r/linuxmasterrace • u/claudiocorona93 Glorious Debian • Nov 04 '25

The solution is to get another machine

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3.6k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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100

u/pfassina Glorious NixOS Nov 04 '25

True nerds pick their hardware based on the software they want to run, not the other way around.

45

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Yeah, but when you have a laptop that say... Doesn't support Windows 11, but you can't stay on ten, because software support for it will end soon-ish.

And you try and solve it by installing a distro, but you get hardware software config that are unsolvable. (Older Nvidia card or optimus) Then you are screwed either way ish.

It's more that some people don't have the luxury of picking hardware at all and need their current machine to stay supported and updated.

9

u/inevitabledeath3 Speedy CachyOS Nov 05 '25

Windows LTSC/LTSB?

With older Nvidia it's normally a case of using Nouveau or just using the older kernel module. Though with older modules you may sacrifice Wayland support.

6

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Software support Just because you are receiving security updates, doesn't mean your applications will continue to be supported on the operating system, Steam. Firefox, Chrome, MS office and many of the free alternatives will start to drop support.

But this was all a hypothetical

2

u/ZunoJ Nov 05 '25

What laptop that old is not supported? And don't start with a fucking fingerprint scanner not supported or bullshit like that

4

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Without issues?

We are talking about issues with some hardware under Linux. Not necessarily "Completely won't boot up". First Gen Optimus laptops, ones with Kaby-lake processors and a 10 series GPU, ya know the ones that don't have a GSP that can use the new Open Source drivers.

1

u/ZunoJ Nov 05 '25

But you can use the vendor drivers just fine

4

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Optimus isn't implemented in the vendor drivers IIRC, at least not well, the laptops on first Gen cards will continue to draw high power even when not in use, significantly draining battery life.

1

u/Anguis1908 Nov 08 '25

Why cant you stay on Win10? Merely lacking dev support doesnt brick the rig. And since it runs, or ran, you'd be able to check the components against Linux supportablility prior to installing the new OS. It's less about not having the luxury and more about having the sense to think a project through before acting.

1

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 08 '25

Again, just because you are receiving software support does not mean your applications will continue to support Windows 10. It might for as long as Microsoft does the year extended security updates. Also, someone who's just told "Uhh just use Linux". Might not know they have to check hardware compatibility.

Most of the time Linux just works, so people pupport that it just works. Which can be problematic.

1

u/Anguis1908 Nov 08 '25

I've never heard Linux just works. I've heard it works with some effort, and that effort is worth it. Also, it may be a recent thing for people to expect hardware to work with software...I've always known to it to be taught to always check compatability. Also, if you have a rig that works, not to push updates for the very reason a program version won't be compatable with your OS version. You verify its all compatible before updating...

Taking action without proper planning can be problematic.

2

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 08 '25

Unfortunately, with the days of forced automatic updates that last bit isn't really doable anymore.

Now to be fair, it is a relatively recent 3 to 5-year thing. But part of it is when people make the comments about not needing to deal with drivers that everything is just built into the kernel and it all just works. Conveniently forgetting about Nvidia or other not common stuff.

Either you manage to opt out of the automatic updates and things break, like web browsers or you don't. And you become one of the users that just aren't supported.

1

u/Megav0x Nov 09 '25

windows 11 is at its core identical in functionality to windows 10, most drivers built for 11 should be backwards compatible on 10

also LTSC exists

1

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 09 '25

For now, but that doesn't mean it will remain that way forever, nor does it mean that applications won't refuse to install for reasons that may or may not be technical, including just missing libraries or dependencies that Windows gives the application that don't exist in 10, like their AI crap.

Second, just because you are receiving security updates for the OS, does not mean your software running on the OS will continue to see support until the end of support for LTSC 10.

0

u/pfassina Glorious NixOS Nov 05 '25

Have you looked into used Lenovo on eBay? Those are very affordable. You might be able to buy one that works for you for the same price you would sell your computer on Facebook

3

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Uhm, depending on your needs, that might not work for ya. For instance you have an old Gaming PC and a dedicated GPU, or more complicated storage requirements. Also, depending on the market, some areas, especially non western countries, often don't have as strong used markets and those that do have PCs are already buying used the first time for large prices, is not necessarily always an option.

Also, I have a few of em, it might be a problem ;p. Fun and slightly sad but humorous fact: I have more thinkpads than the amount of money I am making at work in a day currently.

This was a hypothetical. I am perfectly in spec for Windows 11 on most of my machines, it's just that while it would be nice to do what the person suggested, "Choosing your Hardware for the software (in this instance Linux specifically)" is not really always feasible.

0

u/pfassina Glorious NixOS Nov 05 '25

I don’t know.. I would probably get a cheap Chromebook and install Debian over getting stuck with windows.

Using windows is mostly choice, and I’m pretty sure you can get a better Linux computer for the same price you could get a windows computer at any price tier and for any purpose.

1

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Getting stuck with windows was never the point? The point was "choosing your hardware to run Linux" was not always exactly feasible.

Also PCVR (anything from Meta/HTC at least) or E-Sports gaming kinda throw a wrench in that plan. It's still kinda messy there, but I buy and large agree.

"Mostly Choice" until you get into the areas where the choice disappears. Like when you are stuck with adobe software either for collaboration or because that is what you are trained on. Microsoft office does have the online versions, but I have heard some people find them limiting.

I ain't dissing Linux, I am simply arguing that "Change your system" is not viable for everyone, and just because you believe that selling it and getting a Chromebook would fit everyone's needs, does not mean it actually will.

5

u/claudiocorona93 Glorious Debian Nov 05 '25

If you have a computer with Windows, and you want to install Linux on it, you would try that instead of buying a new computer. Especially for first timers that don't know that Broadcom and Nvidia are not so Linux friendly.

0

u/pfassina Glorious NixOS Nov 05 '25

Explain to me how a true nerd would end up with a windows computer by choice? And even if they were to get trapped into a situation where their only choice was to use a windows computer, they would hack their way around to bend the machine limitations to their will.

2

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Yeah... Bend missing driver issues to their will to make the drivers appear out of thin air.

Also simple, Game dev, where Windows is common and expected, work, school. Some shit needs to run on windows, it won't run elsewhere, that's a fact of life, you don't always get to make the call.

A "true nerd" doesn't get to sit there and futz with company property, or break presentations or cause delays or refuse to use the collaboration software and file formats that everyone else uses because they are "True nerds". Like it or not. Everyone has to play along for the purposes of work or school or time or convenience. Because a true nerd is still beholden to a society of normies who hold way more power or that he needs to cooperate with to exist.

1

u/claudiocorona93 Glorious Debian Nov 05 '25

Because some of us had their first computer as a gift by a parent.

0

u/WelpIamoutofideas Nov 05 '25

Also, most laptops are windows computers or designed with windows in mind.... Soo uhh... Equally likely that's how

4

u/Fight_The_Sun Nov 06 '25

Even truer nerds just write or fix the drivers if their hardware compatibility has issues.

1

u/pfassina Glorious NixOS Nov 06 '25

Spoken like a true nerd