With the growing number of users jumping from Windows to Linux, I decided to fully take the plunge and dive deep into the Open Source ocean. A few months and several headaches later, it has proved to be the best computer-related decision I've made in over a decade (and perhaps in my entire life).

There. That’s out of the way. I recently installed Linux on my main desktop computer and work laptop, overwriting the Windows partition completely. Essentially, I deleted the primary operating system from the two computers I use the most, day in and day out, instead trusting all of my personal and work computing needs to the Open Source community. This has been a growing trend, and I hopped on the bandwagon, but for good reasons. Some of those reasons might pertain to you and convince you to finally make the jump as well. Here’s my experience.

[…]

It’s no secret that Windows 11 harvests data like a pumpkin farmer in October, and there is no easy way (and sometimes no way at all) to stop it. The operating system itself acts exactly like what was called “spyware” a decade or so ago, pulling every piece of data it can about its current user. This data includes (but is far from limited to) hardware information, specific apps and software used, usage trends, and more. With the advent of AI, Microsoft made headlines with Copilot, an artificial assistant designed to help users by capturing their data with tools like Recall.

[…]

After dealing with these issues and trying to solve them with workarounds, I dual-booted a Linux partition for a few weeks. After a Windows update (that I didn’t choose to do) wiped that partition and, consequently, the Linux installation, I decided to go whole-hog: I deleted Windows 11 and used the entire drive for Linux.

  • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgOP
    29·
    13 hours ago

    I can confirm that the ultra-low-maintenance variant can work as well: Years ago, a dear friend of mine needed a replacement for her antique Windows laptop, to write reports for her job training as a psychotherapist. She had two jobs, no money, a little daughter, and zero time to bother with computers.

    I gave her a Thinkpad X220 with Debian on it. I got zero support requests from her. That was 2016, and she is still using it.

    • ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world
      2·
      5 hours ago

      Same here, I installed Debian on the laptop of my nan and I got zero support requests ever since from her. Debian is so good ans stable!

    • balsoft@lemmy.ml
      11·
      13 hours ago

      Oh my, I hope she knows how to sed the release name in /etc/apt, or else it’s very out of date by now…

      • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgOP
        11·
        5 hours ago

        Well, I was saying ultra-low maintenance, and most of the time, we both had much more important things to do (apart from navigating a pandemic). For example, going ice skating or trampoline jumping with her kid. And she is also not the type of person who likes yearly breaking UI changes. But as you remind me, I’ll get her another dist upgrade and browser update, so that online banking continues to work for her. That’s what you have friends for :-)