I’d been using Windows for so long, dealing with all the issues, random installs, shutdowns and all the crap.
Then one fateful day 3 years ago I installed linux, and I haven’t had to think about my computer ever since.
It’s absurd.
Years ago maintaining a linux installation was a part time job.
Did you update the kernel? Have fun recompiling the nvidia driver.
Usb modem? Roll 19 or higher for some random package off sourceforge to support your device and roll a 20 for some kind soul to have written an howto.
Bluetooth audio? Who knows!
Printing? Sure, let’s dive into lpd’s legacy on this earth.
Attaching an external display? You’ll love reading xrandr’s manoage EVERY TIME.
A package outside the official repository? Well if you’re okay trading your version upgrade in the future, why not…
Nowadays most things work.
Now if only gnome could stop the war against its own users…
> Bluetooth audio? Who knows!
> Attaching an external display? You’ll love reading xrandr’s manoage EVERY TIME.
> Did you update the kernel? Have fun recompiling the nvidia driver.
> A package outside the official repository?
I literally had enough with Russian roulette like Windows Update, all kinds of spyware for a long time but it's really really hard to find substitution for some of the stuffs I use also the drives were not that good on Linux.
Fedora 36 is pretty smooth. Only issue was a nvidia driver update a couple of years ago, but was easy enough to unwind. Otherwise no issues.
It's like that Neil Stephenson passage where he compares BeOS to the Batmobile, MacOS to a Lexus, Windows to a station wagon, and Linux to a tank, with the problem being that people are scared to learn how to drive a tank -- even though it's free.
Fedora is just great.
And being a red hat certified sysadmin, I'm liking it even more.
Despite all of that, when combined with a few extensions and customizations it remains my favorite despite experience, despite the vanilla experience being sub par. But not when it's broken obviously.
It's a love hate relationship.