Anyone use just Linux?

[RustySpoons]

I've been using computers since the 1980s and lost count of OS's I've used.

Currently I have PC's and Windows 10, I've always had the main PC as Windows or MAC OS, I use Linux in a virtual machine a lot of the time.
I'm getting a bit fed up of Windows, it's getting more and more limited.

Anyone here decided to ditch Windows and go Linux as their main OS?, using things like Wine or VM's within Linux to run any essential Windows Apps?

 

[Archive-8]

I use mint on 2 of my pc’s the other 3 have windows 10 home edition.

One of the mint machines i use as my tvheadend server and virtual Radar server.

Virtual radar server is a windows program, I use mono to run this just like the pi does.

You can also get the raspbian desktop version.

Raspberry Pi Desktop - Raspberry Pi

 

[dmaavrigdo]

Haven't used Windows for decades except for a laptop devoted to Volvo Vadis. The last pc I bought came with Windows but it was so tedious, with all it's demands about my identification etc before I would be allowed to use it, I gave up, wiped the disk and had Linux up and running in no time. If you must run Windows software Virtual box seems to work ok.
In active use we have one Linux desktop, two raspberry pis, two Chromebooks, three Android tablets, two Android phones, two Nooks(Android) and one Linux satellite reciever. I think the TV is Linux too.

 

[Lazarus]

I ran just Linux (Crunchbang, Mint and Lubuntu) exclusively for a few years.

No Crunchbang any more, sadly, but I now have a Win 10 Tablet (Linx 1010) which is surprisingly good.

Frankly, having both, either on separate hardware or as dual-boot, is the best idea. Both have their advantages and their limitations.

 

[Captain Jack]

Not Linux but Mac OS 100% as my main machines. Unfortunately, I have to have Windows VM for certain programs (too much faff with Wine etc.) and also have Ubuntu - again, more for certain tasks (HackRF) than anything else.

 

[excollier]

I use Linux "almost" exclusively, in that I keep a Windows 10 vm (hosted by Linux in Virtual Box) so that I can access work from home, but on a personal computing level I left Windows 6 years ago. Windows is way, way, way too high maintenance, and a spy in to the bargain.
No hardware installs of Windows in this home.
Here's a guy who can guide you to the emergency exit from Microsoft land

Joe Collins

 

[RustySpoons]

I use Linux "almost" exclusively, in that I keep a Windows 10 vm (hosted by Linux in Virtual Box) so that I can access work from home, but on a personal computing level I left Windows 6 years ago. Windows is way, way, way too high maintenance, and a spy in to the bargain.
No hardware installs of Windows in this home.
Here's a guy who can guide you to the emergency exit from Microsoft land

Joe Collins

Interestingly I've been watching his videos the past few days.

I use Linux a lot and it made me think, why not just get rid of Windows. I cannot use the Windows 10 start menu no matter how hard I try, I constantly find myself launching programmes from the command prompt or the search bar. And I find myself having to boot up a Linux VM to do certain things which is not possible in Windows. Then when I need to make a build environment to compile something it is an absolute pain in the bum in Windows. Even Mac users have more power through their terminal!

 

[Archive-8]

Interestingly I've been watching his videos the past few days.

I use Linux a lot and it made me think, why not just get rid of Windows. I cannot use the Windows 10 start menu no matter how hard I try, I constantly find myself launching programmes from the command prompt or the search bar. And I find myself having to boot up a Linux VM to do certain things which is not possible in Windows. Then when I need to make a build environment to compile something it is an absolute pain in the bum in Windows. Even Mac users have more power through their terminal!

Windows 10 needs classic shell, I cannot use the pc otherwise.

 

[excollier]

^^ yep, Joe explains things in an easy to follow way, came a cross him a few years back - incidentally, what distros do people use? I run a triple boot of Mint 18.2, Debian 9 and MX17.1, with MX being my daily driver, Debian being the main Virtual Box host for work and Mint for my wife to use - all xfce desktop

 

[RustySpoons]

Windows 10 needs classic shell, I cannot use the pc otherwise.

Not tried that, but you're right it's impossible!
I had 8 then 10 the day they came out and each time I think, oh an update will be along soon and it will be better.
But it just does not work for a Power User. It's useless!!

 

[RustySpoons]

^^ yep, Joe explains things in an easy to follow way, came a cross him a few years back - incidentally, what distros do people use? I run a triple boot of Mint 18.2, Debian 9 and MX17.1, with MX being my daily driver, Debian being the main Virtual Box host for work and Mint for my wife to use - all xfce desktop

I use Debian (Flavors), Gentoo and Arch.

Depends what i'm doing and what architecture i'm working on though.

 

[excollier]

I use Debian, Gentoo and Arch.

an expert then!! (Gentoo and Arch)

 

[RustySpoons]

an expert then!! (Gentoo and Arch)

I wouldn't go that far lol, Gentoo is a pain if you need to re-install as you can get quite OCD about it and compile/configure the whole OS.
I've used Linux since about 1995?, I got started on it when there was a copy on a CD with a computer mag. I accidentally wiped my Windows 3.11 system but it looked really interesting and was fascinated by it. Might have been Suse!

 

[RustySpoons]

I ran just Linux (Crunchbang, Mint and Lubuntu) exclusively for a few years.

No Crunchbang any more, sadly, but I now have a Win 10 Tablet (Linx 1010) which is surprisingly good.

Frankly, having both, either on separate hardware or as dual-boot, is the best idea. Both have their advantages and their limitations.

Sorry just seen this!

I have a Linx 8" here, I did have a 1010 and also that fancy one they did that Sainsburys had on offer at one point.
Yes they run quite well considering their specs!

 

[Lazarus]

Sorry just seen this!

I have a Linx 8" here, I did have a 1010 and also that fancy one they did that Sainsburys had on offer at one point.
Yes they run quite well considering their specs!

I got mine for £125 including a keyboard dock.

There's now a newer version, I believe. Not really looked into it, so don't know what enhancements there are.

Edit: It's 64 bit and called the Linx 1020

 

[RustySpoons]

I got mine for £125 including a keyboard dock.

There's now a newer version, I believe. Not really looked into it, so don't know what enhancements there are.

Edit: It's 64 bit and called the Linx 1020

The last one I had was called a Linx 12X64

 

[Analoguesat]

Windows 10 needs classic shell, I cannot use the pc otherwise.

Classic Shell development ended in Dec 2017 as the developer get fed up of having to fix it everytime MS did an update.... At some point it will get broken for the final time....

 

[Archive-8]

Classic Shell development ended in Dec 2017 as the developer get fed up of having to fix it everytime MS did an update.... At some point it will get broken for the final time....

Looks like I will have to ditch windows completely

It can’t be Microsoft best marketing decision to remove the start bar/menu imho.

 

[Analoguesat]

Ive tried Linux on my desktop machine - every single version I have tried has fallen over with an error due to the video card / twin monitors .

Not good enough - Its worked flawlessly under windows for over 10 years. (No its not an obscure video card!)

I do use Mint 18.2 on one of my laptops though.

 

[RustySpoons]

Ive tried Linux on my desktop machine - every single version I have tried has fallen over with an error due to the video card / twin monitors .

Not good enough - Its worked flawlessly under windows for over 10 years. (No its not an obscure video card!)

I do use Mint 18.2 on one of my laptops though.

Is that a AMD GPU by any chance?
I run 3 Monitors and they have to work.
I've never installed it on this machine, only on a laptop or Virtual Machine.