linux
What software are you using that is keeping you on windows?
FWIW, the last version of windows I've run was WinME circa 2001ish.. I've been on Linux since '99 or so. You can certainly get by for day to day stuff. The only thing holding you back is going to be pretty niche.
First start using ardour gimp inkscape libreoffice and blender on windows, then dual boot or use a VM to install Linux and start challenging yourself to use it for real stuff when you can. You may eventually realize you're using Linux much more than Windows, like when you boot into Windows and every time require a bunch of updates. Eventually your windows will be so out of date you remove it entirely or start using a windows vm.
Depends on what you do. I take care of this .Net 4.2 backend project which is not compatible with Linux in any safe way. For years I used windows and tbf I enjoyed it, but I am back to Linux and I use a VM with Windows on it to run the project on Rider. I have a setup which allows me to use the backend in this VM and the front-end, database and all rest is native on Linux. It works well for me with the downside of RAM usage, but I designed this laptop with this kind of use case in my from the very beginning so 64GB of RAM I have enough room to run the VM and everything else I need and steel have a snappy environment. I like it better this way, Linux has evolved so much in the past years I am honestly very impressed.
Wine/Proton can run a huge amount of Windows programs.
Honestly though I've just been using Linux for 8 or so years now and just find some other solution. For general computing it really isn't hard at all. Perhaps if you have some weird proprietary work software or absolutely need Adobe it could be an issue
Except for everything that people usually want such as the latest MS Office. Or that nice program developed for Windows 98 that works flawlessly under Windows 11 and it totally broken under Wine.
Depends on what you use. I've used Linux for 6 years and I've never needed any windows exclusive app. I still do have a laptop that's running windows for just in case. I literally only open it once a week or so to update it, that's it. For my use case, Linux has everything.
I don't even have a single computer in my house with Windows on it anymore, and haven't for years. Even the disused Windows 7 install I had sitting on an SSD gathering dust in a drawer has now been relegated to a disk image file.
I come across Windows-only apps very seldom, when it happens I run them in a VM. It's usually stuff like proprietary config app for a mouse or keyboard.
If I'm being totally honest, my primary use-case is gaming. I only have linux installed on my device, and if a game doesn't work, I simply play other things and hope it will eventually work.
Sometimes, with some effort, you can get windows programs to work using wine. For example, I was able to run Mod Organizer 2 to mod skyrim without issues. If that fails and your software won't work in wine, you could either find alternative native linux software or just dual-boot. I used to do that to play VR games in windows 10 since I've had issues running them in linux. Another option is to run a windows Virtual Machine whenever you need whatever software you can't get working, but there's pretty bad performance limitations unless you can get hardware passthrough working.
Consider mentioning the programs you work with. On a general note, Wine can be used to make Windows-software work on Linux. Bottles can be used to that effect as a front-end. Furthermore, for a more sophisticated solution; consider taking a look at CodeWeavers.
I either compile em or run Windows to use said "program".
...I mean... when the latter happens is always someone else's PC, so eh.
If you have to use a program that is windows only you have to use windows. I could move our entire company over to Linux if it wasn't for SOLIDWORKS been windows only.
Wine can be an option but I've found it very hit and miss on some of the more obscure windows only programs
In the past I've used virtual box (virtual machine) in seamless mode, so it looks just like a window in Linux. I can't remember why I stopped, I think it was down to licencing and oracle buying it.
My advice is segregatting work and personal environment, your company's computer isn't safe for general usage.
About stuff you use for yourself, don't focus on which program you want to use, but on the task you must accomplish, most software that is made to mimic a Windows workflow are not great, sometimes you think you need a msword alternative, but you just need to create a document, there's many ways to manipulate documents on linux that are so much better than text processors like word or libre/wps/only, and you will miss it by straight up looking for alternatives.
On Window's software are usually bound by a lot a comercial bullshit, they have to bloat to be able to be forever at development and pushing new versions, Linux usually follows into Unix philosophy, aiming for small high quality software that are easy to compose into a bigger workflow, even when not using cli tools that operate on text streams, a gui linux application usually work with standard formats, don't try to overlap features and are easy to replace if needed.
