NFR The Windows 11 Exodus - An Evan "tech help" rant

Non-fishing related
BriGuy said:
Modular EXCEPT for AI. Where do I not sign up?
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Subscription-based OS just sounds like the worst. Enshitification truly is the future. Want the calculator app to work? $1/mo. How about the snipping tool? $5/mo. Want to use a web browser? That's another $5/mo. Or get this package deal for all but this one other feature you absolutely have to have for $25/mo, or $40/mo if you want that other thing, too!

Here's where you go if not signing up:

Home - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.
linuxmint.com linuxmint.com

Pop!_OS Linux Operating System | Secure, Customizable & Productive

Explore Pop!_OS, a Linux operating system built for productivity, customization, security, and software compatibility. Free to download from System76.
system76.com system76.com
(not sure why Pop!_OS says things like it's "for developers." It's just a simple, easy to use operating system for anybody. Though Mint may get the edge for being the simplest to migrate to for most people.)
 
Went with Linux Mint with Evans recommendation and help two months ago. Glad that I did!
 
I use Firefox for internet browsing and it has been seamless. LibreOffice for spreadsheet is a little different from Excel but almost the same for Word. Working on learning the Command Line System for Linux. There are some software systems that don't play well with Linux, but most do. All of my documents and photos came across without issue.
BTW, I am in the second half of my septuagenarian stage, so don't let age slow you down if wanting to kick Microsoft in the ass.
 
MELinOre said:
I use Firefox for internet browsing and it has been seamless. LibreOffice for spreadsheet is a little different from Excel but almost the same for Word. Working on learning the Command Line System for Linux. There are some software systems that don't play well with Linux, but most do. All of my documents and photos came across without issue.
BTW, I am in the second half of my septuagenarian stage, so don't let age slow you down if wanting to kick Microsoft in the ass.
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Yeah, most people can get by without ever having to touch the terminal. But once you get past that initial "fear," it's awesome to use. I find installing new programs from it to be far simpler than other methods, too. Very powerful tool if you take the time to learn it, or to look up how to do a specific task you're looking to do.
 
I will pay hard cash to have my desktop and laptop computers made Geezer Friendly.

About 40 years ago when I learned DOS, I was the office computer wizard. Then we got Windows, and I've gotten progressively dumber ever since.
 
Salmo_g said:
I will pay hard cash to have my desktop and laptop computers made Geezer Friendly.

About 40 years ago when I learned DOS, I was the office computer wizard. Then we got Windows, and I've gotten progressively dumber ever since.
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What are you currently running?
 
Evan B said:
What are you currently running?
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My new (last year) laptop has Windows 11. My old desktop has Windows 10. Both have my home page fvcked up with ads and news article links. Used to just be Google. And they don't have my bookmark icon in the upper right screen where I navigate to PNWFF, USGS gage website, my credit union, etc.
 
Salmo_g said:
My new (last year) laptop has Windows 11. My old desktop has Windows 10. Both have my home page fvcked up with ads and news article links. Used to just be Google. And they don't have my bookmark icon in the upper right screen where I navigate to PNWFF, USGS gage website, my credit union, etc.
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Those are all browser issues, not so much the operating system. Sounds like you're probably using Google Chrome for your browser?

My top choice for browser is always Firefox with uBlock Origin plugin added.

For those who don't know how to add plug-ins or don't have someone to help, then using Brave Browser is my suggestion most of the time. It has good ad-blocking built in.

brave.com

Brave Browser Download | Brave

The latest version of the Brave browser with ad and tracker blocking capabilities is available to download here. Stand by for an entirely new way of thinking about how the web can work.
brave.com brave.com
 
I recently switched to Vivaldi on my Samsung laptop and phones. It's great and I'm very happy with it and it does block a fair number of ads. I don't have any add-ins that I'm using atm.
 
flybill said:
I recently switched to Vivaldi on my Samsung laptop and phones. It's great and I'm very happy with it and it does block a fair number of ads. I don't have any add-ins that I'm using atm.
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Vivaldi is a good one. I test drove it for a while alongside Brave for my secondary browser (chromium based) and decided on Brave. Both great though.

I use Firefox as my primary, but like having a chromium-based secondary.
 
Evan B said:
Vivaldi is a good one. I test drove it for a while alongside Brave for my secondary browser (chromium based) and decided on Brave. Both great though.

I use Firefox as my primary, but like having a chromium-based secondary.
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I haven't used Firefox in many years. Probably not going to switch atm but will try it on my next laptop. Which I may need sooner than later.. so many options, so little time!
 
Evan B said:
Yeah, most people can get by without ever having to touch the terminal. But once you get past that initial "fear," it's awesome to use. I find installing new programs from it to be far simpler than other methods, too. Very powerful tool if you take the time to learn it, or to look up how to do a specific task you're looking to do.
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I took my initial plunge two days ago and installed GIMP(GNU Image Manipulation Program) which is for high quality image manipulation. Shit, if I had known the Command Line System was easier to use than Windows for installing programs, I would have been fearless from the beginning!
 
MELinOre said:
I took my initial plunge two days ago and installed GIMP(GNU Image Manipulation Program) which is for high quality image manipulation. Shit, if I had known the Command Line System was easier to use than Windows for installing programs, I would have been fearless from the beginning!
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Yeah, it legitimately is easier. Just have to find the name used in the repository, which can be easily looked up. For most Ubuntu-based distros, like Mint and Pop!_OS like I use, the command line is:

sudo apt install gimp

hit enter, and everything just happens. Done.

A bit of a break down of what that command means:

Sudo - this is to do anything that requires administrative permissions. It triggers a password request before proceeding.

apt - This is the file manager on Ubuntu systems. It is what goes and finds the files and what repositories they're in.

install - exactly what it looks like. It's you saying take what "apt" finds and install it

gimp - the program to be installed.


Again, not as scary as it looks, and you don't have to know all that to make it work. You can simply do a search on an AI tool or search engine to ask what the command line is to install a program and it will pull it up for you.
 
Evan B said:
Yeah, it legitimately is easier. Just have to find the name used in the repository, which can be easily looked up. For most Ubuntu-based distros, like Mint and Pop!_OS like I use, the command line is:

sudo apt install gimp

hit enter, and everything just happens. Done.

A bit of a break down of what that command means:

Sudo - this is to do anything that requires administrative permissions. It triggers a password request before proceeding.

apt - This is the file manager on Ubuntu systems. It is what goes and finds the files and what repositories they're in.

install - exactly what it looks like. It's you saying take what "apt" finds and install it

gimp - the program to be installed.


Again, not as scary as it looks, and you don't have to know all that to make it work. You can simply do a search on an AI tool or search engine to ask what the command line is to install a program and it will pull it up for you.
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Pop!_OS even has an app store where you can browse or search for apps and install them just like on a cell phone. Easy peasy. I imagine many of the other distros have similar funtionality. You can also install updates that way.

The command line is actually easier, though.
 
MELinOre said:
I took my initial plunge two days ago and installed GIMP(GNU Image Manipulation Program) which is for high quality image manipulation. Shit, if I had known the Command Line System was easier to use than Windows for installing programs, I would have been fearless from the beginning!
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I just downloaded it.. since it was named after me.. Kaiser Solsee.. sp?
 
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