this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2023
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Hey everyone,

I am exploring switching over to Linux but I would like to know why people switch. I have Windows 11 rn.

I dont do much code but will be doing some for school. I work remote and go to school remote. My career is not TOO technical.

What benefits caused you to switch over and what surprised you when you made the switch?

Thank you all in advanced.

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[–] shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You may want to dual boot, especially if your classes are online. I've seen issue after issue using a Windows VM for online exams. But, for me it'd be worth asking a buddy or using the computer lab to get around an invasive OS as your daily driver.

[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe have both. Dual boot is not as helpful as a VM, or st least it wasnt when I was trying to make the switch.

[–] shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

For sure, but online exams for college see VM's as a cheating option since the base OS isn't accessible by the exam software to restrict. I've seen on going workarounds, but these exam programs always adapt, making more settings changes required for a VM to work on a test. As if a difficult exam wasn't tough enough. Windows provides the exam software's the lockdown capabilities they desire, so alt OS options aren't allowed.

[–] yenguardian@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

These days, Windows constantly gets in your way with ads, forced updates, crappy apps that install themselves, useless features like Cortana, forcing you to make a Microsoft account, etc. Linux or the BSDs, however, usually give you a bullshit-free and distraction-free experience. Plus, no spyware, completely free, endlessly customizable, and low resource usage (if you use a lightweight setup, but even "bloated" distros like Ubuntu and Mint are often light compared to Windows).

And what surprised me? I guess the only thing that surprised me is how easy the experience is, especially for things like gaming, which Linux has historically had a bad reputation for. Also, how nice it can be to use the terminal, not that you have to, especially as a novice user.

[–] shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Word is Microsoft quietly killed Cortana, so Windows has that going for it now!

[–] cave@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The telemetry and ads baked into windows. I'm so sick of ads creeping into every corner of my life

[–] shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Apparently, if you go through the "privacy" settings in Windows and turn everything off, it still collects more data than KDE with all telemetry turned on 🤯