Posted on 03/17/2022 10:38:46 AM PDT by ShadowAce
For some users, Linux is far better than other OSes. There are a whole lot of things you can do with Linux that are not possible on Windows.
Linux has gained significant popularity in the last decade or so. Despite having a relatively low market share compared to Windows, it is well-adapted to the evolving user requirements through its constant development.
Linux has some state-of-the-art features that other operating systems lack for now. Such features, along with its solid support, are continuously growing within its community.
So, let's take a look at 10 things you can do on Linux that you can't do on Windows.
Linux has various distributions that offer tons of unique features. The great thing is that distros let you test the environment first using a live boot feature.
If you are thinking about shifting to Linux, there is no need to delete your current OS. The live boot feature enables you to run any Linux distro in real-time through a USB drive. So, you can evaluate a distro while keeping your current operating system intact.
This feature is not just limited to testing, however. It also allows you to keep Linux portable on a USB drive. You can start using any Linux distro without configuring your PC's hard drive partition and other settings.
Live boot is safe for your system as it mostly runs on RAM. But first, you'll have to create a bootable USB drive using the distro's ISO image.
As you may know, Linux has several distributions and flavors. You can find distros that are suitable for a specific audience like gamers, novice users, system developers, ethical hackers, network engineers, and more.
Each distro has some unique features and optimizations for particular types of users and systems. The competition between distros improves the quality of the Linux ecosystem as a whole. You can even use a particular distro for personal use and another for work.
This variety helps provide you with a personalized experience. You can get a targeted Linux distro if you want to use the OS for specific tasks.
With so many distros and their flavors, Linux offers you choices that you don't get on Windows—you get just one flagship OS from Microsoft.
Linux is open-source, and you can install it for free, unlike Windows, which comes at a rather hefty price. Linux creator developed this OS because he wanted a free operating system to use. So, you can select any Linux distro and install it without worrying about spending a dime.
Moreover, most applications that come with Linux, such as LibreOffice, Firefox, GIMP, and a lot more, are also free, unlike the costly Microsoft Office subscriptions. This freedom is one of the main highlights behind the success story of Linux.
Relating to the point above, as Linux is open-source, it means anyone can use, edit, and distribute its source code. You have access to the complete code, and you can modify it or even add custom features to it.
This step is considered pretty innovative, and it is one of the reasons behind its popularity. Imagine the features you always wanted—now you can add them yourself and develop a customized operating system.
The open-source nature of Linux has helped in growing its community support. You can easily get solutions and fixes for any problem you face through discussions on forums. It's all because of the open-source code.
Clearly, you can't do such things on Windows due to the unavailability of source code. Microsoft prefers to keep Windows closed-source.
Antivirus and virus and malware threats
Another perk of using Linux is that Linux-based systems don't need antivirus software. This is because most viruses and malware target Windows PCs.
The Linux system has a protective layer over core OS files, which doesn't allow anyone except superusers to access root files. That is why virus attacks on Linux are rare. So, you don't need to buy costly antivirus software for your system every year as you do with Windows.
Reboot after each system update or a software uninstall is a pretty annoying thing on Windows. It is usually not the case with Linux, as installations don't require the system to reboot at each step.
Windows systems require a reboot after a change in any of their configurations, for example, configuring the speakers, webcam, and more. Linux is smooth in this respect—it barely asks you to restart the system after a change in settings.
However, Linux does need to restart at times, but only after updates in the Linux kernel. So, all in all, the experience is pretty smooth, not requiring long hours of waiting for a system to reboot and configure after an update.
OS support for old systems is continuously discontinuing. This is mainly because of the rapid improvement in hardware technology.
Recently Windows, with Windows 11, has discontinued its support for various older PCs. However, Linux provides solutions to address this issue.
You can resurrect your older laptops and PCs by installing Linux distros suitable for your device specifications. You can easily find the right one that supports low-end and old systems as there are plenty of lightweight distros on offer, specially made for this purpose.
Not only distros, but you also get lightweight applications that run seamlessly on old hardware, without bogging down the system.
Again, as Linux is open-source, it means anyone can use, modify, and test its code. This feature allows you to add custom features and improvements to your system.
Even if you are not a developer and don't want to play with the source code, Linux lets you customize almost every aspect from within the settings and through the terminal.
You can customize things like themes, metrics, filing systems, and much more. You can even change the default file manager, desktop environment, and other primary components of your OS.
