My week with Linux: I'm dumping Windows for Ubuntu to see how it goes

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Lots of people will find this useful and it is great to see this documented. Thank you to the author and to all those who are leaving helpful comments!

For me, one of the biggest issues with Linux at this point, regardless of distribution or desktop environment, is the deprecation of X11 and the introduction of Wayland, which I know has been around for a while but it is still NOT widely adopted by software developers. New versions of Ubuntu and Fedora have dumped X11, which is understandable to a degree, but NVIDIA still poorly supports Wayland and, yes, there are quite a few applications that simply DO NOT WORK, or work well, with Wayland. What is the average user expected to do when applications don't display correctly, draw very slowly, or when their system becomes unusable due to display issues?

The issues that result are esoteric, difficult to identify, and often, using Fedora 42 (or Ubuntu as per this article) with the latest NVIDIA drivers as reference, there is no known solution. Linux users are still waiting for the display manager issues to be sorted and/or for NVIDIA to fix their Linux drivers. Even installing the NVIDIA Linux driver is difficult... way too difficult for many users, especially those not using Ubuntu, who has done a great job to make the whole process a lot easier. Fedora makes it somewhat easy, but still many people have to dig around in the BIOS to enroll a key. The whole process is easy to mess up and it will put many people off.

There are other issues but the average user, power user or not, desperately needs a reliable display manager that handles varied resolutions, DPI settings, refresh rates, and applications meant to run on the platform. Maybe Wayland is it, but everyone needs to get onboard and do it quickly. The transition from X11 to Wayland has been painful and it remains the biggest outstanding issue on the Linux platform, in my opinion.
 
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Since I started using WordStar (CP/M days) before IBM re-arranged the keyboard layout the CTRL key was where the CAPS key is now. I've always hated the new location of the CTRL key. With Windows I've used an old ZDNET application called TradeKeys to change the keyboard layout. For my MX Linux machine I do the same by editing the US keyboard layout file (/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/us). Here's what I add to adjust the keymap:

replace key <CAPS> { [ Control_L ] };
replace key <LALT> { [ Caps_Lock ] };
replace key <LCTL> { [ Alt_L ] };

It really pretty simple to do.
 
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Lamarr the Strelok said:
I've been on about 6 different distros over the last 5 years and 99 per cent of the time I've had to enter my password to install stuff. Hell, some programs won't even OPEN without signing in with your password.
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In my experience, it's exactly like Windows 7 and later. Any time you make changes to your system (e.g. installing or removing software) or run admin tools, it requires authentication. I guess Windows lets you get around that by giving your login user admin privileges, but that's such bad security hygiene that we shouldn't even consider it a proper workaround.
 
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beloved_morph said:
Even installing the NVIDIA Linux driver is difficult... way too difficult for many users, especially those not using Ubuntu, who has done a great job to make the whole process a lot easier.
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My experience with OpenSUSE Leap was also quite easy. Nvidia maintains a repo for some distros. If you have a supported distro, just add the repo and you'll get driver and runtime package updates through your package manager, just like on Ubuntu.

beloved_morph said:
The transition from X11 to Wayland has been painful
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Agreed.
 
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bit_user said:
In my experience, it's exactly like Windows 7 and later. Any time you make changes to your system (e.g. installing or removing software) or run admin tools, it requires authentication. I guess Windows lets you get around that by giving your login user admin privileges, but that's such bad security hygiene that we shouldn't even consider it a proper workaround.
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No the admin in windows still has to input their ok, not the password but you still have to manually click something.
You have to change security options to not get bothered with it anymore.
user-account-control-windows-11-1.png
 
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Admin said:
Here's what it's like to live with Linux as my desktop OS.

My week with Linux: I'm dumping Windows for Ubuntu to see how it goes : Read more
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I don't know if this is still an issue. But I used fedora a long time ago switching from ubuntu because of:
a. The issue with the system reading my system searching and giving it to amazon.
b. The lack of ability to encrypt my hard drives.(this hopefully has gone away.)

I don't know if this was back when the government was trying to attack all encryption, but it was very hard to find any linux os that did full encryption on install at the time. I still don't know what was going on.
 
FreeBee101 said:
I don't know if this is still an issue. But I used fedora a long time ago switching from ubuntu because of:
a. The issue with the system reading my system searching and giving it to amazon.
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I've seen this concern of spyware raised a few times, now. I wonder if anyone can substantiate such claims with good evidence. According to this, the Amazon searching thing has long-ago been removed.

For myself, I don't mind Ubuntu collecting stats on which packages I install or my system specs. I prefer to be asked, before submitting problem reports, just in case a program crashed which might've had sensitive data in memory, at the time.
 
bit_user said:
I've seen this concern of spyware raised a few times, now. I wonder if anyone can substantiate such claims with good evidence. According to this, the Amazon searching thing has long-ago been removed.
​
​

For myself, I don't mind Ubuntu collecting stats on which packages I install or my system specs. I prefer to be asked, before submitting problem reports, just in case a program crashed which might've had sensitive data in memory, at the time.
​
​
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They were collecting search results when you searched for a file to deliver ads to you live. It had the potential to accidentally capture passwords and sensetive file information. It was a disgusting feature. And I doubt it's gone.

