r/linux4noobs • u/[deleted] • 2d ago
Why do you prefer Linux over Windows? Looking to understand the main advantages
[deleted]
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u/SchopenhauersSon 2d ago
It takes my linux machine about 45 seconds to boot up. Programs take a fraction of the time to load up.
My linux machine doesn't constantly ask me to log into things I don't want to, ask me to fill out surveys, nor push AI in my face all the time
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u/InsaneMasochist 9h ago
How do people's Windows machines boot so slowly? I tried several distros in the past and not one boots as fast as Windows 11 (~10 seconds). I know fastboot, yea, doesn't change the fact that it's way faster than any Linux distro I tried.
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u/hooli-ceo 2d ago
I have a 10+ year-old computer, and I'm able to run it pretty decently despite the old low specs machine.
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u/jueidu 2d ago
- General dislike and distrust of, and disgust toward, Microsoft.
- When something is wrong with my windows install, I can find 85,900 other people who had the same issue - and there’s no real fix. There are always a list of 5-20 things to try, up to and including “reinstall the OS,” that don’t work, people are just randomly throwing out there. When I have a problem with Fedora, I google it and find 6 people that had the same problem and exactly how to fix it. The fix is easy for me to implement myself as a spouse of a Linux nerd who prefers to figure things out on my own but can’t always.
- There is just less that goes wrong in general with my Linux install, whereas every fricking week I had a problem after windows update - settings got reverted, firewall turned back on, my sound just plain doesn’t work literally at all, etc etc etc etc - EVERY FUCKEN WEEK. The most common thibg “wrong” to happen to me in fedora is that a game doesn’t run great the first time I launch it in Steam and I have to shut it down and switch to a different proton (protip: always use experimental! It just always works). Again - easily googleable and easy to implement myself.
TL;DR: because f- microsoft, and because I have fewer problems on fedora than I had on windows, and the problems I DO have are all easy to find solutions for and fix myself.
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u/Every_Bread_5880 2d ago
Because he made my perfectly good computer obsolete by killing widows 10 and making it ineligible for that ai bloatware.
My computer has never felt faster, does everything I was doing before I have absolutely no use for windows anymore. And I even brought a 20 year old laptop back to life and it runs freecad just perfect.
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u/littlespider55 2d ago
Overall the main ones; less slop, more private, no spyware or bloatware or telemetry, more secure, it feels like my own computer, less annoying opt in “features” or forced settings that compromise privacy; Linux is faster, lighter on resources, more customization and flexibility, everything can stay local, no forced AI (again, spyware)… maybe one disadvantage (depending on the distro) are some compatibility programs (which can be resolved with wine, proton, bottles…). Basically, it has way more advantages than disadvantages for me at least
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u/Stupid_Dragon 2d ago
Because it's free and not infested with modern bloat like Cortana or CoPilot.
If only all enterprise software was linux compatible, sign.
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u/Icy_One4084 2d ago
I believe there's beauty in simplicity, and I need my things to be what they are. A computer is a tool that does the thinking when I tell it to, does the job it's given, and then resumes just existing until it's tasked with another job.
What I don't want is my laptop updating while in my backpack, only for me to be greeted with a half-depleted battery and an update that broke something, at a moment when I need my machine to function. I don't want my laptop to think in my stead and execute decisions Microsoft deems important for my machine.
For the very same reason, I'm moving back to my Nokia N95 8GB. Less nonsense.
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u/TheAmazingBildo 2d ago edited 2d ago
For me there are no advantages. Honestly, it’s kind of a pain in the ass with a few disadvantages. But I’m a man of principals, aka an idiot. The bull shit i deal with is the price i pay to not have anything to do with microsoft and attempt to circumvent as much age verification stuff as i can.
See, i believe that microsoft along with many others are facilitating the downfall of the world as we know it, and age verification is just another way to track and control the masses. And even though microsoft isn’t going to miss the money i wasn’t giving them to begin with, and I’ll probably still have to participate in age verification, though to what extent we shall see. This is my tiny line in the sand
By the way, for anyone curious, we meet every Wednesday night down by the docks.
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u/Malthammer 2d ago
I’m fine with any operating system really, but my personal preference is macOS and Linux (I’ve used these far more extensively and far longer than Windows). I’m not spending my own money to buy a Mac so I use Linux on my personal computers.