Don't believe us? Try it yourself. Windows forbids creating a folder named CON. This is because CON is reserved to use for specific system tasks.
Linux allows you to create a CON folder, however. In fact, there is no restriction in naming folders and files. This feature is something you can't have on Windows.
Desktop environments like GNOME, KDE, XFCE, and more are the beauty of Linux. You can go a step further and install multiple DEs on the same Linux distro. This ability lets you taste different flavors of the same distro simultaneously.
Some Linux distros come pre-installed with multiple desktop environments, while in others you've to install and configure desktops manually. You won't find this functionality on Windows altogether as there's only a single Windows desktop you're bound to use.
Linux is an innovative operating system backed by an enormous community that continuously expands its feature set. It is growing in terms of features, performance, and stability.
As listed above, Linux provides various unique features missing from other proprietary OSes like Windows. If you are looking for any of these features in your operating system, feel free to switch to Linux. It's free, and you can test it through a live boot with just a USB drive.
Actually, Show or Hide Updates Tool will block unwanted Windows Updates in Windows 11/10
Where Windows 10 took much individual control away from XP is that of colors in personalization
Well, browsers also engage in constant updates, for good reason in regards to security, but besides modern browsers, I still use Firefox 53.9 ESR due to greater functionality. Thank God for such options.
“I should just ignore the updates- every day there seems to be new updates- none of which I even need- likely-”
Now I have to be honest, that is one thing that did bother me when I first got Linux. They do indeed spam and promote packages and apps that you DO NOT need. It is in house marketing pushing optional stuff they are just promoting. “We recommend you try and support this app too!”. But at least they do not try and force you to install it or else like MS does.
But those can be turned off with the “just keep my computer safe” option in the update manager. But I have noticed even there they still throw a few of those in as “recommended”. Even Mint themselves once made a comment that if everything you are using is working well then there is no need to update anything. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
But the system doesn’t completely ignore important changes even with updates turned off. Because as you know one of the fantastic features of Linux is how all the app installer options work. Whether you use the software manager app, Synaptic, or the terminal, every time you install an app it takes inventory of what you already have to determine if that app is going to need any extra dependencies you do not already have. And if you do need extra dependencies for that app to work right, it will also go and fetch those for you along with the app as one combined install action. So in this way it is minimally updating it’s self all along each time you add an app.
But once in awhile I read about new features or improvements that have been added to certain apps. That is when I go out of the way to update or upgrade that one particular app. With my newer 20.0 install I do once in awhile turn the update manager back on, propagate a new list, and let it install only the security updates. If everything else is working fine I leave everything else alone and just turn the update manger off again so it doesn’t bug me. And so far, this has never caused any issues at all. A linux user has to drop the “must constantly update” frame of mind. That is a hangover from the MS constantly forced updates ball and chain. :)
And other areas, like you can’t really control the ‘phone home’ aspects of windows. You can turn each one off individually, but they get turned back on with updates, and efen the ones you do turn on I read aren’t wholly turned off in some cases.
I just got sic, of fighting with windows and how much it took to keep it the way I liked it, and to keep it virus free. I’m not real into operating systems, so I only need basics really, and Linux fits the bill for me- Hassel free (so far anyways- that could change though).
[[But those can be turned off with the “just keep my computer safe”]]
Yep,I forgot about that setting. Will have to click that option. Thanks for reminding me about it.
I always giggle at these lists. Cause they always start off saying “regular folks should use Linux” and then list all these super dweeby things you can do with Linux and regular folks wouldn’t know how to want to do them. These articles probably do more to keep regular folks away from Linux than anything else. Cause regular folks look at lists like this and they get scared, what they see it “I could totally screw up my computer by doing something I don’t understand”. If you want normies using your OS explain how they can get on the internet checking email and playing solitaire in under 20 minutes. That’s what they want.
rm -r -f
From root /
Seriously is this list a joke?
I mean 1 and 2 are just plain silly to even mention. There is no need to test a windows distro. Windows doesn’t have various distros. Unless you want to talk about release candidate beta software, which that’s apples to oranges.
#3 is legit.
#4 is legit for those that can do it and for those that can they already know this.
#5 this is a lie. Linux gets more viruses than Windows.
#6 Not always the case with Windows either, but it does occur more often with windows. But it’s a desktop environment we are talking about here, so it’s not that big of a deal. This is a bigger issue in server environments where downtime = money.
