It seems like the more interested I get in Linux, the less appealing it becomes. The community seems to have no fucking clue what they’re talking about, because everyone is just constantly talking over each other and contradicting themselves! I have spent so much time reading about Linux and distros and such to prepare for my eventual switch, but after all that I’m starting to question if I even want to make the switch. Here’s a few of the things I have read over and over, that confuse me to no end:
- It doesn’t matter what distro you use, but also you absolutely should not use that one!! Use that one it’s much better trust me!
- Gaming is good on Linux now, but also it’s super shit and you should keep windows if you want to game
- Sure you can use Nvidia cards, but also no you can’t because nothing will work with them
- Just dual boot if you’re not sure, but also no don’t dual boot because windows will erase your shit if you do
- Trust me bro Linux is super easy to learn, also here’s 14 different specific terms you’ll have to Google, but even then you’ll barely understand them
- Everything will work out of the box, but also you can’t use that thing with that other thing without configuring that other thing first but that’ll break that thing which needed that thing […]
I’m slightly exaggerating and I may get downvoted but I needed to vent. It honestly sometimes seems like Linux diehards are intentionally hiding some of its major pitfalls in order to “convert” more people to their side.
I know windows sucks and that’s why I want to switch, but at least when you have a windows question there’s a concrete answer, not a bunch of nerds yelling out incoherent technobabble-sounding answers that all contradict each other.
And for fucks sake please type the whole words when speaking to beginners. How am I supposed to know what a DE, a VM, a CLI, a WM, PM, or all that other stuff is?
Linux is the “least welcoming, yet most aggressively butthurt that no one is joining it” community I’ve seen in a while.
Alright rant over, you may yell at me now.
People are giving good advice generally. I really think Linux Mint is the best for a beginner. I installed it on my elderly neighbor’s computer because I truly think it’s simpler than windows. I don’t use it personally, I use arch BTW. And Debian. The gaming and Nvidia issues I think are at least somewhat related: if you have an Nvidia graphics card, you may find it more difficult to game on Linux. If you use steam for all your games, it’s probably just as easy to game on Linux as on windows. If you use other launchers e.g. I play trackmania which uses ubisoft, it will require more setup like using an intermediary launcher such as lutris. I don’t recommend this if you are after a “no fuss no muss” experience.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t want to join our cult! Getting into Linux more than surface level generally involves spending some time with a search engine asking how to do certain things, and trying different methods to fix issues. I find it fun, your results may vary. Good luck!