• Skyline969@lemmy.caEnglish
    1911·
    3 months ago

    Linux Mint. Cinnamon. With a Windows Vista theme. It confuses and/or irritates everyone who sees it.

    • TheRedSpade@lemmy.world
      5·
      3 months ago

      Steam Deck is weird. I mean, I love it, but coming from vanilla Arch it can be frustrating at times. Discover is terrible. Luckily, Distrobox is a thing.

      • Zaemz@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        I putz with Discover sometimes. Though I have no idea how it resolves package updates under the hood, as it often will produce a different manifest than running dnf itself.

        What would you like to see improved?

        • TheRedSpade@lemmy.world
          3·
          3 months ago

          I usually can’t find what I’m looking for, so a larger catalogue would go a long way. I also had problems with some software versions. The one that comes to mind is that Firefox had behavior with the save dialogue that I don’t like. It’s a minor issue, but one that I don’t have with the build in the Arch repo. I have a vague memory of something just not working, but I couldn’t tell you what at this point.

          • Zaemz@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            3 months ago

            Ah, I see! Yeah, a bigger catalog would be nice. You can add more repositories to it, enable Flathub, which provide more options, but something about it does feel hamstrung.

            The Firefox thing is something I know about! You can set a config option in the about:config page to tell Firefox to use your desktop’s standard dialogue. It has to do with XDG Desktop specifications, I think

            • TheRedSpade@lemmy.world
              2·
              3 months ago

              It uses the system dialogue, but it starts from the same directory each time. If I’m saving files it’s usually multiple files in succession, so I want the dialogue to start off pointed at the last directory I saved to. The Arch build does that.

              • Zaemz@lemmy.worldEnglish
                2·
                3 months ago

                Ooohh! Interesting. You’ve got me curious about that now. I’ll have to look into it.

  • atmur@lemmy.worldEnglish
    59·
    3 months ago

    For as much as Linux nerds (myself absolutely included) complain about distros like Ubuntu and Manjaro, I’d still take either one over Windows or MacOS any day.

    • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
      292·
      3 months ago

      Mac OSX isn’t bad… so long as you sell it your soul, and don’t want freedom in return, it’s great 👍.

      I kid… mostly - it’s iOS that is horrifying, but Mac OSX is still Unix (tho not GNU), so not anywhere within leagues of Microdick.

      And - possibly dumb question - couldn’t you always just run a Linux VM at near-native speed, and get the benefits of both?

        • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
          16·
          3 months ago

          Other than all that, yeah:-)

          img

          Still not comparable to Windows though, imho.

          Its sins are just of a different sort - e.g. you don’t need to repair or upgrade those machines so often, bc they work so well for so long as it is, plus other than for gaming, who even upgrades machines these days to begin with?

          For non-gaming, Macs are great machines. So too are Linux. While Windows sux ass no matter what. Thus that’s the dividing line, imho.

            • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
              41·
              3 months ago

              I mean… a Mac machine will run non-Mac OSX software. Pretty much everything can run linux, with a little effort put into it:-) (unless somehow these M chips have prevented that? even if so, surely it’s only a matter of time before someone cracks that barrier)

              But yeah, it’s definitely a choice. e.g., Apple does not even sell cheap Macs, whereas machines intended to run Windows can be bought all up and down the scale - though I recall at various points in time, comparing equivalently-equipped machines, Apple ones were pound-for-pound actually cheaper than their Windows equivalents. This is ofc b/c of the monopolistic practices: when you rigidly control the hardware, you are able to order in bulk, and when you order in bulk, you are able to get large discounts from the supplier!

              Though surely nobody was arguing to purchase a Mac, not knowing who or what Apple is or is about? Installing Arch Linux is also known to be somewhat ah… “tricky”, so if we are comparing things like ease-of-use, the question gets back to OP’s “which distro?” And it’s all a matter of choice - what you want to get out of it, and which constraints you want to live underneath.

