Debating whether or not I should switch
Posted by hashh1mm@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 28 comments
I just launched my PC and I got the notification that windows 10 will be unsupported TOMORROW, I've seen tons and tons of people speaking about Linux and how it has no limitations, I'm still debating whether or not I should switch (I mainly use my pc for gaming, and by gaming I mean TONS of gaming) is the switch worth it, what are Linux pros and cons, can I play most if not all of my games, and is it confusing to install?
(I didn't want to look on YouTube because usually I'm just a curious guy and YouTubers probably won't answer my comments)
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C1REX@reddit
Instead of “Switching” just add Linux for Dual Boot and pick one that runs your chosen game better. Most games run a bit better on Windows but some run better on Linux.
PresentDirection41@reddit
Linux is boring these days. It mostly just kinda works, and the installation process is fairly straightforward. You might encounter some minor bugs that you don't see in Windows, but that's specific to hardware and pretty rare.
The one area in which Windows is superior is obviously support for proprietary software, including games. If your main use case for your PC is gaming, I see little reason to switch to Linux. It's just going to mean you have to emulate most of your games, and some games aren't going to be supported at all, so you'll either have to dual boot Windows or just not play that game. If you're a person who would say "eh, guess I don't need to play that game if it can't work in Linux," then I'd say go ahead and switch. But if you're going to be in Windows a lot, I'd just stay on Windows.
pasu11@reddit
Switching from Windows to linux takes some time to get used to. Rushing into it can be difficult.
At first, you can install a Linux distro as 2nd boot.
When you have time, boot it up and try it. Get use to the new interface, installing programs and learn to do thing here. If you mess up the system, just reinstall Linux and try again.
No need to rush, you will still use Windows most of the time. But as you get familiar and learn alternative ways to do things in Linux, you will spend less time in Windows. When you are ready, you will use Linux full time.
Linux do have many distros and DE, but for a new user, I would suggest something that works out of the box and new user friendly like Linux mint cinnamon.
Linux mint is vesy stable easy to use distro. This is a very fine tuned version of the famous Ubuntu. It mean you can just use it after installing. The best thing is, if you have questions, you can find solutions or ask for help much easier because there is a big community online (both mint and ubuntu in many cases)
Cinnamon is a DE created by Mint developers. It has classic feel but also contains many customizations and new features. It is a stable and eady to use DE.
The only drawback is, each release will be supported for few years and after that you will have to upgrade to new release. Even that, I stll personally think this is best place to start for new users.
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
I was also going to say something like gradual switching and taking your time with it. Then I thought that he doesn't have the time to do it. Now I've thought again and I've come to the conclusion that the people who want to make the switch right now and are feeling pressured to do something right now are falling for the trap microsoft has set up and completely made up. Your software isn't going to fail tomorrow in any significant way, it's going to happen very slowly over the next couple of years. Don't let the fearmongering from microsoft get to you. You absolutely have the time to gradually make the switch, which will get accellerated by seeing what a shitshow windows 10 and 11 will probably evolve to at the same time and that will create some feeling of supportedness by the decision you make now.
hashh1mm@reddit (OP)
I've decided to stay on windows 10 with that extended critical updates stuff and 100% double boot once I do get my 2nd SSD, I'll just keep my games on windows and everything else on linux
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
that's also what I did.
hashh1mm@reddit (OP)
And how's it going so far?
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
really well. I hate when I have to switch over to windows, because I am used to my workflow on linux so much
Silent-Currency-4234@reddit
If you dual boot you'll never commit. Install a good stable distro like Mint (as long as you aren't using cutting edge hardware), and start using it. There is a button to install Nvidia drivers. You don't have to go download them. There is an installer on the Steam website. There is a launcher called Lutris for EA games.
Games like League of Legends and games that use kernel-level anti cheat software don't work. Those don't work because they install code that hooks itself directly into the base kernel of the Operating system and are capable of tracking literally everything you do. The license agreement says they're "only allowed to use this for the purpose of anti cheat", but the idea that it has those capabilities makes it unacceptable to me. "We won't use it like that we promise" isn't good enough. If you absolutely can't lose your LoL, you can't go to Linux... There are quite a few games like that, but there are always ALWAYS other games. There are tens and tens of thousands of games. There are lots of other MOBAs, tactical FPS, and any genre you can think of, that don't use those things. I didn't play games with invasive software as a matter of principle and to vote with my wallet... Which made the switch a lot easier on my end.
