Why Linux isn't a replacement for Windows 10 if you can't run Windows 11 - debate!

Hazel123 · Jul 21, 2025

cereberus said:
Yep - Supercomputers are for raw processing speed e.g. for soving complex algorithms e.g. for chaos theory. These applications are very specialist but of no use to the mainstream tools used by engineers in particular.

People whinge about paying a couple of hundred pounds yearly for tools like Adobe Pro. A one user licence for a process simulator like Aspentech costs ovrr £20,000 per year.

Tools like these are only on Windows - it would take years to port them to Linux and why would the owners of such tools bother when it would be an extremely limited market?

Yet again, Linux users are so tedious making claims about how it is a viable solution to Windows when we all know that is basic nonsense for most users.

On reflection, this thread is typical Linux trolling and (in my opinion) the moderators should consider shutting it down as it adds zero value to this forum.

Ooh sorry! I'm not a troll! I wouldn't normally be talking about it except there are a lot of people out there whose computers won't be able to run Windows 11 when Windows 10 ends - but yes maybe this isn't the right place for it.

Hazel123 · Jul 21, 2025

I've edited the title if it helps?

Bree · Jul 21, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
....one thing I do appreciate is that it's an O/S that can run for months without booting, something that I've never achieved with any Windows version. Typically, I reboot Windows because I need to, not because I want to.

Most of my Windows laptops only reboot once a month - and then only because it's Patch Tuesday and there's a new CU. I never shut them down, only hibernate.

gunrunnerjohn · Jul 21, 2025

I only have one laptop at a time, and new one arrives tomorrow. But I don't typically hibernate them, when I put them away they get the full shutdown. The laptop is principally for trips, and it's useful for when I'm not at the computer and I want to do some web browsing or the like.

RD Mercer · Jul 21, 2025

KevTech said:
I thought this was Windows 11 forum.

View attachment 140026

Well, there you go thinking again.

mccmw · Jul 21, 2025

On more than one occasion I've played around with Ubuntu and Mint. While definitely more user friendly than distros used to be, they are still not easy to navigate for the everyday "user." While they definitely make older machines feel snappier, the drivers are basic and did not provide the performance or options that Windows does...even older legacy drivers. On the laptops I've tried them on, touchpad performance was poor and Wi-fi performance was subpar compared to Windows...even after doing research and entering a bunch of non-GUI terminal commands to try and change settings. Likewise, installing apps is not as straightforward. File management isn't either. Whatever app store comes with your distro is alright but the minute you want to deviate, you need to use more commands to try and find other sources. Admittedly, many distros are getting more and more easier to use...and require less online research and terminal commands to customize...but still a ways off from Windows when wanting something to simply work. That being said, there was just an article that Linux distros now account for 5% of PC OSs now...if true, this could get Microsoft to up it's game again. Who knows.

KevTech · Jul 21, 2025

mccmw said:
That being said, there was just an article that Linux distros now account for 5% of PC OSs now

Not even 2%.

Operating System Market Share Worldwide | Statcounter Global Stats

This graph shows the market share of operating systems worldwide based on over 3 billion monthly page views.

gs.statcounter.com

antspants · Jul 21, 2025

Two idle threats I have seen used a bit on this forum:

Linux
Apple Mac

Both seem to get used as if we are affiliated with Microsoft and we’re supposed to feel burned because someone threatens to jump ship.

Linux: I can only speak for myself, I am not going to move from a system (DOS/Windows) that I’ve been using for, getting closer to 40 years?
Apple Mac: I wouldn’t waste the buck fiddy in fuel costs to attach one to my car by a rope and drag it down my street.

hioolpu · Jul 21, 2025

Linux Mint did replace Windows 11 for me for 99% of what i need witch is a web browser, Steam and VLC. No issues as i run it on a Ubuntu Certified Desktop PC with Intel CPU and AMD GPU. AMD GPU drivers are built into Mint. Update Manager works just the same as Windows update. As long as you are not running latest and greatest hardware your golden on Mint.

pseymour · Jul 21, 2025

@Hazel123 I actually had a better experience with scaling in Xubuntu LTS than I did with Mint+xfce earlier, but I did things differently. On the Mint setup, I used the Appearance settings to turn scaling up. That made most elements larger, but the top of the window remained super tiny, as shown in my screenshots. Under Xubuntu, the Appearance applet produces the same result as under Mint. But, the Display applet... if you turn the scaling down, everything gets bigger, and the window controls are quite usable.

