It’s really about convenience, and Windows is trying it’s hardest to be inconvenient.
IMO the sweet spot is still both: linux for most desktop use, and an extremely lobotomized Windows 11 for certain graphical things that prefer it. And I think that needs to be made clear to more people too: it’s not necessarily a choice between one or the other.
No, thanks. My Linux setup has been fine for everything for a while now.
Edit: leaving this comment just to balance yours, not to say you are wrong. Linux is better than windows, hands down, if you are in the segment like me that doesn’t play any PvP games that need anti cheat. (Client-side anti-cheat is harmful, BTW.)
I don’t play any PvP. Ironically, I use Windows for performance reasons:
Native linux builds of some simulation games (Rimworld, Stellaris) are extremely slow (like 1/2 the simulation speed vs Windows with much worse stutters via my benching), and they are still it a bit slower and more finicky in Proton, so… Windows is a decent tool for that.
There’s no equivalent to MSI Afterburner’s “per power state” curve GPU overclocking in linux. I guess I could try to port the curve over via NVAPI, but this would be really finicky…
HDR, VRR, and frame limiting (eg SpecialK) support is also finicky. I can just get smoother frame delivery + lower latency in Windows (unfortunately), and there’s no good way around it.
I sometimes use gamepass.
Also, I’m on Nvidia. Also I just hate dealing with Nvidia graphics stuff in linux…
I am trying to give linux the benefit of the doubt too (I use CachyOS to try and squeeze all the performance out I can). Linux is much faster for some games (like anything Java based, EG Minecraft and Starsector), but Windows is unfortunately objectively better for lots of gaming…
Some of the problems are platform agnostic. If you play linux-native rimworld/stellaris, even on AMD you are getting a massive performance penalty with linux (though they may behave very will with Proton+AMD I suppose). And linux’s frame limiting is still more limited.
Just saying, in this thread about Linux adoption, that for every case of nitpicky issue like this I think it worth mentioning that I have had fewer issues than I had under windows.
Edit to try to be clearer: I usually don’t comment in these threads, but I am worried that these threads then only end up with people in your situation while people like me stay quiet, giving the incorrect impression that all people will have issues.
Lobotomized Windows? Have you got more information on that? I used to have dual boot ages ago, but my current lifestyle demands a laptop - that’s non negotiable. Unfortunately Linux and some graphics/3d software on a laptop is near impossible for my level of tech savvy, (I tried) but if you can kindly point me in the right direction to remove annoying from windows I’d be very grateful.
Ah, I am AFK from Windows at the moment, but ping me later if I forget.
I don’t remember what exactly I used, but it was at least one “Windows customizer” tool from github, and it’s lobotomized to the point where I never see onedrive, copilot, any kind of Windows crap or ad ever come through. Defender is disabled, stuff like office won’t work, but that’s fine with me (and UWP apps work fine).
I also have it set up so linux and Windows share an NTFS partition (which you can do even on a laptop) for “common storage.” Anything important goes there. So I can wipe Windows and the drop of a hat, reinstall it and not lose more than like 30 minutes lol. And Windows can’t access the linux partition, so I am not to worried about security either (since anything actually valuable is done there instead).
But has the Windows NTFS driver gotten better? That’s the main concern, usually. Windows not really respecting Microsoft’s own specification and assuming it’s the only player on your PC.
You can set linux to write in a “windows compatible” way via a mount option.
I haven’t had issues with “linux written files in windows” in a long time. Access is fine. But again, it’s only for bulk storage (like media files, database files or temporary transfers): I don’t use it for apps or anything.
Windows behaves well enough on its own too. Obviously NTFS isn’t ideal, but the driver is stable at least.
Thank you. You describe something like what lvxferre linked (possibly while you were typing this answer) the Windows Debloat script. It looks promising.
Yes when I had dual it worked exactly as you describe, with Linux being able to read and write on Windows partition but not the other way around, which was handy. I do remember switching back and forth was a bit of a pain though, and I ended up using windows for the most part. Graphics is 80% of what I use my computer for after all.
There’s a debloat script. I can’t say it’s good or bad because I don’t use Windows for years, but I’ve seen plenty people using it and saying it’s good.
It’s really about convenience, and Windows is trying it’s hardest to be inconvenient.
IMO the sweet spot is still both: linux for most desktop use, and an extremely lobotomized Windows 11 for certain graphical things that prefer it. And I think that needs to be made clear to more people too: it’s not necessarily a choice between one or the other.
