The writing is on the wall–I suspect the next Windows OS will be a subscription service. Gather your ISOs while ye may.

  • sexy_peach@beehaw.org
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    7 months ago

    I urge everyone to install linux on an old notebook and see if it works for you with firefox as a browser and thunderbird for emails

    • Neato@ttrpg.network
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      7 months ago

      Whatever linux version is on the Steam Deck wasn’t bad to use when I needed Desktop mode. It was pretty similar experience-wise to windows (no mac experience).

      • noodlejetski@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        SteamOS is based on Arch, which you do not want to use and maintain as a beginner. what matter is the desktop environment, which in SteamOS’ case is KDE Plasma, a great choice in my completely unbiased opinion.

        • overload@sopuli.xyz
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          7 months ago

          Good points. Its worth mentioning that while SteamOS is based on arch (a famously unstable distro), it is immutable, so the user will have a much harder time bricking their system. KDE plasma was the right choice I ree, considering the number of windows users Valve is marketing towards.

      • onlinepersona@programming.dev
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        7 months ago

        That’s probably KDE - the K Desktop Environment. Linux variants are called “distributions” and they are basically software bundles maintained by groups.

        Desktop environments are basically bundled themes and software to present a desktop, bars, effects, and so on. Windows basically has one desktop environment, but linux has many: Most popular are KDE (windows like) and Gnome (Mac like), but there are more like Cinnamon, XFCE, LXQt, LXDE, which look more like windows.

        Desktop environments also have window managers - they do what they say, manage your windows: maximize and minimize them, stack them (stacking window managers), tile them (tiling window managers), or even allow only one window at a time (like kiosks).

        If you want to start your linux journey, grab bazzite if you want to game or linux mint debian edition (comes standard with cinnamon desktop environment, but you have the choice during installation to use KDE too) and give it a go!

        You can also test distros (linux mint for example) online!

        Anti Commercial-AI license

    • sic_1@feddit.de
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      7 months ago

      I love Linux but Programs like CAD and professional graphics software don’t run. Still Linux is only an option for programming and gaming.

    • narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      Or better yet try it on your main notebook/desktop. Try to get the same things done you did before with Windows and if it works for you, stick with it.

      • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        7 months ago

        If you have actual work to do then I would HIGHLY suggest not doing it on your main machine. Give it a month on a secondary machine before giving up. If you install it on a Friday night and come Sunday night it’s still not working fully you’re gonna go back to Windows and never go back.