One of the most common reasons for switching to Linux is to breathe some life into older hardware, which often struggles with the increasingly exaggerated demands of Windows. While that’s a great reason to switch, the performance increase isn’t actually what I’ve enjoyed most about switching to Linux; the user-first approach is.
Linux is not only very customizable, but it is also not assume know what the user wants to do or how they want to do it. You have almost complete freedom over the look and feel of your PC, which is increasingly unusual in other major PC operating systems.
A user-centric workflow
I don’t have to fight with my computer
Since the release of Windows 10, I’ve often felt like I was fighting my own operating system, as if I had to fight real malware. Between mandatory reboots at inopportune times, what seems like a million annoying messages, and a system that prioritizes what think I should do more than I have to do, Windows is becoming more and more tiring to use.
Linux (specifically Kubuntu in my case) solves that problem by giving you much more control over each level of your operating system.
You decide when to download and install updates, you can easily control which services and applications run at startup or on a schedule, and customize how your desktop behaves.
If you are tired of feel like your PC is not really yoursLinux is worth trying. The problem – and it is significant – is that more control means more responsibility; nothing is decided for you by default, and it’s generally easier to break Linux with a careless command than Windows.
I recommend doing some research on the available distributions and choosing one that checks as many boxes as possible in its default state to minimize the amount of modifications you need to make.
There is true privacy
Goodbye telemetry
Most modern operating systems collect usage data as a basis, and opt-out settings are often hidden under layers of opaquely named menus. It creates the feeling that your computer is constantly “calling home” regardless of your preferences.
Conventional Linux distributions generally do not include invasive telemetry, and because the operating system is open, you can inspect what is running in the background.
If there is any active telemetry (even benign telemetry), then can disable it completely.
Just remember that your operating system is just one piece of a much larger privacy puzzle. Your browser, the websites you visit, and the other applications you use may still collect and report an exceptional amount of data about you and your usage habits.
If you want to maximize your privacy, you will need block your browserSelect your apps carefully and be proactive when browsing the web.
Linux has a great terminal
The Terminal is a superpower
On other systems, the command line often seems like an annoying tool, something to use only when more conventional options (GUI) fail.
However, in Linux, the exact opposite usually happens. Linux is packed with great command-line tools, meaning that many routine tasks that would require dozens of clicks on three different Windows can be handled with a single well-written command.
It’s easy enough to write a small script that repeatedly does the same thing, so you don’t need to memorize anything complicated, which means that the commands you use are easily repeatable, even if it would be cumbersome to rewrite them manually each time.
The only trade-off, like most things with Linux, is a bit of a learning curve. It takes a while to get comfortable with Terminal and everything it can do. Start by learning the basic commands and then gradually create small scripts for the tasks you repeat daily.
Personalization that is really yours
Shape the system instead of accepting it
Most people are stuck in a fixed interface that they cannot change in any meaningful way. You accept the design that the operating system offers you, even if it doesn’t match the way you think, work, or move forward.
Linux allows you to swap out entire desktop environments and window managers to suit your specific workflow, making your PC more enjoyable to use and a more productive tool.
It’s easy to get caught up in all the different options, so I would recommend trying to find a distro that is close to what you like from the beginning to minimize the amount of touch-ups you need to do.
A system you can understand and repair
Transparency instead of opaque black boxes
When Windows encounters a major problem, it is famous for offering only an opaque error code and nothing more. Often you have to try some solutions and hope that you stumble upon something that really works.
Linux takes the opposite approach; When something breaks, you can get all the excruciating details of what went wrong.
That allows you to properly address the problem. If possible, you can apply a surgical solution to address the specific problem. If it is a major issue that would be tedious to resolve manually, you can perform a fresh installation.
Regardless of the problem or the appropriate solution, Linux gives you the information you need to make a reasonable decision about how to address the problem.
Linux makes a PC truly yours
The real value of Linux is not just that it can breathe life into an old laptop; is that it solves control, privacy and workflow problems.
If you’re curious, you should try it on a spare machine or a virtual machine to feel the difference yourself.
