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How Hard Is It to Switch to Linux?

Written By Psychic Zero on Friday, October 17, 2014 | 11:52 AM

Dear Lifehacker, I've read your complete guide to getting started with Linux, but I'm still a little nervous. You talk a lot about the advantages of Linux, but what about the disadvantages? I'm worried about not having the right apps, or having to constantly fix things that are breaking. Am I worrying for nothing, or are there real concerns?


Sincerely,
Linux Learner
Dear Learner,
Just like any operating system, Linux has its pros and cons. You've heard the pros before: It's free, it's super customizable, and it helps you learn a lot more about how your computer works. There are also a ton of distros, which means you can find the perfect one for you. While some have gotten a lot easier to use in the past few years, none are foolproof. I used Linux as my primary OS on and off for a year or so, and here are some of the things I found (and why I eventually switched back to Windows).

Linux Has Some Great Apps, but Is Missing Quite a Few

How Hard Is It to Switch to Linux?EXPAND
Linux's app situation is interesting. If you're worried about not having a good image editing program, photo library, or music player, you might be surprised—Linux has some pretty great offerings (just check out our Linux App Directory if you don't believe me). Apps like digiKamcompete with professional-level apps on other operating systems, and you have a lot of choices in some categories.



However, if you use services like Evernote, Wunderlist, or Spotify, you're going to have a little more trouble. Wunderlist and Spotify do have Linux versions available, but they're often a step or two behind their Windows and Mac bretheren. Evernote has no official Linux client, and the third-party client Everpad isn't really very good. If you can rely on webapps for most of your services or are willing to switch to a Linux-native app, you'll be golden—but if you really like how Evernote works, you're going to be really frustrated and disappointed with Linux's offerings.

Linux Can Take a Lot of Initial Setup, Especially for Certain Hardware

How Hard Is It to Switch to Linux?
Installing Linux is pretty easy these days, but getting everything "set up" the way you like it can take a little more work, depending on your hardware, your distro, and your preferences. For example, I have a five button mouse, but by default, only the left- and right-click buttons work out of the box. For the rest, I have to install a command line program, edit a config file to map the buttons to a function that I want, and set that program to run on startup—and all that takes a little trial and error to get working properly. On Windows, it comes with software that helps me do all this in a few minutes. I've experienced similar things with video drivers, laptop touchpads, secondary hard drives, and other specialized needs that don't work out of the box.
Again, a lot of this depends on your hardware and preferences—some people may be good to go on day one, but others may spend a week just getting things working the way they want them. And the pickier you are, the more trouble you're going to have. Linux may have more customization options than other operating systems, but they aren't always easy.

Linux Is Less Polished Than More Professional, Established Operating Systems

How Hard Is It to Switch to Linux?
Even the most well put-together distros have some bugs and annoyances, and in my experience, they were far more numerous than Windows or OS X. Some are fixable by the user, but will add up to even more time just "getting things working." Heck, in my 30 days of using Linux Mint earlier this year, I experienced these known and documented annoyances:
Again, some of these are fixable, and some are bugs that may have already gotten fixed down the line—but for a distro that is supposed to be polished and beginner-friendly, it certainly caused a lot of headaches for me.
None of this is to say Linux is bad or that you shouldn't try it. As we've said many times, Linux has a lot of advantages—you may just need to put in a little extra work to get things up and running properly. Which apps, bugs, and frustrations you run into depend completely on your specific setup, and some may be much better off than others. But after a year or so of Linux use and multiple distros, this has been my experience.
In the end, Linux is great for a lot of things, even if you don't use it as your main OS. It's perfect for setting up a home theater PC without buying Windows, or reviving a super old machine. But if you want to really dig deeply and use it as your main operating system, just know that things are going to be a little different than Windows or OS X. For some, it's well worth the effort, but others may find that it's too much work for little payoff. The only way you can know is to try it out for yourself.
Sincerely,
Lifehacker

Source Life Hacker.


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