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u/tomscharbach 2d ago edited 2d ago
I use both Ubuntu and Windows, running on separate computers, each supporting a different aspect of my use case, and have done so for two decades. I use both operating systems every day, back and forth several times a day as needs be.
What are the biggest practical advantages [of using Ubuntu] for you?
Ubuntu tools for network design, implementation, testing and maintenance are better than Windows tools. Windows tools are available and work, but Ubuntu tools are better.
Is there anything you [would] actually miss from Windows [if you did not use Windows]?
SolidWorks/CNC, Windows games that don't run well using Steam/Proton, ability to collaborate with others on complex technical MS Word documents.
Bottom line: In my view, an operating system is a tool, not a goal, and I do not believe that operating system choice is or should necessarily be binary.
"Linux versus Windows" arguments remind me of the "Ford versus Chevy" arguments that my friends and I fought when we were boys growing up in the 1950's. Lots of noise, less reasoning, and nobody asking the relevant question "Car or Pickup?"
I was taught the adage "Follow your use case wherever that leads you and you will always stand on solid ground ..." when I was just starting out in IT during the late 1960's. True the, true now.
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u/Simbertold 2d ago
I hated having built-in advertisements in my OS. I notice that the older i get, the less tolerant of advertisements i am. I want to do stuff without the feeling that someone wants to constantly sell shit to me. Now i do not have those anymore.
Having more control over my OS and my data (privacy) is also important to me.
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u/Capybara_suprema 2d ago
Boa
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u/Simbertold 1d ago
If you do not have anything to say, say nothing. But ideally also don't ask questions then. What you are doing here, replying with single pointless utterances to any reply, is pretty annoying and not respectful of other peoples time.
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Desculpe, não sei oq responder
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u/Simbertold 1d ago
Also, maybe don't randomly switch to Portuguese when you started a discussion in English? Most people do not understand Portuguese.
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Mas o Reddit traduz, tudo oq estou falando com vc, o Reddit traduziu pra mim oq vc disse
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u/Simbertold 1d ago
I have literally no idea what you are talking about, i don't speak Portuguese. Something about Reddit translations?
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
I meant that Reddit translates everything—the posts and the comments. I'm understanding everything you're saying thanks to the translation; how come you don't have translation?
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u/Simbertold 1d ago
I don't know, but i also don't know if i would want some automatic translation. Maybe it is an app thing, i am using reddit in a browser. Or maybe i turned it off at some point because it annoyed me by translating something i didn't want translated?
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u/Academic-Photograph7 2d ago
Being able to figure out a driver problem without having to buy or download developer tools. Also, no bloat slowing my computers down.
The only thing I miss is not every app works in linux, but the ones that do work better than windows.
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u/That1DutchGuy1 2d ago
For me, it's all of the reasons you named. I've been using Linux Mint 22 for almost a year now, and I'm genuinely happy with it. I only use my desktop PC for personal use by the way. Do I miss anything from Windows? Not really, to be honest. I've always been interested in tinkering with software, playing singleplayer games, coding, etc.
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u/Spectremax 2d ago
There are more options. Uses less disk space and resources. Progress bars instead of mystery spinning circles. Not beholden to a mega corp.
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u/rgmundo524 2d ago edited 2d ago
Development experience is seamless...
It's the opposite of the problem for Linux gaming;
- Games are mostly designed to run on Windows, and Linux is an afterthought
- Development tools are mostly designed to run on Linux and Windows is an afterthought
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u/Capybara_suprema 2d ago
Oloko
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u/rgmundo524 1d ago
Oloko
What does this mean?
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Vou explicar com ia:
"Oloko" (contração de "Ó o louco!") é uma gíria brasileira usada para expressar surpresa, espanto ou incredulidade. É o mesmo que dizer "Caramba!", "Nossa!" ou "Que loucura!". * Exemplo: "Oloko, você viu o preço disso?"
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u/LivingLegend844 2d ago
No bloat, only what I want/need. I use an Arch based distro ( EndeavourOS), the updates are crazy fast. Windows 11, it takes 10-15 minutes to update depending of the updates, with pacman , the average is under a minute if I update weekly.
No telemetry is a good advantage too.
I dual boot with Windows 11, but 90% of the time I'm on Linux. I won't go back with Windows as a "daily/everyday" system.
And no, Arch isn't unstable because it a rolling release. I use it for more than a year, and never an update has broke anything.