And about transition, i like the dual boot approach, have a linux partition, and use it for what you can do better on linux when you want to, as you get better with linux, you will be wanting to use window's less and less.
For Visual Studio Enterprise, Adobe PDF editing, native Office apps, SSMS, and RDP thin clients, I use a Windows VM.
For occasional use of a Windows specific software, how feasible is it to keep a VM handy? Not too much of a drag or a bit of a hassle.
Been on the edge of turning the main OS to linux on the gaming rig.
I have a 2TB SSD and a 1TB SSD. My Windows VM is allocated 100GB, so it really isn't bad at all. I use VirtualBox and it starts up basically instantly.
I just realized I have an oldish laptop with Windows on it though so I'm thinking maybe I should just remote into that instead...derp
Sometimes customers want me to use a specific piece of software so I have a QEMU Windows installation I use.
CrossOver is also made by CodeWeavers, but includes paid support as well. Maybe it might suit your use case?
https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover
Does anyone know how well this actually works? Ive been fighting with fusion 360 to work on linux. Yes i know about bottles and it works okish but it lags alot.
Are you looking to run games, or other software? ProtonDB has details of what games do and donât work using it. Proton is also maintained by CodeWeavers, I think itâs basically the gaming support from CrossOver.
Are they like proprietary business programs? What programs can't run on Linux even though WINE?
Virtual machine or Bottles. If neither can help then I just take the L
What are bottles?
It's a thing that's built on top of wine (Windows application compatibility thingy). Its purpose is to create environments for Windows applications in a very user-friendly manner with a GUI. I think whatever you can do in Bottles, someone could do with the terminal using wine but that's difficult.
Haven't used Bottles in a while but you just get the .exe file like you would when using Windows OS, then you put it in the Bottles, and it should run. I have no clue about the details, but if you click enough buttons, it should work properly.
A question regarding bottles, do I have to install dependencies in the settings? My exe all installed without error but can't open.
Not sure. I guess it depends on the software you're trying to use. Watcha downloading? Maybe I can try it on my end.
I am just testing things out, so I'm trying to install Kindle Previewer and Caesium image compressor. All install correctly, but crash upon execute.
This is the error for Kindle Previewer
I'm having issues too. I'd just use a VM at that point xD. With Bottles it's usually hit or miss but with a VM, almost anything works. Sorry friendđ¤§
Edit: my virtual machine manager of choice is GNOME Boxes because it's very easy to use. If it doesn't work it usually means KVM or SVM (one of them) is disabled in your BIOS.
NP, I guess I'll just have to accept it (I only use it to convert ebooks to KFX format, it seems a bit overkill to have VM Windows just for that.)
Thank you for trying to help.
Ill do my usual name drop of zorin os linux distro. its maine thing is windows compatibility and comes with play on linux and wine preinstalled and setup. Also comes with many linux applications installed out of box. I think its the best shot for an easy move over but if it does not work that does not mean it can't be done but its gonna be a bit of work more than likely.
All the programs I use just run on linux, no really. VSCode runs on linux, I've used libre office for longer than I've used Linux (and it obviously runs on linux), all my faves run on linux through steam or lutris.
However, if there is a windows only program you wanna run on linux, you have a few options.
I'd just cross running it though wine out, it's really annoying to setup and my original success rate with it had been... Not great.
If your program isn't terribly graphically demanding, you might be able to run it via a windows virtual machine. It's not perfect but for lighter programs or visual studio, it works.
If your program is graphically demanding (e.g. Adobe suite, CorelDraw, Autocad, etc...) you're kinda out of luck and will have to dual boot... (Or loose your sanity trying to get them working through wine)
All my games work with Steam/Proton (thanks Value!) and I mainly use my desktop as a gaming PC. I do some bussiness stuff but LibreOffice will work. Or I also use Google Docs to do things--can be saved as Microsoft Office file types or PDF.
