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by dontdoitpls 2306 days ago
I've tried for the nth time 3 years ago to use Linux desktop (Ubuntu).

It just takes Soo much effort to get things to work. Netflix and deactivate mouse acceleration(which isn't perfect) to name a few.

I love ubuntu server, favorite os of all time. But Linux desktop just isn't anywhere near Windows quality.
2 comments
wayneftw 2306 days ago
Manjaro is better than Ubuntu as a workstation and for developers it's better than Windows in my opinion. I've been trying out Linux desktops for 20 years and it's the only one that got me to switch.

I've been on Manjaro now for almost 2 years, doing JavaScript/React/PHP/Ruby/Python work (and some .NET Core with SQL Server!). I use VS Code and Chrome. I listen to music with Spotify. We have Slack. I can remote desktop into Windows machines with FreeRDP.

Recently someone said that they thought they would prefer to try Xubuntu because it had more official support so I decided to compare it to Manjaro and try it out on a spare machine. There's really no comparison. Setting up software on Ubuntu is painful, having to find and add keys to various disconnected software repos for every package. After a week, the Ubuntu installation ate itself after an update and wouldn't boot.

Meanwhile I have 3 workstations running Manjaro (work desktop, home desktop and personal laptop) and they all run perfectly and installing software is as easy as opening Add/Remove Software utility and finding what I want. Everything is there, even my favorite diff util from Scooter Software - Beyond Compare.

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CarelessExpert 2306 days ago
Three years ago was pre-18.04, which I've been using very successfully on my personal Lenovo X1C5 for quite a while now.

With 20.04 imminent, it might be worth giving it another shot in a VM to see if things have changed.

Personally, I used Win10 on my carbon for a while (having previously tried and given up on Linux on a T410) before finally getting tired of the forced reboots, the software auto installs, etc, and giving Ubuntu 18.04 a shot. It isn't perfect (e.g. the fingerprint reader has never worked, and suspend sometimes doesn't work if Bluetooth is turned on) but I was genuinely shocked at how otherwise functional it is out of the box (even the USB C dock works after installing the DisplayLink drivers). Heck, with TLP installed using an out-of-the-box configuration, battery life is better than Windows.

It's at the point where I genuinely prefer it to the Win10 X1C5 I have at work.

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