I may go back and play with Mint again, but something else shiny has my attention at the moment.

Hazel123 · Jul 21, 2025

pseymour said:
@Hazel123 I actually had a better experience with scaling in Xubuntu LTS than I did with Mint+xfce earlier, but I did things differently. On the Mint setup, I used the Appearance settings to turn scaling up. That made most elements larger, but the top of the window remained super tiny, as shown in my screenshots. Under Xubuntu, the Appearance applet produces the same result as under Mint. But, the Display applet... if you turn the scaling down, everything gets bigger, and the window controls are quite usable.

I may go back and play with Mint again, but something else shiny has my attention at the moment.

Thank you. I'll check that out.

mccmw · Jul 21, 2025

KevTech said:
Not even 2%.

View attachment 140072

Operating System Market Share Worldwide | Statcounter Global Stats

This graph shows the market share of operating systems worldwide based on over 3 billion monthly page views.

gs.statcounter.com

Whoops...article was for US PCs

Linux surpasses 5% market share on US desktops for the first time

According to StatCounter's Global Stats for June 2025, Windows remains the clear leader, commanding 63.2 percent of the market, but it has experienced a steady decline, losing...

www.techspot.com

antspants · Jul 21, 2025

Here are my results from checking Linux out for the first time:

pseymour · Jul 21, 2025

Please post a screenshot of this thread on your Linux desktop.

antspants · Jul 21, 2025

RAOTFLMFAO

You remembered

XxXxX · Jul 21, 2025

when in Windows think Windows .. when in Linux think Linux. the twain dont usually meet.
i used Windows 11 for a couple of years because it came installed on the then new computer.
please check my computers for spec's.

i used Ubuntu as my daily driver for 20 years from 04.10 until 24.04 LTS
there is nothing i cant do on a Ubuntu system for my daily needs.

i now use Fedora SilverBlue which is an immutable atomic operating system.
the /root partition is 'read only' very limited user access. so the user has only the user account to play with
its a whole new learning curve to get the system how you want it to be, which i have now done.

i have Windows 11 24H2 fully running in Gnome boxes (flatpak)
that took a bit of doing but it is now running and updating just fine.
i use Windows 11 for reference when and if needed, which isnt to often
but i do have several Windows computers others use in the house.

Windows works for most of the people much of the time
and Linux isnt for everybody but i find Linux easier to use then Windows
the whole Linux system is logical to me, Windows i find all over the place.

a Linux live distro is also a very powerful repair tool for a Windows system
if you want to use Windows use Windows. if you want to use Linux use Linux
its a matter of choice so you as an individual can choose.

best of luck, Steve ..

Scannerman · Jul 21, 2025

I have a 32" 4K monitor. Scaling is easier for me on Linux Mint than it is with Win 11. Everything on Win 11 is sooo small and making things larger only throws off other things like forcing text to run into other text making it illegible. This doesn't happen on Linux Mint. (At least not with me.)

XxXxX · Jul 21, 2025

Hazel123 said:
I don't understand Anything with XFCE doesn't scale. Or is that just long term support versions? Are newer versions fixed?

on XFCE in settings open 'themes'
within themes, which may take some time to load,
is Windows 10 light and Windows 10 dark themes.

load one of Windows 10 themes and see if the 'scaling' is better suited to your needs.

as it may not be they scaling within the window manager
but the scaling within the theme that is causing the issue.

best of luck, Steve ..

spapakons · Jul 22, 2025

Silvio said:
The 500 most powerful supercomputers use Linux | Stackscale

Linux is the clear leader in supercomputing. Since 2009, Linux has completely dominated the world’s 500 most powerful supercomputers list.

www.stackscale.com

"The 500 most powerful supercomputers use Linux"

Yes, supercomputers, not the average Joe on their desktop. It is a huge difference. Before even thinking of switching to Linux, do a little research. What do you do in Windows? Can you do the same in Linux? Using the same apps or inferior substitutes? (Running the Windows apps in Wine doesn't count). Is all your hardware supported (computer, printer, other devices). Are you willing to spend a lot of time to learn new stuff? Including using the Terminal many times daily? I doubt the answer to all of these questions is yes, but if it is, YOU asked for it! I rather stick with Windows 7 or even XP than disgrace my PC and install Linux. Needless to say more.

duecks · Jul 22, 2025

I'm using linux on a 20 year old laptop with low resources that only runs Adguard Home.

Works fine.

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