But you are right, if you need a Windows only program, then Windows is the only option. I had to update the firmware on my Xbox controller that I use with Steam to play my games. I had to wipe one of my laptops and put a copy of Windows on there to get this done. Another time there was a free Baldurs Gate game from Amazon games I could get, BUT you needed the Amazon Game app to get it. And it only ran on Windows. I put Windows on a laptop, download the free game, then moved it to my Linux Gaming PC. After adding it to Steam as a non Steam game, I was exploring dugeons with elves and dwarves.
It's still a Windows world, but IF enough gamers switch to Linux that could change. And Microsoft is only going to get worse with ads.
to answer to question in the title, on top of what was already said: i just code them myself. of course, it doesn't work for everything, but for simple programs, i can write a script or a proper thing that does the specific task i need!
I shit my pants
Windows vm
What programs do concern you?
macros on excel
LibreOffice also has macros support
macros created by different people on excel viewed differently on Libreoffice also Some of the excel formulas that is written on VBA does not work well on Libreoffice
I personally only use Linux now for all my computers. I follow a philosophy for any software solutiom I need that goes like this:
Personally, I am absolutely committed to no more Windows for my personal computing, I have been for years. That means that if I cannot do one of those three options in that order, I don't use that software/solution.
Unless you are doing a lot of specialized software work, those three options should have you covered. I'm curious what software you use that doesn't work with any of those 3 categories.
Advanced CAD/CAM stuff there isn't much in FOSS. Same with specialized Audio production work and advanced photo-manipulation. Specialized device support can be spotty too, but that varies wildly. Those are the only software categories off the top of my head that I know don't really have good FOSS solutions.
I donât use Linux
Unfortunately alternatives for everything donât exist. Adobe products, CAD and certain games just will not run under wine. I tried dual booting, but it became too much of a hassle to have to reboot my computer 4-5 times a day
wipe the linux partitions and get back to a life of convenience and productivity. until another 6 months have passed and I think "maybe this time..."
I recently reinstalled Linux. 5 minutes download, 5 minutes USB write, 15 minutes install including setting up an encrypted drive, everything works out of the box. Installling the graphics driver for my RX 7800 was "hard" because it was two steps instead of one, and that added an additional 5-10 minutes. Now I'm having convenience and productivity beyond all coworkers who constantly battle with windows problems, but hey, windows is windows, it always has some issues, it's fine.
Over this past weekend I installed Windows 11. 1.5 times the size. Took about 7 minutes to download, 20 minutes to write to usb, fine.
Then the nightmare started.
First try: boot windows installer, go to install, about 3 minutes later I get an error about windows installer needing drivers. Wut? Search the internet, turns out that windows installer won't work if Linux partitions are available on the system. WTF, can't just ignore them? Nope, I gotta screw out the m.2 drive. Fine.
Second try: boot windows installer, go to install, about 3 minutes later I get an error about windows installer needing drivers. Wut? Search again, find that windows installer can have driver issues if it sees a mix of m.2 drives and other devices. Fuck me. Open up the other side of the computer, disconnect the other drives. fine.
Third try: boot windows installer, go to install, about 3 minutes later I get an error about windows installer needing drivers. Wut? Search yet again and it turns out that windows can have issues if it's using a mix of usb 2/3 port and device. Try a various different USB ports, keep running installer until find one that is accepted. Fine!
Thirteenth try: boot windows installer, go to install, about 3 minutes later I get a new error, turns out that you can't use Linux ISO writers for windows installers, apparently Microsoft fucked around with why because we gotta make shit hard for non ms users, right? "Luckily" I had a virtual box install, rewrite the usb there.
Fourteenth try and hours later: boot windows installer, go to install, about 3 minutes later I get a new error. My AMD Rhyzen 5 64GB 3000MHz system with an AMD RX 7800 XT and 1TB m.2 dedicated to windows doesn't match the specs for windows 1, it can't run windows 11. That's what it actually said. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! Search again, about an hour later I figre out that Microsoft finally started implementing the evil TPM system and it was disabled in the BIOS. Go to bios, enable it, now I can run the installer.
The install the requires 4 reboots just for the operating system, took about another hour to do so, it asked me loads of times if Microsoft could please please please sell me more shit that I don't want, it required me to connect it to Microsoft services even though I don't want that and finally I had a desktop. Installing graphics drivers took about another hour and a reboot.