              But anyway, we were talking about “Mac OSX”, which yeah, very much is limited to specific sets of hardware, and cannot be installed willy-nilly on any old machine, this is very much a true statement, to be paid very much attention to by anyone wanting to learn more, or use that in their purchasing / installation decisions:-). I was just saying that while Apple (& iOS) may be evil these days, Mac OSX itself kinda is great, caveat: if you can live with its restrictions, and moreover, those are MUCH less than Microsoft’s set of restrictions these days (whereas Linux has its own set of difficulties).

                • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
                  2·
                  3 months ago

                  I was only illustrating how Mac hardware is not identically the same as Mac software. They are tied together, yet distinct entities.

                  Your lack of recollection neither proves nor disproves anything at all. If you doubt me, look it up? (since surely if I did so for you, you would distrust that as well? 🤪)

                  I did not downvote you btw.

      • JackbyDev@programming.devEnglish
        5·
        3 months ago

        The company that laid me off let me keep my Mac which was a nice parting gift. I don’t think I’d ever buy one myself. They’re just way to expensive.

        • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
          2·
          3 months ago

          I hoped for that at my previous job, and they said it could happen… but it was never going to, and it was a false hope offered. Why do that to me man…? 😭

          Then I come to my current job, and they have a super old Mac laptop that was barely holding on that nobody else wanted, and I’m like “yes please”!

          Bc if its Windows vs. Mac, and especially if “nothing” isn’t even an option, then a million times out of a million I will choose super old, barely holding on Mac that nobody else wants.:-)

          It’s a single SSH command away from my work Linux, and it has MacVim, tons of other open source software available, plus a bunch of stuff that only Mac OSX has, like Preview and other fairly nice tools, which have open source equivalents like ImageMagick and gimp, but aren’t nearly as easy to use.

          I don’t need a nice car, and I went without one entirely until I moved to the Midwest where it becomes absolutely necessary, but it’s essential to have a good computer for me:-).

        • Farid@startrek.website
          10·
          3 months ago

          Privacy and data collection-wise MacOS is fine. It’s their main selling point. Doesn’t even force updates on you. I know it’s a low bar, but damn Windows bar is at the floor at this point.

        • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
          31·
          3 months ago

          I had to look it up (e.g. https://www.extremetech.com/internet/317371-evaluating-apples-data-collection-in-macos-big-sur) and damn, I didn’t know that they collected and sent THAT detailed of info!? (and perhaps they didn’t, until Big Sur)

          Even so, as the other reply mentioned, it’s still leagues away from Windows at this point. But yeah, fair then that both Windows and Mac OSX are doing it, while Linux is not.

          Still, if you had to pick a machine for your grandma to use, or like either Windows or Mac at work (but not Linux, though lets say that there is a terminal SSH option to Linux available from either), I would pick Mac OSX. It’s fine if others would pick Linux for the former, but I don’t think Mac OSX is a bad choice there.

          While Windows… urg, is basically synonymous with being a cuss word nowadays. Witch: “a pox be upon thee - nay, moresooth, may you be cursed to only use Windows for the rest of your days!” (Onlookers: “gasp! what could anyone have done to be cursed with that bad of a punishment!? I would not wish that upon even my worst enemy!?”) hehe:-P

            • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
              31·
              3 months ago

              That Apple blocks you from running every program you put onto it until/unless it can be properly certified, and that “Big Sur can bypass any firewall restrictions the end-user attempts to create”? It’s true that it’s not nearly as bad as it may sound at first, and they even released a statement that:

              We do not use data from these checks to learn what individual users are launching or running on their devices.

              Notarization checks if the app contains known malware using an encrypted connection that is resilient to server failures.

              These security checks have never included the user’s Apple ID or the identity of their device. To further protect privacy, we have stopped logging IP addresses associated with Developer ID certificate checks, and we will ensure that any collected IP addresses are removed from logs.

              Though I also understand that if someone wants the ultimate in privacy, it’s difficult to trust such a corporate promise, especially one like Apple known to hide or lie about such things. (Edit: also… “developer ID certificate checks”, so if you don’t register with Apple as a known developer then…?)