No, thanks. My Linux setup has been fine for everything for a while now.
Edit: leaving this comment just to balance yours, not to say you are wrong. Linux is better than windows, hands down, if you are in the segment like me that doesn’t play any PvP games that need anti cheat. (Client-side anti-cheat is harmful, BTW.)
I don’t play any PvP. Ironically, I use Windows for performance reasons:
Native linux builds of some simulation games (Rimworld, Stellaris) are extremely slow (like 1/2 the simulation speed vs Windows with much worse stutters via my benching), and they are still it a bit slower and more finicky in Proton, so… Windows is a decent tool for that.
There’s no equivalent to MSI Afterburner’s “per power state” curve GPU overclocking in linux. I guess I could try to port the curve over via NVAPI, but this would be really finicky…
HDR, VRR, and frame limiting (eg SpecialK) support is also finicky. I can just get smoother frame delivery + lower latency in Windows (unfortunately), and there’s no good way around it.
I sometimes use gamepass.
Also, I’m on Nvidia. Also I just hate dealing with Nvidia graphics stuff in linux…
I am trying to give linux the benefit of the doubt too (I use CachyOS to try and squeeze all the performance out I can). Linux is much faster for some games (like anything Java based, EG Minecraft and Starsector), but Windows is unfortunately objectively better for lots of gaming…
I have an all AMD rig and no issues. 🤷♂️
Some of the problems are platform agnostic. If you play linux-native rimworld/stellaris, even on AMD you are getting a massive performance penalty with linux (though they may behave very will with Proton+AMD I suppose). And linux’s frame limiting is still more limited.
A lof of my issues are admitedly nitpicky.
Just saying, in this thread about Linux adoption, that for every case of nitpicky issue like this I think it worth mentioning that I have had fewer issues than I had under windows.
Edit to try to be clearer: I usually don’t comment in these threads, but I am worried that these threads then only end up with people in your situation while people like me stay quiet, giving the incorrect impression that all people will have issues.
Agreed!
There’s a ton of reasons linux is a bajillion times easier for some other things I do too, honestly I spend like 90% of my time there.
Lobotomized Windows? Have you got more information on that? I used to have dual boot ages ago, but my current lifestyle demands a laptop - that’s non negotiable. Unfortunately Linux and some graphics/3d software on a laptop is near impossible for my level of tech savvy, (I tried) but if you can kindly point me in the right direction to remove annoying from windows I’d be very grateful.
Ah, I am AFK from Windows at the moment, but ping me later if I forget.
I don’t remember what exactly I used, but it was at least one “Windows customizer” tool from github, and it’s lobotomized to the point where I never see onedrive, copilot, any kind of Windows crap or ad ever come through. Defender is disabled, stuff like office won’t work, but that’s fine with me (and UWP apps work fine).
I also have it set up so linux and Windows share an NTFS partition (which you can do even on a laptop) for “common storage.” Anything important goes there. So I can wipe Windows and the drop of a hat, reinstall it and not lose more than like 30 minutes lol. And Windows can’t access the linux partition, so I am not to worried about security either (since anything actually valuable is done there instead).
Do NOT put all of your important stuff on an NTFS partition and let both Windows and Linux write to it.
The question won’t be if your data gets corrupted, but when.
Generally linux doesn’t do any writing to NTFS, at least not the way I have it set up.
Also I know exactly what you are talking about, but the kernel NTFS3 driver has gotten much better.
But has the Windows NTFS driver gotten better? That’s the main concern, usually. Windows not really respecting Microsoft’s own specification and assuming it’s the only player on your PC.
You can set linux to write in a “windows compatible” way via a mount option.
I haven’t had issues with “linux written files in windows” in a long time. Access is fine. But again, it’s only for bulk storage (like media files, database files or temporary transfers): I don’t use it for apps or anything.
Windows behaves well enough on its own too. Obviously NTFS isn’t ideal, but the driver is stable at least.
Thank you. You describe something like what lvxferre linked (possibly while you were typing this answer) the Windows Debloat script. It looks promising.
Yes when I had dual it worked exactly as you describe, with Linux being able to read and write on Windows partition but not the other way around, which was handy. I do remember switching back and forth was a bit of a pain though, and I ended up using windows for the most part. Graphics is 80% of what I use my computer for after all.
There’s a debloat script. I can’t say it’s good or bad because I don’t use Windows for years, but I’ve seen plenty people using it and saying it’s good.
Okay thank you I’ll look into it and if I so run it I’ll let you know how it goes