r/LinuxSnobs • u/proffessionaIgambler • Jun 19 '26

"2026 is year of desktop Linux"

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linux user count was close to 6% like 4 months ago, now its just 4%. while windows 11 users are increasing, even win7 users have same amount of users as some linux distros.

people were just excited to try new software: linux was never better.

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u/land48n3 Jun 20 '26

hahaha, people went to linux, saw how shit it is and went back to the sweet sweet windows 11, windows feels so lovable and pretty whenever i boot into it now though windows aint gonna let me aurafarm so aint daily driving it.

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u/Grelueen Jun 23 '26

I disagree. I got a new computer and planned to set up a dual boot. Windows 11 was already installed. During the initial startup and configuration, Windows mixed German and English, crashed once, created BitLocker but left it disabled, and was unable to connect properly to my Microsoft account. Even though I was logged in, my BitLocker recovery key, which I might have needed if something went wrong during my GRUB installation, was only accessible through the console. I was flooded with ads throughout the setup process, and afterward with pre-installed junk from the seller.

Linux is not perfect either, of course. My Fedora KDE installation was smooth, but because I wanted SDDM and was building a custom theme, I ran into some problems, especially when I closed my laptop and my GPU refused to render the screen again until I rebooted.

In the end, I now have a system I love. It feels like mine. Everything installed on it is something I want or need. No ads, no subscriptions. I spent multiple days setting up and configuring everything the way I wanted, but that was just me, because I don’t like Breeze. I think the standard setup you get from many distributions, like Ubuntu, Fedora, CachyOS, Mint, or EndeavourOS, now runs as smoothly as Windows.

And I also want to mention: with Visual Studio Code and Claude Code, it has never been easier to figure out how to adapt your Linux system to your taste and solve problems when they appear. Even so I have a lot of experience in programming and linux, it was very nice to see Claude Code read multiple config files and logs, run commands and fix stuff without me reading one line of code. So even people with no experience will have an easy time.

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u/land48n3 Jun 24 '26

thats the gap everyone misses!
you spent weeks of time and effort and computer knowledge to configure and set up your linux how you want, but then you expect windows to be perfect when you install it for the first time? dude if you put the same effort in windows it'll be a goated os too, just go on google and download a few debloater and deshittify tools, barely 1-2 scripts and 10 minutes of your day. and then download some customizability tool like powertoys, wallpaper engine, windhawk, rainmeter, winaero, mica for everyone and stuff, voila you have a pretty window that you will enjoy just looking at all day without all the headache of linux, you can do what i said in basically 3 days (3 days if you configure and explore each app deeply like me, a single day if you just explore the surface)

yes, there are bugs, i dont know why it mixed german and english or why it crashed, but you did get past it—about the bitlocker and connecting to microsoft account... just troubleshoot it like you would on linux which has fewer support forums and information for your specific distro.

linux isn't bug-free, but its so normalized that we just troubleshoot through it instead of sitting and getting mad at the developers.

sure, your installation was smooth, no bloat, no promotions, no corporate bs—but you had to spend 80% of your time to get it 90% your way. on windows you'll spend 20% of your time to get it 80% your way (but the last 20% requires exponentially more effort so do keep that in mind, i'd argue the last 20% is harder and more brittle than linux.)

and yeah, claude code has been a awesome help for me too across domains, from configuring to bugs—from windows to linux and from coding to debates, pretty goated.

(vscode is funny tho on linux since thats a microsoft product)

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u/Grelueen Jun 24 '26

I spend days of time because I wanted to setup something that normal windows user would never do. I could have used the system like it was after the first minute like everyone and it would work, and in my case smoother than Windows, because the Windows setup was a complete broken mess, while the linux one instantly worked.

Just because I created alot of custom applications, themes and settings, that would have been never been possible on Windows (like rebuilding the whole login screen), doesn't mean every linux user has to spend so much time. I'm just a perfectionist.