              I still use Mac OSX myself, but if someone wants to avoid that and use Linux for this reason, I’m not going to argue with them - whereas I would push back a little bit if a friend were to tell me they planned to put Windows (as the primary OS) onto a machine.

      • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
        2·
        3 months ago

        “always” in this case is when you have two or more gpus in your system, which limits the ability to “just” run a vm considerably.

        • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
          4·
          3 months ago

          Ah, for gaming, yes Macs are not fantastic gaming machines that’s for sure.

          Then again, Linux has long been known to have issues with gaming as well, especially with an Nvidia card…

          Unless you use Steam, and then both work, kinda?

          Still it seems like it’s Linux and Mac OSX on one side, and Microsoft left behind thousands of years in the past, except maybe for gaming where literally an old Windows running on a VM may run the widest selection of games?

          But I still don’t see the logic of grouping Macs together with Windows, even for gaming.

          For VMs, I expected more someone to bring up the switch to the M1 chipset, a huge setback for VMs definitely even if temporary, though I’m old enough to remember that Linux and Macs both running Intel were often easier to get things running on than Linux on Intel vs. Linux on AMD. But things definitely change over time, as to what is easiest at any given moment.

          Microsoft sucks tho - now THAT’S universal. Can’t we all just get together, united in our hate for it?! (/s, or, well, actually… not!)

          Edit: hey, anyone want to start like an anti-Windows or I-fucking-hate-fucking-Windows community? I’ll join it today if you do!? :-)

      • tatterdemalion@programming.dev
        1·
        3 months ago

        couldn’t you always just run a Linux VM at near-native speed, and get the benefits of both?

        The obvious downside is that Linux is no longer the host OS. MacOS or Windows would be closed source code managing your hardware. And any VM could only be as fast as the host OS allows it to be.

        • OpenStars@discuss.onlineEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          The host OS is likewise limited, but more by hardware, so it might be a small performance tradeoff, depending on whether, as you brought up, you need Linux to be ultimately in control rather than to simply run some software.

          So that would not always work, ofc… but it sometimes would!:-)

    • Farid@startrek.website
      1·
      3 months ago

      Ubuntu has Snap and ads and stuff, but I thought Manjaro was considered good. What’s wrong with it? It’s supposed to be Arch based.

  • octopus_ink@lemmy.mlEnglish
    606·
    3 months ago

    That’s all well and good, but can we talk about proper use of this meme template?

    • Lettuce eat lettuce@lemmy.ml
      4·
      3 months ago

      I’ve been rolling Debian more and more this year. If you’ve got solid Linux chops, it’s really great.

      I also really like LMDE, it’s what I run on my Business laptop.

  • TheKracken@lemmy.world
    341·
    3 months ago

    Just setup Mint last night and have been troubleshooting how to get everything to work. So far I’m liking it. Last thing I setup was Lutris for gaming so that’s nice.

        • baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
          7·
          3 months ago

          I’m pretty sure the question was more about linux mint (ubuntu/default) vs. linux mint debian edition, as those can confidently be called different distros. Don’t worry about it though, the issues with ubuntu are actually very small, they’re just infinitely magnified on the internet by people who care a lot about the smallest things. There are also many advantages to using ubuntu or an ubuntu derivative. Also this question can be interpreted very humorously, so maybe do that if you like.

          • TheKracken@lemmy.world
            7·
            3 months ago

            Ah I assume Ubuntu based since I just downloaded the latest from the mint website. Still learning about Linux so not 100% sure.

            • baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
              6·
              3 months ago

              If you just went with the most prominent and easily accessible download button it’ll probably be ubuntu, but as i said, despite what some might say that’s not necessarily a bad thing

              • Zink@programming.dev
                5·
                3 months ago

                If he got the cinnamon version, that is indeed the default Ubuntu based one. I use the same thing.

                One of the biggest draws of regular Mint IMO is that it leverages the advantages and resources of Ubuntu but it removes the parts that many people don’t like.