I don't need to substantiate it. It was an open thing at the time. Ubuntu openly stated what they were doing. Last I heard they made it somewhat where you had to opt in. But that is not acceptable or trustworthy with how they acted.

I will never touch ubuntu again and assume at all times it's a total security threat.

The company literally openly pulled a microsoft but without hiding it. Then they messed around when they went to, "Opt in mode," non of which was trustworthy when they did it as they kept going back and forth on it and refused to explain it all. It should be assumed it's all still there and not necessarily all off. I forget if part of the problem was the use of non openable files to check what was happening or not. But there was something that I think stopped open source from realities from checking it also.

They literally just suddenly mentioned before applying it that it was going to happen and then just did it. I beleive after acting like they were doing something else before hand. The whole thing was completely underhanded. Never trust them. They lied after over and over again and are almost 100% still collecting data. Probably even with opt out. Ubuntu is the first of two british companies I learned to never trust a british company from. The other is frontier. Frontier is also known to pull a british foh paw of acting like the sleeziest game environments and using underhanded mod tactics to abuse customers. They think they can do whatever to whomever. But like the pattern starts to show. They do it supporting the behavior from the top openly without any care. The guy running frontier is also knighted and has legal obligation to a government. I treat him the same way you would china. And anything british potentially. They are a pariah state that hasn't been exposed fully yet.
 
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palladin9479 said:
The Ubuntu spying is very well known now. Was awhile back and they got caught red handed.

The Infrastructure Group at MIT CSAIL

tig.csail.mit.edu tig.csail.mit.edu

Now it's "opt-in" and people know which package to yank.
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Huh. That unity-lens-shopping metapackage does still exist. Fortunately, it's not installed on my Kubuntu 24.04 box. Not sure if that's only because I don't run the Unity Desktop environment (i.e. because it's Kubuntu it uses KDE, in place of the Unity environment Ubuntu runs by default).
 
bit_user said:
Huh. That unity-lens-shopping metapackage does still exist. Fortunately, it's not installed on my Kubuntu 24.04 box. Not sure if that's only because I don't run the Unity Desktop environment (i.e. because it's Kubuntu it uses KDE, in place of the Unity environment Ubuntu runs by default).
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Unless I'm mistaken, Ubuntu hasn't had the Unity desktop in a long time. They gave up on it.
 
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Funny how the experiment is to try Linux. You pick the distro. Everyone tells you that you picked the "wrong" one because the one they use is the "right" one. This is the problem with Linux. Tribalism. Then there's the software that goes with it. You want office. Get Libre or some other knock off of Microsoft Office. Go ahead, try it. They're watered down and terrible, akin to a Microsoft Office 2004. Linux is great for old computers or someone who has the time, patience, and no money to get decent software.
 
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What was wrong with going with Firefox?

As for choosing distros, plenty said about any major variant of Ubuntu (or Debian rather but with a similar ethos of having a somewhat familiar desktop experience coming from Windows), but I'd recommend long-term servicing distros over the latest-and-greatest short-term servicing ones. The exception would be for those with relatively new PC's, i.e. a model released within the past year or so. Sometimes it's still not an issue but in trying to minimize possible headwinds for new Linux converts, I feel that's reasonable.
 
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I would try Linux but man all this setup and compatibility and various distros makes this look so unappealing to try out. It looks like a bigger headache than Windows 98. I wish there was one version that was set up to make Windows refugees comfortable by having a similar interface that made it easy to pick up.
I would pay some money if someone made a "Universal" version that works with whatever hardware config or wouldnt mind paying someone to compile a bespoke installer or something.

Lets be honest, if Windows became truly unusable, most of the refugees are going to Mac or ChromeOS
 
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colossusrage said:
Funny how the experiment is to try Linux. You pick the distro. Everyone tells you that you picked the "wrong" one because the one they use is the "right" one.
Click to expand...
Admittedly, I've only read about half the posts in this thread, but I haven't heard anyone say a particular distro is "wrong". I think there's been some discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of different distros, but I'd be very wary of anyone characterizing a particular distro as "right" or "wrong". There's no single answer that ideally suits everyone.

colossusrage said:
This is the problem with Linux. Tribalism.
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TBH, I think the tribalism of Windows vs. MacOS vs. Linux is a lot stronger than between Linux distros. Most of us have used multiple distros, and some of us even run more than one distro at a time, because we recognize they have different strengths and weaknesses. I am a fan of having more choice & the freedom to choose, experiment, and innovate.

Also, I'd just repeat that container technologies (i.e. snaps, flat packs, app images, etc.) are making the choice of distro less relevant. You can use these across different distros, because they're self-contained.
 
