On this most recent install, MX, I played around with the live USB version for a little while to make sure it acted the way I wanted it to act and did the things I needed it to do, and then just said “hey, why not?” and nuked everything on my SSD (after making sure important files were backed up elsewhere) as the install method. Maybe not my brightest idea, but so far I haven’t had reason to regret it.
At the moment, I’m saving various Linux ISOs – some systemd and some non-systemd – to a Ventoy USB and playing with them when I have some spare time. If I really like any of those, I may do a dual-boot install.
I can’t just move on, because I need to use my computer. It’s such a hassle reinstalling everything, with snaps, appimage etc. that don’t do what’s needed. Printers are still a problem. HP printers are recognised when you plug them in, but the facilities are limited compared to the bundled Windoze software. Brother printers can be got to work but installation remains a nightmare.
I installed plain Ubuntu on my office machine a year ago, and need to get out except for some file rescue work with the local free repair shop. Now I find it’s still too difficult (at least for someone who’s getting old) to dual-boot Windose when it isn’t the first OS the computer has seen. We desperately need legislation that forbids anyone to own or control the BIOS of any general-purpose computer.
I wonder sometimes whether the unfriendliness of Ubuntu to ordinary users is to some extent intentional. Perhaps Canonical prefers clients who pay and have an in-house IT service that controls the desktop machines. The derivative Mint is autonomous and free and hasn’t the resources to provide what I would consider adequate support for home users.
Surprised you think that, they are just plug and go, print or scan. What more do you need ?
Again mint once installed runs fine, if users have questions they offer a free forum to post questions on, plus our own site.
I have done over 400 mint users in the last 15 years and very few need support afterwards, perhaps 2 or 3 have come back to ask questions. Almost all were ex windows virus users thrown in a few mac users.
If you have a support issue with mac they offer help centres but they are usually miles away. With windows you phone Microsoft and wait.
Think a lot of hand holding of new users has gone with most now on smart phones or tablets with no support.
Multiboot : as I said that seems to be forbidden if you’re starting from a Linux distro and need to escape to Windoze because of available software. At least I didn’t find a procedure that’s within my capacities. Last time I tried, starting from Windoze, Ubuntu couldn’t read the Windoze disk (or the other way round; I gave the thing away a while ago). Common applications like Ionos HiDrive online storage (part of a multi-service contract) still don’t integrate well with Linux.
Multiple computers : computers are expensive, and very many people I deal with don’t have room at home for anything but a single portable. Anyway, computer-hopping several times a day can drive one mad.
Rolling release : isn’t always available with the distro you first thought of, and it might well start rolling downhill .
Seems to me you need to take the Wife’s lead and leave Linux alone and run Windows!! Sure, Linux will run on a lot of machines, but the reality, of Linux running like Windows, is completely nonsense, do not care what distro it is!! That is why my old Dell Inspiron 530 is running Slackware15 and dual boots with Windows XP, and am in the process of compiling LFS!!!
I started in Januari this year with Ubuntu 24 LTS it was ok but never liked it that much a friend recommended Linux Mint and i installed it and loved it it was easy and worked well,but got serious trouble after about 3 - 4 weeks so i tried pop os and kinda like it but cosmic freezes when i logg in and i cant do anything but to restart,i tried Zorin and like it will try it again later on,i installed cachyos and same as mint i realy like it and its good for gaming as well,and for about 1,5 week now i have Fedora as my main drive and realy like it no issues yet Knock on wood lol and it works great for gaming also and i tried to install MX 4 times but never get to the installer i click on 1 of the 2 version and it starts loading but i never got past that ,i dont know if it gets stuck or what. so yesterday i installed Endeavour os on my second ssd and so far works well. im a bit Like Howard here i want it to work out of the box for the most part. and im no power user or very technical person and use my os mostly for surffing the net and play games.
I don’t think so. Linux as we see it today can be OK for an institution with IT management (as in the French initiatives) but, depending on the distro, I think it’s either too shaky or too user-unfriendly for mainstream use at home or in small or medium businesses.
I don’t think we should be too critical of Canonical - quite likely they are aware of the difficulties and keep to something they can maintain with available resources.
One difficulty with the free offerings is the lack of a sound way to get people paid for the development, maintenance and support work. I agree with others here that Mint shows what the meanstream offering could look like. It needs a more solid base - there were three troublesome bugs last year (one due to Ubuntu) that caused me to stop offering it on the few machines that came in for recycling.
That’s why I like it. It’s user friendly, loads of software and games available solid base. Works out of the box without much technical knowledge.
I used to work for Microsoft many years ago, don’t have a problem with people using or choosing, over the years I made my living based around windows. But more and more got disillusioned by windows 8, 10 and now 11. But it’s spleen a money printing machine from virus fixes and Linux installation so cannot complain to loudly.
To install windows 11 on any computer it needs to be have made in the last x years, contain the security chip 2, and the bios not only support security but have the update in place to support 11. Great for new machines but anything older simply not capable hence tye push to buy new or stay with 10. None of my computers or my wife’s are capable of 11. Not throwing away perfectly good technology just to please Microsoft
Just as an extra, we don’t play games, but use computers for business hence libreoffice and internet which linux loves.
I have used Mint for the past 8 years and dual booted at least 2 of those years or more with Windows. Yes, there were some problems during the learning curve. No problems with HP printers.
Like Paul said Linux Mint works right out of the box.
Wow @cat-man, you are really getting some good experience installing Distros. I count 7 Distros installs since January and one fail install. Soon, if not already, you are become an expert on the install process and also become familiar with many different Linux releases.
Doing a little research on the internet it looks like Fedora might be a good match for you. Good for gaming, stable, and I read from AI that it was especially good for:
“newer AMD GPUs, Wayland, and Steam/Proton gaming”
You might want to stick with Fedora for a bit longer to give it a thorough test.
yes i realy like Fedora its very stable and not one issue yet so Fedora will be my main drive as of now and im happy to have one more ssd for testing diffrent distros will try mx again and see if i can get it to work
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and im happy to have one more ssd for testing diffrent distros will try mx again and see if i can get it to work