#7 Run an older version of windows to keep your old PC going. Nothing is forcing you to upgrade ATM. Yes eventually when the hardware is obsolete and you need some specific function you can do that, but with the cost of hardware being pretty cheap and energy costs rising. By the time it’s obsolete it will probably be cheaper to buy something specific for that purpose.
#8 Maybe. But good luck if you’re not a developer.
#9 Ok this is a joke list.
#10 Windows has other shells you can use. Just not many people do it.
Correction on the virus comment. I mean to say has more security issues than windows.
“And other areas, like you can’t really control the ‘phone home’ aspects of windows.”
THIS IS A HUGE ONE that MS apologists do not want to talk about... The backdoors. You can even hard power off Linux with the button, even during a boot up, and it will still just boot up again fresh without “Linux was not shut down properly”. Why does MS do this? Because it didn’t get to package and phone home with an info dump about your last session. So it has to go back and gather that and get that info packaged for a “catch up” dump to MS next time you make an internet connection. And absolutely, a computer should belong to you not perpetually to Microsoft. Any settings you make should stay as you make them period. I don’t like sneaky backdoor crap. And MS is all about sneaky backdoor crap as a built in feature.
Just this alone is HUGE and absolutely worth any and all extra efforts you may encounter using Linux. It is now YOURS and no longer anyone else’s business what you do with it.
Wow I didn’t realize that the windows ‘didn’t boot correctly’ was doing that. Egads!
“Correction on the virus comment. I mean to say has more security issues than windows.”
Still... Only from a threat that has physical local access... Don’t let anyone you do not trust touch your machine. That is why it has been adopted as a universal standard for shared web server hosting worldwide. Unless it is a proprietary server, it will be running Linux.
Yep, been doing it it all along. So long folks forgot about this “feature” and take it for granted all Operating Systems do this. No... Linux does not do this unless you choose to allow it for bug reports and future development purposes. It will ask you if you want to play along to help the distro developers or not. It allows YOU to make that decision. MS just does it hidden whether you like it or not, because in their mind it does not belong to you, it will always belong to them to administrate the way THEY want to.
I have hated this MS arrogance since the day I drove my first computer with MS. Since the first 286. And it has only grown and got worse and worse since. When Win 10 came out and I was being forced to adopt it, I made the decision to change my lifestyle and dump computers altogether before I would use it. Then I pulled the trigger with Linux and haven’t looked back since. Just the self ownership is more than enough reason alone. I am no longer a slave to MS.
Lost me already. WTH is a Distro? Why do I need to test one?
I was broke at one time. We were using cheap, broken, patched up used laptops for homeschooling, and couldn’t afford a license for every machine. That’s when I got annoyed and started exploring Linux. I ended up on PCLinuxOS which I LOVED. It just worked, solid as a rock.
I got into Mac when I could afford it. I have ONE windows machine specifically for flight simming. My windows machine can take 20 minutes to boot. Sometimes it’ll do it in two minutes. My Mac laptop I just close the lid and sleep it. Reboot maybe monthly, just for kicks, I guess. Mac is solid as a rock.
I kind of forgot about Linux, basically.
But my kids resurrected one of those laptops recently, and have been playing the games on it! They have zero acclimation issues switching from one OS to another. That’s normal for them.
It’s like test driving new cars, for free. You get to see which ones you alike and don’t like. All without installing. You run it from a disk or USB thumb drive. And can run it anytime you like as long as you run it off disk and don’t install it.
Agreed- thay really irked me when we lost control of setting and updates and such in windows. Glad it spurred me to try another of. I had tried Linux way back when and it was super,hard, and nothing seemed to work on it without major Hassles, but Linux today is way way better/easier, and haven’t run into any real issues with hardware with it. Infects it’s just gotten easieri used to have a little issue with nvidia drivers, but no more- the system just has all the right drivers and such, or will find it. I also used to have an issue with xorg- which really messed things up when something went wonky, but that is also a thing of the past it seems.
All in all, for a free os, this linux mint cinnamon just rocks
I did it using PCManFM file manager, heh!
I’m actuslly greatful that microsoft went all power drunk on us, as it moved me to Linux. And eased my mind a ton about viruses and messing up,the system, and a other huge boost is that it’s so easy to reinstall and get back up and running just how I like it. With windows it takes me several days of looking stuff up, getting updates, programs,,customizing the look etc. With Linux it’s a bit over an hour after the install. I,have everything written down now, so,that really speeds up.th3 personal settings and where to find them all as I forget lol
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.