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The article said:
May 12, 2025 at 9:46 AM
My laptop did not go to sleep

So I had closed the lid of my laptop Wednesday evening, thinking that it would go to sleep and eventually into hibernation so it doesn't use up the battery. That's what happens with this same laptop with Windows 11.
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Along with docking stations, this is one of those things about laptops which makes it more important to look for models with first-class vendor support.

Back in 2017, I got a Lenovo Thinkpad 13. I got it cheap, as it was an "open box new" 2016 model. From the day I installed it, Linux support was 100% for everything I tried, including docking station and automatic sleep on lid closure. I've always run Kubuntu on it (which, again, is just a different "skin" on regular Ubuntu).

I'm sure plenty of laptops work fine, even without 1st class vendor support, but you should do a bit of research, and don't just assume you can throw Linux on any laptop and that everything will work perfectly. Especially not brand new models, right when they're released. If you can't order it with Linux pre-installed, then be a bit wary and see how it's working out for others.
 
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bit_user said:
Along with docking stations, this is one of those things about laptops which makes it more important to look for models with first-class vendor support.

Back in 2017, I got a Lenovo Thinkpad 13. I got it cheap, as it was an "open box new" 2016 model. From the day I installed it, Linux support was 100% for everything I tried, including docking station and automatic sleep on lid closure. I've always run Kubuntu on it (which, again, is just a different "skin" on regular Ubuntu).

I'm sure plenty of laptops work fine, even without 1st class vendor support, but you should do a bit of research, and don't just assume you can throw Linux on any laptop and that everything will work perfectly. Especially not brand new models, right when they're released. If you can't order it with Linux pre-installed, then be a bit wary and see how it's working out for others.
Click to expand...
So this is on a ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) and it did go to sleep. I was wrong; what happened is that it did not hibernate after going to sleep. So when I was home for several days and used my desktop there, the battery ran out. On a Windows PC, the battery would get eaten up more slowly and after a few hours it would go into hibernation.
 
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apiltch said:
So this is on a ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) and it did go to sleep. I was wrong; what happened is that it did not hibernate after going to sleep. So when I was home for several days and used my desktop there, the battery ran out. On a Windows PC, the battery would get eaten up more slowly and after a few hours it would go into hibernation.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification.

So, I don't know how much of this applies to regular Ubuntu, but under System Settings > Power Management > Energy Saving, there are three tabs. One for On AC Power, one for On Battery, and one for On Low Battery. Each has a setting for "When laptop lid closed".

I don't see a way to configure it to automatically enter hibernation after it's been sleeping for a while, but I don't know if that's just a KDE limitation or Ubuntu itself.
 
M0rtis said:
I would try Linux but man all this setup and compatibility and various distros makes this look so unappealing to try out. It looks like a bigger headache than Windows 98. I wish there was one version that was set up to make Windows refugees comfortable by having a similar interface that made it easy to pick up.
I would pay some money if someone made a "Universal" version that works with whatever hardware config or wouldnt mind paying someone to compile a bespoke installer or something.

Lets be honest, if Windows became truly unusable, most of the refugees are going to Mac or ChromeOS
Click to expand...
Sadly that was ubuntu before they pulled the spying thing. Everyone had huge hopes for them. Then they out of nowhere did it.. They literally acted like they were doing something else and then the day of release suddenly the horror struck. Showed their true colors fast and lots of people ran away from it. I was a user of it for that reason before that happened. Now I use Fedora as it's the next closest thing. They even got gui based video card installers now.

I actually need to reinstall KDE to see if it's actually working now. I use mate atm just so the power saving features aren't broken. Which is a stupid worry to need to have. But that is linux to some degree. You get what you pay for now. I stick with free because I'm not willing to have the same level of struggle with payed software. And because the out of the gate security realities are better. Unless that has changed with windows. I refuse to use an antivirus and I get tired of installing drivers. There are a few out of the box features that are great for linux. The only drivers I install are the video ones. And thank god that is now a one click deal. If linux took things seriously and became as user friendly as windows it could do well... But we know how the, "words I can't use," developers are like in that area. We need to get non server people to write an OS.

Does windows have the ability to auto detect and install drivers now over the internet? Or does it have the linux feature of not letting software run automatically. Those are the two things they could change to make windows really nice. This is outside of trust issues with their past behaviors.
 
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I havn't noticed any linux os tribalism.I have gone down the wayland et al. rabbit hole and don't get the problem.I only use 1 monitor at a time so maybe that's where the problems/debate comes from? It somehow goes into DE's and I like all of them. KDE is specially priddy.
And being so dismissive of linux users is the equivalent of saying all windows users only use their pc to go on twitface and get Humpdashian updates.
 
Lamarr the Strelok said:
I havn't noticed any linux os tribalism.
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???????
How many different versions/flavors of linux are there?
That's because everybody wanted something different in the distro they made and there are enough others who think alike for all of them to be there.
It's not like they get together every so often to beat each other up, but still everybody is on a different distro because they follow that distro.
 
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