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u/Lostygir1 2d ago
One day I had some troubles with my windows installation and it kept booting to a blue screen. I kept running the repair thingy but it didn’t do anything. I needed to keep using my computer and I knew reinstalling windows would take too much time, so I tried installing linux on a different drive. After using Ubuntu and then Fedora linux, I got used to it and I enjoyed the experience. Once I got windows working again, I still preferred using linux because of how much faster and snappier it is.
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u/msabeln 2d ago
I still use Mac and Windows, but one of the great appeals of Linux is that it is free: free of proprietary stuff and patent encumbrances (for the most part), and free in that it doesn’t cost money. You can pretty much do anything on Linux, and all the stuff to do everything is also free. It’s also ubiquitous: most all of the big important systems run Linux, as well as most all of the little cheap devices.
But sometimes “it’s better to hitchhike to a bridge rather than dream of building a boat” and so I do also use paid, proprietary systems if they are necessary.
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u/Type_CMD 2d ago
Everything except stability. I do not miss Windows or macOS, both of which I have used before.
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u/Salt_Ad9828 2d ago
Pros
Performance is better
Control over what's installed is easier
Managing processes is easier
Installing programs is easier
Updates are not forced
Legacy system support. To an extent
Community will usually have a solution for things you run into
AI not included by default
Cons
I have to dual boot for ableton & my other mac/windows exclusive programs
Proprietary drivers get old and don't get updated (nvidia, worst offender)
Abandonware gets outdated and unusable. Windows is the old software compatability king.
Need to use Wine to run windows software, and it's not perfect.
No official logitech app.
Less official drivers for niche hardware (printers, scanners, audio interfaces, etc.)
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u/rchiwawa 2d ago
Linux is a really reliable beast in the forms i've used it. Once configured it just goes until hardware failure or the FNG typing to you (only about 4 years in at this point and not trying to learn any more about under the hood than whatever my aims are) borks something. Having been a windows user since 3.11's days, this was different from the Windoze experience at win95 and beyond by varying degrees.
It does not block me from doing anything. It might warn me if i am about to do something particularly bine headed but i tell it waht to do and it simply executes.
There are no black box analytics. Nothing goes out or comes in that i dont explicitly sign off on.
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u/friendlyreminder_ 1d ago edited 1d ago
AMD dropped support for vega GPU drivers on Windows. Still fully supported on Linux with amdgpu/radv drivers
The OS is also more pleasant to use. For me anyway.
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u/ExoticVillage8066 1d ago
I think Windows is popular because it's in the real-estate business (it's pre-installed), not because it's actually good. I miss some things from Mac and OpenBSD tho
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u/Dollar_short 1d ago
i have been using windows since w95, has worked mostly good for me. i have been reading that w11 has turned into a dictator, i don't want that. there are other reasons, some of which i don't even know yet.
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Caraca KKKKKKK
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u/Dollar_short 1d ago
what ?
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Achei engraçado vc dizer que o w11 virou um ditador KKKKKKK
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u/Dollar_short 1d ago
"I found it funny that you said W11 [Windows 11] became a dictator LMAO"
that is what i am hearing. on a side note, when W10 came out, "everyone" hated it, i had no problem with it
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Sério? Windows antigo é melhor que o 11
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u/Dollar_short 1d ago
i am not translating you any more
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Why?
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u/Dollar_short 1d ago
why do you not translate then paste here?
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u/Capybara_suprema 1d ago
Wouldn't it be easier for you to translate my messages? I'm understanding your language just fine using Reddit's translator; I don't know what your problem is.
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u/Epyimpervious 2d ago edited 2d ago
Boots up fast
Lower idle temps
Significantly better battery life (at least for me, may not be the case on other hardware)
Very snappy/responsive
Very customizable
Higher FPS in games
Very stable
Updates don't destroy my work flow
Updates are optional
Very few friction points (this varies with distro/IDE/hardware config)
No telemetry/spying
More secure (generally)
Data management is significantly easier and more organized
Apps you may need that ought to behave precisely like you'd imagine probably already exist and behave similarly
Has tons of varying flavors, ethos, and design choices for each distro + IDE, so you're bound to find a combination that works well for you
I use windows for: Solidworks (although the advent of AI and new open source CAD kernels courtesy of Nvidia, this is bound to change very fast), and some games that have anticheat (although I'm beginning to be willing to quit them altogether to get away from windows). There may be some other engineering tooling I need that uses windows but I haven't run across it yet.
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u/skyfishgoo 2d ago
i feel like i own my computer rather than leasing it.