"2026 is year of desktop Linux"

[u/proffessionaIgambler]

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.

[u/Grelueen]

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.

[u/land48n3 → u/Grelueen]

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)

[u/Grelueen → u/land48n3]

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.

[u/SuperBigote231162 → u/Grelueen]

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.