  • starman2112@sh.itjust.works
    25·
    3 months ago

    Mint, judge me

    PS anyone have any favorite resources for absolute tech illiterate noobs? I’m trying, but without a baseline understanding of the subject, it’s hard to find the right guides

    • HStone32@lemmy.world
      11·
      3 months ago

      you’re not using debian? that must mean you hate freedom.

      My advice is to get a hobby. Self-hosting, or home automation to name a few examples. When you have a specific goal for something you want to do, it’s a lot easier to learn.

    • Allero@lemmy.today
      8·
      3 months ago

      Literally the most suggested newbie distro, so you’re probably fine :)

      Like, ideologically I may mention it’s Ubuntu-based so it sucks, but from end user perspective, it’s alright.

      Doubling down on literacy, Linux guides are either “here’s how to do that absolutely basic thing” or “using veheydgvrl for quantumschropping the badumbliss”. To me, Mental Outlaw produced quite some simple guides (warning: most vids are rants so you’ll have to search for actual guides), Veronica Explains might be the fun option and not bloated with anything but tech, and just searching for solutions to whatever your issue is before you grasp how it works.

      • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 months ago

        They have a debian based version, it’s pretty awesome. It’s still a beta fork atm, but it’s rock solid so far

        • Allero@lemmy.today
          1·
          3 months ago

          Yep, true. But currently, I don’t see much point in LMDE, as Debian 12 is user-friendly enough as it is - though you’re free to disagree.

      • starman2112@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        3 months ago

        That’s the thing, I don’t know enough to know what to even ask. So far I’ve been able to follow step-by-step instructions for installing Mint and downloading software, but I don’t know what I’m doing at all.

        One example of something I spent hours on is adding Cura to the panel. I finally got that done while I was writing this comment by following AndyMH’s answer here.

        Now, I can read

        I would move the appimage into a folder in PATH. If you create a folder /home/you/bin it is automatically added to PATH next time you boot.

        And I can do that. I have no idea what PATH is or why I want to do that, but I can do it. And I can look it up, and I’m sure I’ll eventually get to a point where all of this makes sense to me, but I feel kind of helpless when I have to look up multiple terms every time I want to do something as simple as adding an application to the panel

        • InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world
          21·
          3 months ago

          That’s the thing, I don’t know enough to know what to even ask.

          Fair enough.

          I have no idea what PATH is or why I want to do that, but I can do it

          Its really only for non standard installs. That is outside of the package manager or flatpak. PATH is just where the computer will look for executables. Since you installed from source or some other side then it won’t be in the normal /bin. You’re just updating your PATH to include other places.

    • LordPassionFruit@lemm.ee
      3·
      3 months ago

      This may be shit advice, but it may help.

      I have a mint laptop and was also linux illiterate when I started. The way I did most of my learning was by googling (or duckduckgo-ing) “How do I [x] linux mint” and reading through stack overflow threads. If this doesn’t return results, (almost) any solution for Debian or Ubuntu will work on Mint.

      In general, I just assumed that if I thought the computer could do it, there would be a way to do it.

    • Aceticon@lemmy.world
      14·
      3 months ago

      It’s wonderful how the expression “humble Arch Linux user” manages to pack a contradiction in a mere 4 words.

    • Sanctus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      3 months ago

      There is nothing wrong with Mint EZ mode. I got a computer illiterate buddy with a 8 year old shittop running it like its new.

    • Lettuce eat lettuce@lemmy.ml
      5·
      3 months ago

      I love Mint, it has become my workhorse distro. I use LMDE on my personal business laptop. I switched my parents from Windows 10 to Mint earlier this year, and it’s been great on their very old and low power desktop.

      Cinnamon is not the prettiest or slickest DE, but damn if it ain’t the most stable DE I’ve used.

      I’m a KDE fanboi myself, but when I spin up a machine that I need to just work in a super dependable way and is no muss, no fuss, I usually choose Mint with Cinnamon.