Originally written for my prototype website back in 09/2019 and finished in 20/06/2021 I started using Linux regularly back in the middle of 2020. It’s been quite a journey, similar to jumping to a bottomless rabbit hole with no end in sight. There is just so much to discover and learn! Below is an essay on my experience that I would send to my younger self If I could to convince him to use Linux.
Hardware and driver issues in Linux
One thing I will miss is hardware and driver compatibilities when using Linux as compared to the standard operating systems. My first Linux installation (Linux mint) wasn’t such a smooth experience as it would not boot correctly with my MSI gaming laptop. These hardware and driver (especially on the newest most bleeding edgest hardware) issues will always plague Linux as most companies focus their products on mainstream Windows and Mac Os.
The pros
There is frankly so much to list here, but the catch is that some of these points require time, energy, and effort to achieve.
Discover, learn and tinker!
So many different Linux types, a.k.a distributions, to choose from, each with its purpose.
Endless customization.
Endless list of software apps and tools though some of them might be poorly maintained and not easy to set up.
You can be more “productive” with your customized setup and workflow.
Less bloated in general (i.e., programs do not take up much memory) and better battery life.
Some line of work requires you to deal with Linux, so it’s good to know.
Better security when compared to Windows.
The cons
Yeap, there are cons.
Hardware and driver issues as mentioned earlier.
Mainstream apps (Photoshop, Adobe, Office, etc.) might not support Linux.
There are alternatives, and some of them perform better in specific cases/workflow.
Gaming and Linux are still quite far off.
Some nights of frustration,
My workflow and setup
Currently, my setup goes something like this. I don’t have a computer, but I have 3 laptops (one provided by work, my old undergrad gaming laptop, one light laptop for travel).
Work laptop
Aftershock, Apex-15
Ubuntu & Windows 10 (for some apps)
Ubuntu mainly used for ROS and other stuff
Windows 10 share similar functionality, but I game there too
I use this as my daily driver (main computer)
Undergrad gaming laptop
MSI gaming laptop
Windows 10 & Linux mint
Mainly used for gaming, though not so much anymore though
Linux Mint is rarely used (as of mid-2021) though I used to use it regularly back in late 2020 and early 2021.
Linux Mint disappeared from the boot loading screen.
Travel laptop
Lenovo thinkpad X250
Windows 10, Kubuntu, Archlinux with KDE plasma
Windows 10 is there just for Windows 10 sake
Kubuntu, backup for work, or anything else
Archlinux, for maximum battery life experience.
Yes, I am triple booting on a 250GB SSD cause why not.
Closing thoughts
Its been a wild ride. PS its not a hacker tool and you don’t become a hacker when you use Linux.
Helpful websites
Below are some links and helpful youtube videos that will help in your Linux journey!
