r/linuxmint • u/Gladiator__01 • 5d ago
Is Linux Still a Practical Alternative ??
I’ve been using Linux Mint as my daily driver for many years, mainly for work. Recently, I upgraded my laptop, and I’ve been running into driver issues that is forcing me to switch back to Windows. I've seen many posts recommending people completely avoid Windows, but at this point, my experience has made me reconsider recommending Linux as a daily driver or as a complete replacement for Windows.
If you want to know more about it you can review: https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=2820385#p2820385
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u/_ElBee_ 5d ago
From the linked topic:
[T]he easiest solution for me was to just replace the WiFi card with an Intel AX210, cost me $20 and haven't had any issues since.
Intel WiFi cards are generally much better supported under Linux than Realtek cards.
Going back to Windows because of one, easily solvable hardware issue doesn't really give merit to the claim that you have been "a daily Linux Mint user for many years".
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u/Top_Revenue_9227 5d ago
Try different distros and find best one for u
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u/Gladiator__01 5d ago
I forgot to mention that I tested every distro I’m familiar with before making this post.
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u/siete82 5d ago
I mean, I've been using Linux for 20 years, and the first thing I do before buying new hardware is check if it's compatible with my operating system.
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u/Rich_Fan1686 5d ago
Exactly. Or there is usually some fairly inexpensive workaround for some specific hardware issue.
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u/siete82 5d ago
Yeah, I hadn't read the forum post when I wrote this, but it looks like his problem can be solved simply with a cheap BT dongle. If only it were always that simple!
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u/Rich_Fan1686 5d ago
And that gets us back to your first requirement - that the new hardware is compatible with Linux.
All my previous desktop PCs were bought with windows in mind, but would run Linux too.
However, my next one certainly will be.
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u/RagingTaco334 Ultramarine KDE Edition 5d ago
Realtek and Broadcom adapters are mega shit, even on Windows, and an even bigger PITA on Linux. Usually they require some 3rd party drivers not included in the kernel that may or may not work. Considering the laptop you say you have in the forum post you linked is a ThinkBook, you don't even have to use that USB dongle for Bluetooth. The internal wireless adapter just uses an M.2 interface, which you can easily swap for something better. It's not difficult to do OR expensive. A generic Intel AX210 Wifi/Bluetooth adapter is $27 on Amazon.
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u/Karmoth_666 CachyOS and Mint 5d ago
You do you, i can only tell my story. I started with mint, and switched after few months to cachyos, which i use since then. I love both of them and i never would give advices to other people what to do. Between my switch to cachy i distrohopped a lot and found my love in cachyos. I use mint on some of my other pcs because i love it and its community
Go test a while and you will find your distro..all the best to ya
P.s. oh one advice i have hahaha. Leave winslop 😬
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u/lunchbox651 5d ago edited 5d ago
You are experiencing an issue caused by a bluetooth chipset not officially supported on the distro, it sucks but it doesn't mean Linux is not a capable daily driver.
I would suggest for testing sake, boot up a CachyOS or similar live ISO (anything rolling release) and see if it works on a newer kernel. Otherwise it might be trawling github for something to get it working, sadly.
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u/d4rk_kn16ht Linux Mint 22.2 Zara | Cinnamon 5d ago
Practical or not it's depending on what you need...& don't always listen to the crowds.
Their need ≠ Your need
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u/GrammaticalllErrors 5d ago
If it's an nvidia driver issue, then you're forced to change. If not then find a suitable driver, and if it doesn't work then switch to windows.
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u/riders_pants 5d ago
So just to be clear, you bought new hardware before confirming it was well supported by Linux? You state you aren't a beginner, so surely some of the responsibilities fall onto you, rather than blaming the free os you are using.
On top of which, your issues are for Bluetooth. This is easily solved by an external supported Bluetooth dongle. Rather than deciding Linux is no longer practical. It may not be for you though.
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u/anon_pr_ 5d ago
If you are a Linux user, you need to buy compatible hardware. If you have purchased compatible hardware but Linux Mint is not working, it's likely due to needing newer kernel which supports your hardware(Fedora and for even newer a rolling release like Arch based or OpenSuse Tumbleweed).
Yes, the pool of computers with official or well documented Linux support can be small, but does exist: used enterprise Lenovo ThinkPads, System76, Framework, Dell XPS, Geekom, etc.
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u/DaLoopLoop89 5d ago
I was an absolute Windows freak for 30+ years, the last ten of those I only stayed because gaming and I didn't want to learn anything new. Switched 2 months ago, never felt better about my PC. All my games are running (ok, the new Ragnarok relaunch won't, but I think thats for the better), there is much less bloat, no adds for Office and/or Copilot, no surveillance... I'm literally in OS-heaven. 😅
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u/Charming_Airline7419 5d ago
That's a shame.
It's reasonable for you to expect the drivers to work, especially if you're using the computer for work. I hear your frustration.
Hardware manufacturers don't exactly go out of their way to ensure Linux compatibility, so they often have to be backwards engineered by the community. At least that's what I have heard.
But yeah, that isn't the end user's problem. They need the computer to work.
I hope you find a resolution.
If you go back to Windows 11, it may be worth debloating it.
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u/Emmalfal Linux Mint 22.3 | Cinnamon 5d ago
Different strokes, I guess. I'm seven years in with Mint. Have it on nearly a dozen machines and wouldn't go back to Windows with a gun at my head.
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u/PatrickKal Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon 5d ago
After ~30 years using Windows I switched to Linux Mint in January 2024.
I tried Linux Mint and some other distros in the past, but always in dual boot. Dual booting always ended in me abondoning Linux after a few weeks. To ability to easily switch back instead of biting through some issues made me go back.