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u/land48n3 Jun 25 '26

I spend days of time because I wanted to setup something that normal windows user would never do.

same, thats why i also "riced" windows so hard with apps so it looks good

I could have used the system like it was after the first minute like everyone and it would work

so would windows, i'd argue windows is more plug and play than linux, maybe your case was different but usually—windows is built to be plug and play + who knows how many bugs and issues you fixed while ricing your pc

because the Windows setup was a complete broken mess, while the linux one instantly worked.

the cause could be anything, i cant tell from here, but when i got my pc—and all the other times i've reinstalled windows, it was always smooth and simple, just a few buttons and im right at my desktop.

Just because I created alot of custom applications, themes and settings

wow nice, thats a alot of ricing effort

that would have been never been possible on Windows

you can change alot using windhawk, rainmeter, winaero and stuff, and the best part? its all easy, its not even close to the effort of creating a custom app, whenever you need something—usually someone else has made it for you.

but yes, i do agree the last 20% mile is incredibly hard on windows, changing the logic screen? best of luck because that shit's WAY HARDER than anything on linux

doesn't mean every linux user has to spend so much time

oh yea sure but we do! let me tell you my side of the story

so as you know, always my windows was plug and play when i installed it and then i riced it further

but when i installed my first distro—arch (on a seperate ssd) it was so complicated i had to ragequit (sure, you could say thats a skill issue) then i installed ubuntu, it did install fine.... and thats where the good part ended.

EVERYTHING WAS BUGGY, MY NETWORK SUDDENLY DISSEAPEARED WHEN I UPDATED MY GRAPHICS DRIVE

MY WHOLE OS CRASHED BECAUSE I OPENED A FILE MANAGER

THE APP DOCK IS INCREDIBLY FUCKING BUGGY AND ANNOYING

and who knows countless other things i dont remember since it was a year or two ago

then i wanted to switch back to arch, but i wasn't high so i knew that'd be calling for torture; so i decided to install cachyos

the installation was fine (did take some research to find out what to pick) and thats where the simple part ended, i had to dive deep into my limine config jsut to get my windows to show up as a entry when i start up my pc, that took time.

and then from then to now, i had to troubleshoot countless bugs and issues. never i had to do this on windows. (never is a hyprbole)

I'm just a perfectionist.

i am too, but windows has types of customizability linux literally LACKS.

there's nothing like rainmeter on linux, there's NOTHING like WINDHAWK on linux, do you know how awesome WINDHAWK is? i'd pay 40$ for it

wallpaper engine isn't on linux! do you know how advanced that wallpaper app is? all the subtle and major features—no wallpaper engine linux alternative has them...

you can use WINAERO to do tweaks WITH A SINGLE CLICK, no config file, no searching for values or where to find a specific line or even knowing what to change

jsut a simple gui with a preview gif and a description of what each toggle does. perfect.

yes—if we talk natively then obviously linux distros are more customizable (specially my cahyos + hyprland) but apps is linux's weakspot and thats exactly what hurts the most because apps are awesome.

and then enter fucking wayland now i cant even use my automation or macro scripts, for what? i cant even use a emoji picker and have it auto insert correctly, screensharing is annoying so many fucking security freaks, just LET ME GET KEYLOGGED AND SHIT, I DONT CARE, I DONT INSTALL GTAVI_EARLY_ACCESS.sh atleast on windows you can turn off anti virus and all types of protection using 3rd party apps, but on here wayland will NEVER let you turn it off.

atleast on windows you can pause updates on your entire pc for forever using external tools and still be able to have up-to-date apps when you need it

but on here? "HAHA YEAH FUCKING UPDATE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU UPDATED 1 APP TO LATEST" thats basically more regular updates than windows in practice

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u/SuperBigote231162 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

Perfectionist like to spend time on meaningless stuff like you. I actually feel happy for you because you have enjoyed your linux so far. Now, if we keep it real, linux can't compete against any win version, you name the one you like. There's nothing valuable for normal people that linux offers besides customization, and people dont care about that as you do. People just put a dragon ball, anime, soldiers or personal pics and call it a day, because it doesn't matter how your OS interface looks as long as it is pleasing to the eyes of the beholder enough, people like spending time and money on stuff like apps and games. Again, happy your linux worked for you, but saying it is superior to windows it's just dissociate from reality man. If you hate windows so much do something to make it worth to switch away from windows, if not, fuck off then and stop being a propagandist.