[sanitycheck]

I almost just spat out my tea.

I've tried to move to Linux once a year since 2005. A few weekends ago I did my annual attempt and had a go at Elementary OS (live USB wouldn't boot, gave up), MX Linux (couldn't get sound, wouldn't boot after installing nvidia drivers), Manjaro XFCE (kept locking up, requiring a power cycle) and Pop OS.

Pop fared best, but even then I had all kinds of showstopper problems with monitor power saving, resolution, crazy window repositioning, and some behaviour where the desktop workspace randomly becomes far larger than the monitor and sort of pans around. If I leave my computer for 10 mins then have to spend 20 mins fixing it when I come back, that is a deal breaker.

I persevered though... Tried playing a game, alt-tabbed out to do something else, machine rebooted. Tried to use their tiling window manager functionality, but it had all kinds of weird bugs making it virtually impossible to use for anything except simply switching focus (and even then, their theme does not visually distinguish between focused and unfocused windows, which is problematic!)

Anyway... rant over. Short version: I disagree with you. :)

[fauigerzigerk]

My experience is very similar. And yet in every debate on this subject some people will claim that they are running Linux without experiencing any of these problems. They can't all be lying can they? So what gives?

I believe it all comes down to selecting the right hardware. The way I've been trying Linux was to install it on some machine I had lying around (mostly Acer, Asus, MacBook, no-name towers). Apparently, that's not how it works.

I remember back in 1990s and early 2000s it was hit and miss whether or not Linux would install on a particular machine. Then over time things improved and you could install it on almost any machine.

Some Linux enthusiasts celebrated this achievement by claiming loudly that Linux now "just works". They couldn't possibly have done a greater disservice to the desktop Linux movement, because that's just not true.

It doesn't just work. It just installs. And then it's crushingly disappointing on most machines.

My next Linux attempt will be on one of those known good hardware configurations. Anything else is just a waste of time.

[jmnicolas]

Sadly I have about the same experience as you with my last attempt 2 weeks ago.

I started wit KDE Neon, but it failed to install drivers for my Nvidia card and proceeded to sabotage my sound drivers in the process (they were working fine before).

I then switched to ElementaryOS which did fine with my Nvidia but every time it played a sound it would send a loud crack in my speakers.

Back on Windows which I feel a prisoner of. The thing is sending data all over the internet, I can't even write a diary because I feel like I live in the USSR where I have to pay attention to everything I say or the KGB will get me (to be clear it's just a metaphor, I understand I can write whatever I want on my PC without consequences but I don't like the feeling that my inner thoughts would end up on a server somewhere).

[happyjack]

^This

I run Linux as my daily driver, but I really do get your pain. There are way too many items problems that run in the way. Live usb didn't boot. Volume keys don't work, etc. etc. It has gotten WAY better, but the polished professional feel just isn't there yet. Your trackpad won't feel 100%, if you don't know your hardware inside / out your Nvidia card or something else might not work. Part of the problem, too, is that there are way too many projects inside the open source world. While that is a blessing, it's also a curse.

Some people just want to boot a machine and get to work. Even though I run Linux, I have become that person as well.