Then I didn't wanted to use Microsoft's shit browser, at the least I prefer google to spy on me rather than Microsoft. Go download gogle Chrome, immediately get bombarded with "please no please use our shitty browser, you get the Microsoft experience (tm)!!!"
Welcome to the fucking Microsoft experience! It took me over 6 fucking hours to complete. I could have installed Linux arch in LESS time, a version known to be finicky and HARD.
Why does anyone pay money for windows? It's insane. Their shit doesn't work because Microsoft never cared a single shit about good software. They care about money and so their marketing department is doing the heavy lifting. Just lie to people, tell them that their shit is all superior and the "best experience"
I run into trouble with Linux sometimes, but NEVER this level of shitty incompetence and sabotage.
Everytime I install windows again for some reason, its always a fucked up hourlong shit. And after installing then comes the disableing of unnesessary bullshit it comea with.
Linux just works, I use Ubuntu because Im just a normal user, and I don't know why people even use windows.
Same, I don't have a clue why people actually use and PAY for that shit. It's like buying a new car. You get into he agency, get in, want to start and drive away but right out of the gate the battery is empty. Okay, let's charge it? But yeeaaahhh, the great 12v standard that works everywhere doesn't work for windowagon, you need a 15.9v because that way microshit can sabotage those people that just want to get from a to b without having to deal with their bullshit.
I recently had to install arch 3 times since. First time I fucked up, second try the system fucked up and third time worked. With me trying to fix the system this took me 2-3 hours. Most of them trying to fix the second install. The third time I used the installation script(which didn't worked in the beginning) which made the install easy as hell taking about 10 minutes configuring the install and about 5 minutes installing everything. Later I just had to install gnome which were about 10 minutes total.
And yet Microsoft in 2023 still is stuck with "this computer cannot run windows 11" when all that was wrong was that TPM was disabled in the bios. Just say you need TPM and that I need to enable it, why is it impossible for Microsoft to ever give a clear and concise error message?
You mostly don't because Linux desktop is kind of a "collective delusion". You either assume you'll be using alternatives that aren't compatible with your current applications and potentially deal with collaboration issues with users of such apps or stick with Windows.
https://tadeubento.com/2023/linux-desktop-a-collective-delusion/
When it comes to distros I suggest you keep to Debian and use Flatpak to install software - this will give you a rock solid OS with all the latest version of the applications you might want to use. Flatpak apps can be installed from the GNOME Software "store" GUI which makes things really convenient.
Speaking about office, LibreOffice is great, however it isn't as good as people like to sell it. Take for instance this simple documented I created in MS Word, side-by-side, it can't even properly display a simple document with some headings and a few bullet points:
Things like that print screen and what is written on the article are the hard facts that people like to avoid and downvote, but it is what it is. Linux is great, but not in most desktop use case scenarios.
The LibreOffice stuff generally has a workaround, even if frustrating. Most general use stuff on Linux is fine (again, not without pain wrt interoperability with my other systems).
My issue with Linux is the stuff that just doesn't run at all (software and HW). For niche stuff, you can occasionally find a halfway implemented bridge utility made by a well-meaning (and brilliant!) enthusiast, but, in my cases, it either doesn't work or is too glitchy to be anything more than a effort to see if I can get it to run as opposed to doing the task I set out to do originally. Add to that the fact that your (paid) software and HW is explicitly unsupported and at best at a "you're on your own" status, and it becomes a high risk proposition.
Make no mistake - trying to get stuff to work is fun in and of itself. I use Linux. It's fun. It's breathed fresh life into old machines. It was my daily driver for years. Etc.
Ultimately, I really, really wish more proprietary software and associated HW supported Linux. I'm happy to pay for stuff I need/want that is outside of the FOSS world. But until devs of commercial products recognize the value of investing in Linux, it's a game of whackamole.
In meantime, I still try to get my stuff to work on Linux. It's a much better OS, but to successfully run the stuff I need I am confined to Windows (with WSL) - unfortunately.