Posted on 04/04/2018 3:53:50 AM PDT by ShadowAce
Ive been running Linux on the desktop for decades. When I was starting with it, Linux was, comparatively, harder to use than the GUI-based operating systems then available from Apple and Microsoft. That was then. This is now.
Today, Linux, especially such distributions as openSUSE, Ubuntu and, my favorite, Linux Mint, are just as easy to use as macOS and Windows. And they dont have the security bugs.
Whats that? You dont mind dealing with a few bugs? Well, on the latest Patch Tuesday, as Woody Leonhard put it, an enormous number of patches spewed out of Microsoft this month, with two ponderous cumulative updates. Every month, we see a new flood of critical Windows updates. Maybe updating Windows is your idea of a good time. Its not mine.
As for Apple, a shameful security flaw was discovered in macOS last fall, and the malware rate for the OS went up 270% last year. If you still think Macs are secure, you havent been paying attention.
No, if you want a desktop operating system with a real proven security record, you want Linux. As David Taylor reported recently, The clear consensus among experts is that Linux is the most secure operating system.
OK, so youre sold on the security factor, but you still dont want to commit to an OS that doesnt run your favorite applications? Nowadays, the alternatives that are available are excellent. For everyday work, you can substitute LibreOffice or even Microsoft Office Online for Microsoft Office, use Gmail instead of Outlook, and youre good to go.
I know, I know: Using Linux is just too hard! Please.
The Linux desktop hasnt been hard to use for ages. You can go weeks months without touching a shell.
(Excerpt) Read more at computerworld.com ...
If you are using Virtual Box, you can also encrypt the VB files (whatever OS you are VBing).. ;^)
In my case, it’s encrypted x 2 (plus running sundboxie on the Win inside VB, so sandboxed x 2 also).
I think the last time I had to reboot after an update was about 6 or 8 years ago (on Linux)..
I'll close now, because this makes me realize that I'm getting old, and it is sad.
Running FF, but I really wish Comodo would get Ice Dragon working on Linux :/)
You don’t update the kernel?
I’ve actually ran Crysis, Battlefield, and Metro (3033 and Last Light) on Mint KDE.. Oh, can’t forget Half life/HL2!!
Also some RTS (Command and Conquer & Generals, Age of Empires & Mythology)..
I just did, earlier today, as a matter of fact.
It doesn’t bug me to reboot, so I do what I need until shutdown time (unlike the newest winblows.. that updates in the background, without you knowing about it; then reboots on you when you are in the middle of something on Excel :/ ... thankfully, all the work I put into cleaning my VBox Win10 stops it from doing that anymore).
Speaking of kernels... I have the toughest time trying to remove the older ones to clean up some storage space.
Before this latest install, the partition I used for the kernels was only about 100MB.. I found out it was full when it wouldn’t update to the latest, and I had no way to clean it out x.* (I made that partition MUCH larger this time.. but still trying to find the best way to clean out the older kernels.. I have about 15-20 in there now :p )
Ahh--now I understand. Yes--any update/upgrade does not nag /force you to reboot. I like that
The best way I've found to clean up old kernels is not something Mint has available--rpm, package-cleanup, and yum.
I can't help you with Mint, though :(
Yeah, for kernel upgrades mainly. However I always do a reboot right after the initial update on a fresh install, because it's probably the biggest update you're going to get, with the most moving parts. I figure you should be sure your base image will at least come up cleanly.
For most of the major distros, nowadays Linux is a fairly straight-forward installation.
Started with RedHat 5.1 (IIRC) in the late ‘90’s. Have been using Fedora since Fedora Core 4.
Have to use Windows 10 for work. Am not a fan of Microsoft anymore. Twenty years ago, Microsoft was solid. The Windows 10 auto-updates (even when postponed, security updates install) are a real pain. Am doing UI automation, and getting Windows 10 machines to run consistently is a challenge.
On the Linux side, LibreOffice is pretty good, except that they are changing things to be more like Microsoft Office, which I don’t count as a positive thing.
But, by and large, am real happy with Fedora, Mate w/Compiz, LibreOffice and a ton of other (free) apps, including development systems and databases.
I just saw yesterday that “mintUpdate” update manager, when I click on “View” the pulldown menu has an option for “Linux kernels”. You may find your answer there.
I’ve thought about trying the others and I don’t use the terminal all that often but I know I’d be typing everything in wrong for a while, having to learn new settings, names etc. Like you say, history and comfort.
I tried Neon from KDE a while back, still ubuntu, but it was like windows. Lots of huge updates and any given one might break something and then it takes a few days for an update that fixes it. That is, Assuming the internet isn’t what broke. That’s what happened to me, couldn’t connect to the software repositories so I went back to Kubuntu. Neon is basically cutting edge Kubuntu. Could almost call it beta Kubuntu.
But there’s just so many things that Linux does better than windows.
Software to do almost anything you can think of and it’s for free. All in official software repositories with the code open for all to see so it’s safe from having malware, viruses, adware etc.
That and having a Home folder where all your files and settings go, makes backup and restore a cinch as well as migrating to a new machine or slightly different OS version.
No 30 minute shut downs - restarts for every third update. No upgrades or software being pushed at you.
None of your personal data is being mined by the developers of the OS so they can market to you or share it with “partners” so that they can market to you. That’s a huge one right there.
Linux is falling behind though with all the new touch devices. Not talking phones but tablets and laptop/tablet hybrids aka 2-in-1s. Gnome is about the best on the Ubuntu side but it’s a very limited OS in that you can’t change many settings because there aren’t many. Ubuntu itself is making the swap to the gnome desktop so that may change. Then again maybe Ubuntu is headed for simplicity to attract a broader base of users and devices. The touch functions on gnome work fine. Only thing it doesn’t have for most devices is screen(display and touch) auto-rotate. There’s other distros that work with touch but even when you rotate the display manually, the touch doesn’t rotate with it which makes it kind of useless.
I have no idea if this site is bs and know nothing about games but ...https://www.moregameslike.com/battlefield-3/linux/
Pretty cool site if it’s at all accurate. They list all platforms any given game will run on.
How to clean Linux Mint safely
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/4#TOC-Remove-old-kernels
All your favorite KDE apps and it runs Plasma. Stay away from KDE Neon. Too cutting edge, borderline beta. Lots of big updates and one might break something. Deja Dup is a good backup tool for swapping ubuntu distros. Backs up the home folder including hidden files. Good thing because my last Neon update broke the internet. Couldn’t easily do another update that might have fixed it.
Backed up home, made a list of apps, installed kubuntu over neon, did apt-get for all my apps, restored the home folder, tweaked the desktop and it was exactly like before I started. Lost nothing.
Always seems like you lose something with windows. Some old program you bought years ago and can’t find the serial for, settings that were somewhere deep in the system files or the registry etc.
Looks like Maui is the only other comparable one. https://community.kde.org/Distributions
Try one of the online structured drawing programs like draw.io which is compatible with Visio 2016: https://www.draw.io/
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