With the end of Windows 10 coming in 2 weeks, people have a couple of options:
- Stick with Windows 10 until they're forced to upgrade (like how some did with Windows 7).
- Buy a Mac and use macOS.
- Use Linux.
And I want to talk about Option 3: Linux. More specifically, the reason behind switching operating systems. Because currently, I believe most people are switching to Linux because they hate Microsoft. And that's the wrong way to do it.
Exponential Decay of Windows
Over the years, Microsoft has made Windows into a terrible user experience. Even amongst non-technical people, their opinion of Windows at best is tolerable. From hours-long updates that could break your PC to unhelpful BSOD, there've been even more problems Microsoft has added recently.
Here's a couple off the top of my head:
- Ads in your start menu.
- Copilot and Windows Recall.
- OneDrive uploading your files automatically without your permission.
- New system requirements.
- Telemetry.
All of this for an operating system that costs a $100, and treats the end user like shit.
Because of this, people are looking for alternatives, specifically Linux.
Cause unlike most modern software, Linux has continued to gradually get better over the year. The biggest achievement being gaming.
As long as the game you want to play doesn't require an anti-cheat, most games will run fine on Linux. That, in conjunction with better performance, lack of telemetry, ads, AI, etc., Linux is looking pretty good. So good that many people might switch to Linux once Windows 10 reaches End of Life.
But there's one glaring problem.
Linux is not Windows
While obvious, I don't think people know what this implies: they're going to have to learn how to use Linux (yes, that includes the scary TERMINAL). I've seen so many new Linux users on r/linux and in YouTube comments complain about how the thing they did on Windows doesn't work on Linux. That because Linux doesn't behave like Windows (the thing that they're trying to get away from), Linux is "unintuitive", "not user-friendly", and "not ready for the public".
And that's bullshit.
What these anonymous internet folks are actually saying is that they don't want to put in the effort to learn Linux (aka lazy). They cry how they just want to "get work done" or "play videogames/create music/edit videos/use Photoshop", not roleplay as a sysadmin. And if that IS the case, then stop complaining and begrudingly use Windows. Linux is free and worked on by volunteers around the globe.
No one's forcing you to use Linux.
No one's being paid to market Linux as the savior of OSes.
Otherwise, if you're unwilling to learn even a modicum of the thing your planning on replacing and using for the forseeable future, you're going to fail and have a bad time.
How to Succeed in Linux (NOT CLICKBAIT!)
Instead of running to Linux because Windows is an abusive partner, learn to love something about Linux instead. Instead of focusing on the things you hate about Windows, focus on the thing that excites you about Linux. Instead of remembering all the bad memories you had with Windows, look forward to all the great ones you'll have with your new life-long partner Linux.
Okay, enough that's enough personification of operating systems.
LoVe nOT hATe
Do you know what made me stick with Linux for the long run?
No, it wasn't an ever-increasing amount of vitriol for Microsoft.
No, it wasn't the freedom from ads and telemetry.
No, it wasn't the lack of viruses or performance gains I would get.
It was rsync.
Yes, the highly acclaimed syncing tool that's used by sysadmins is what made me switch to Linux.
After experiencing data loss, I was looking for a simple yet robust backup tool for my personal files.
After googling a bunch about what was available, it was between FreeFileSync and rsync.
And in the end, the scriptablility of rsync won, and I was willing to give up the familiarity of Windows just to get first-class support for rsync
It's been 6 years since.
Conclusion
The people that will succeed in Linux and continue to use it are the ones that will find learning about it more exciting than hating.
Maybe you saw Pewdiepie's video about Arch.
Or maybe you happened to stumble upon a post from r/unixporn and saw how cool and slick an operating system can be.
At the end of the day, swiching to Linux will require some effort on your end, and it's better to go about it with earnest than dread.