Mr_Lumbergh@reddit
It won’t cost you anything other than a bit of time to try and see for yourself.
da_peda@reddit
For a quick overview I suggest (oh the irony) watching Linus Tech Tips on SteamOS. He does quite a bit of gaming with it, so the basic info should be there.
There are specialized gaming distributions aside from SteamOS, i.e. (without any ranking) Nobara, CachyOS, Nitrux, or Bazzite, that out-of-the-box support more than just Steam.
beankylla@reddit
if you're here the decision is probably already taken? ;-)
NoPoopOnFace@reddit
Does your PC support Windows 11? If not, that's your choice right there. Tux will wait for you by the front door.
You deserve more from a computer than ads, spyware and AI nonsense. Ooh, and now a coerced (forced) Microsoft login.
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
Ads are so overlooked when thinking about personal financing. The use of them by companies and their contents are optimized to drain as much money out of your pocket as possible. They are a major source of negative cash flow, they are actively costing you money by you allowing ads into your life. A product riddled with ads, which costs no money to use, is not free.
NoPoopOnFace@reddit
Don't forget, the current main reason they want your information is to target you with more specific ads that you might fall for more easily.
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
You can play like 99.5% of games i would say. The only ones you cannot play are some games with some kind of anticheat like rito gaems games. (Supervive now works pretty well btw) You probably dont want to play those games anyway for your own mental health and privacy reasons, because those games can scan every bit of data running on your pc and are actively doing that. You would have to trust a company to not be greedy for them not to abuse that position. They are always greedy, because groups of people average out the morals. Companies are groups of people.
DoubleOwl7777@reddit
some kernel level anticheats dont work, but many games do work with proton/wine or natively. that aside as an os linux is just better. it doesnt spy on you, doesnt have 10000 random processes all the time, and doesnt stop you from doing something.
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
Depends on the distro and how much experience with computers you have. I think windows install is pretty confusing, because you get nothing really explained to you. Linux is so well documented via wikis (the arch wiki for example), so that confusion is just way less likely compared to there being no docs and wanting to install arch. There are "easier" arch distros, if you mean by that, that they stick more to the windows way of doing things, like manjaro.
doc_willis@reddit
Many of these questions get discussed in this other post .
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/1o4z6o3/how_do_i_get_started_with_dualbooting_linux/
doc_willis@reddit
If gaming is a primary focus, check out the Bazzite distribution. It can basically turn your PC into a SteamDeck/Steam Machine.
Also see this other post on the topic.
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/1o4z6o3/how_do_i_get_started_with_dualbooting_linux/
Kango_V@reddit
To know whether it's worth it, you have to do it and try it. It may not be easy, but the longer you use it, the easier it gets (like anything). I made the switch in 2002 (i think) after my XP machine had blue screened for the fourth time. I now get lost when I have to use Windows. I've used Linux at work and at home since I switched.
MediumGoat5868@reddit
Only you can decide. If you need windows only software like Microsoft office or something from adobe it most likely won’t work for you.
For whatever games you play have a look at protondb.com
Exzircon@reddit
Take a look at protondb.com to see if the games you play are playable on linux.
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
Only you can tell whats worth it for you, we can only tell if it was worth it to us. Most people on this subreddit are on linux and thats the thing they probably still choose to do. Youre probably going to hear more "yes, woth it" from us, rather than "no, not worth it".
Shoxx98_alt@reddit
I think its worth it, because keeping my data to myself is really important to me. I have a server for self-hosting that lets me share all my important data between my systems and is online all the time if i want to to compute whatever i want to from anywhere via ssh without having to be scared about any company scanning my data for reuse or exposing that data to anyone.
DumDee-Dum@reddit
I personally installed Ubuntu alongside Windows 10. It’s not complicated at all, you can even make ChatGPT walk you through it. You could even boot your PC with a Linux live session and test it out before you decide. Idk about gaming tho cause I don’t play video games personally but it’s worth a shot
pheexio@reddit
Don't try to get convinced. Just do it ....or don't.