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this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2024
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Unfortunately, Linux isn't quite there yet for casual users. I tried it every year, and there was always something that was annoying enough that I switched back to Windows with O&O ShutUp10. This is the first year that I've been happy enough with my install that I've started using it as my daily OS. But even this year, I had 2 really annoying issues that I had to spend time searching to fix.
After putting my computer to sleep, it would immediately wake back up. Eventually found out it was my Logitech wireless dongle that was causing the issue. I had to create a script that disabled USB ports during sleep and a systemd service to make sure it activated on every boot.
After waking from sleep, my screen was black with only my cursor visible. Running
sudo systemctl restart display-managersometimes worked, but that wasn't a solution. After searching the web some more, I found an arch wiki explaining that it was an issue with my Nvidia GPU. So then I had to edit a modprobe file and finally I was happy with my install.I'm super happy that I can finally use Linux full-time, but the fact I had to mess around in terminal to fix the issues associated with my hardware means most casual users will just go straight back to Windows. I've seen a lot of Linux users say, "just don't use Nvidia", but buying a new GPU isn't a solution for most people. My hardware isn't even that weird: AMD 5800x3d, x570 chipset, Nvidia GPU. Linux is getting there, it's closer than it's ever been. But it's not there yet.
Thanks for this. I'm going to look into it. This happens on my computer, but it's been happening for years, which includes a long time on Windows. I had pretty much given up on it because I've tried unplugging just about everything and it still happens. It might be something else for me.
For the Nvidia issues, that hopefully shouldn't be an issue soon after the open source drivers. The few mostly solvable issues with Linux are quickly dissolving.
It's easier when all they do is browse the web, and you can just install linux for them (after they have agreed of course) with the necessary fixes applied by you. They won't want to go back, because it works fine. Especially when they asked your for maintenance and speeding up the machine, agreed to getting an SSD, and keeping windows on the HDD.
My 75 year old father have been running linux for 20 years now. All in all, i know about 7 super casual users that are running linux only, without any real issues.
Its definitely there for the casual users. Its just not really there for the Windows "power"users lol
It still depends on the hardware you have. If you have hardware that’s fully supported by the kernel version your distro is running, then it’s easy. But as soon as you add a piece of hardware that isn’t, there’s a good chance you need to spend a lot of time searching how to fix it. Buying a new mouse and all of a sudden not having sleep work is not a power user problem IMO.
@Untold1707 As opposed to the hardware requirements of windows, who force you to buy a new computer for every new windows version just because?
Black screen with cursor can be bypassed by pressing ctrl+alt+del, at least on my HP laptop with Mint and KDE Plasma 5.
If you stumble open a problem like that, Windows, even macos, are also that diddly. Even more so, because they are designed to hide the internals from the user. I had to use my old MacBook for something. While sleeping, it wakes up, connects to my bluetooth headphone, I hear "device connected", then disconnects 10 seconds later, "device disconnected", and repeats 20 seconds later. Searched, "how to disable Bluetooth while sleeping".Turns out there is no official way and the answer is competing with Linux shenanigans. Just look at this!
Also it launches Music app whenever I connect my bluetooth headphones. And guess what, it is impossible to disable that behavior. I had to install an app called NoTunes to stop that.
People just accept the quirks of windows and macos. when something similar happens on Linux it proves Linux is unusable by "normal people". But you are also right. Linux is not there yet. I did need to use my old MacBook because something I need to do was impossible on Linux.