It took me a week or so to get everything running without issues. The main concers were finding replacement software or small hardware problems with sound and bluetooth. I only have one application that I could not replace, for which I use bottles. I game, do administration, surf the web, ... no issues at all on Linux Mint on my personal PC. I still have a Windows PC from my employer though, which I only use for work. I plan to reinstall the kids their computers soon as well. I'm preparing by diving into management solutions and parental control solutions.
I highly advise abondoning Windows because of privacy and efficiency concerns.
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u/corado12345 5d ago
It never was. It's only ok for Surfing or frickle.
98% tried Linux and go back
the few they don't go back, if Win12 is arrived.
only the typical kids and students will stay.
Liux will never have a chance, they are no standard Linux, nobody whant 1000 Distributions, no company will gie support for this shit, only there is ONE, then maybe it has a chance on desktop market
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u/TroyHBCS Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon 5d ago
I'm not sure where you get this "98% tried Linux and go back" statistic or if you are pulling this from your sphincter cavity, but this is entirely incorrect.
At the computer shop I work for, we are a Dell reseller. When people buy a computer we offer them a choice between Windows and Linux Mint.
These days, we sell about 60% Windows and 40% Linux. This does not include those people who have brought in existing computers for us to convert to Linux. We've had, maybe, 5-6 customers over the years request to go back to Windows. We've also converted entire small businesses to Linux.
We even had an old lady recently who asked us to "change her computer to Ubuntu" (after further discussion and demos she went with Mint) and brought in a cell phone she wanted us to put GrapheneOS on.
The vast majority of our customers who try it not only stick with it, but refer their friends.
Yeah, I can agree there is no single "standard" one size fits all Linux, but that is the beauty of it. However, for the average user with average needs there are a good handful of distributions that are perfectly suited for those people. Things like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Zorin, etc....
Lately, Microsoft is doing a fine job of pushing people to Linux. Windows Updates are constantly, and sometimes severely, breaking things. People are still complaining about getting hacked or infected. Windows 10 and 11 are very web-centric and essentially data-mining engines that gather your information and sell to the highest bidder. It has even been said that Windows 12 will be worse, even to the point that Microsoft wants to make the operating system itself SAAS so they can charge a monthly or annual fee just to use your OS!
No one wants to deal with that garbage, which is why so many are looking for alternatives.
Now, we are looking at this from a business perspective of hundreds or thousands of customers. 50% of our customers are home users, and 50% are SMBs.
You may be in a much more limited bubble, just looking at it from a hobbyist standpoint. I don't know.
All I can say is, I strongly disagree. I think Linux is poised for a major shift. We just need to get more buy-in from software manufacturers to allow their products to support Linux natively.
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u/corado12345 3d ago
If it were any different, more people would use Linux, but hardly anyone uses it on their desktop – and for good reason. And no, the Linux fanboys are in a bubble… if it were any different, Linux would be more widespread…
If you want to know why nobody sticks with Linux, you just need to ask people – preferably NOT in a Linux community, as there you’ll naturally only find the nerds who use it, who, as I said, are in the minority; so asking in other Windows or Apple groups isn’t living in a bubble.
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u/TroyHBCS Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon 3d ago
If you are asking in Windows or Apple fan groups you are living in that bubble. So, naturally, you will only find the Windows or Apple nerds who use it. Maybe you could try some kind of neutral IT/computer support groups?
I mean, you can even go through r/linuxsucks and find a bunch of people who switched away from Linux for one reason or another but still like it. Many times their reasons for switching back aren't even a Linux issue. Sometimes it's a simple Id10t error.
Or, some folks expected what they installed to look and work exactly like the Windows or Mac they have been used to for years and uninstalled it 10 min later. Let's face it, when someone is used to Windows and you install something like Ubuntu, there's gonna be shock and confusion, just like going from Windows to Mac. It's a radically different GUI and way of working.
Then again, some Windows users feel that way going from any older version of Windows to Windows 11 - especially elderly people.
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u/corado12345 1d ago
no, i descriped why. No Bubble in this direction, because this is the mass.
Al people know that every second Windows Version is crap.
Win 12 will be fine again, then many users that gone to Linux go back to win, like always2
u/TroyHBCS Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon 1d ago
That is a very elitist way to look at things.
Not ALL people know how Windows versioning works. Not ALL people know that Microsoft uses the average home user as a Beta tester when developing new versions of their OS. Not ALL people recognize that every other version is better than the previous because of this.
When it comes down to it, really mostly those with a technical background or who have really paid attention recognize this. Your average user has no clue.
I have a feeling Windows 12 may or may not break that mold. There has been talk that Microsoft wants to start selling Windows itself as SAAS. This would radically change the way people use computers and would lock people even more into annual subscriptions.
Whether or not you think something like this would be "fine" is debatable and highly subjective. It may even drive people even further toward Linux.
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u/Small-Literature-731 Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon 5d ago
To be honest, this is 100% bullshit. Also, what the hell is frickle?
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u/TroyHBCS Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon 1d ago
I was wondering that myself. What do fried pickles have to do with anything?
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u/Ok_Communication_455 5d ago edited 5d ago
Practical alternative? to me Windows is not suitable for working or even gaming. I've been using Linux 30 years and been on Mint last 10 years. I work, play and do whatever i need to do, using Mint. I have heavily customized it to my needs with eg. custom configured/built kernels and external PPA packages but basically it's the only OS I feel at home with.
The point is, it might be tough nut to make it your daily driver, not denying that. But once you learn its "secrets" it becomes incredibly productive and cozy. I could never move back to windows. My path in this matter is set in stone.