What I learned from 3 years of running Windows 11 on “unsupported” PCs
What I learned from 3 years of running Windows 11 on “unsupported” PCs
When your old PC goes over the Windows 10 update cliff, can Windows 11 save it?
You're viewing a single thread.
just use linux
I only ever use Windows on my work computer, and only when I need access to a resource that requires our Windows-only VPN.
But seriously, "just use linux" is worthless advice. Lots of people use Windows for specific applications that don't exist in the Linux ecosystem. For example, there are no Linux applications that come close to AutoCAD, and it simply doesn't work on Linux.
Better advice would be to get new (or newer used) hardware if possible, if you absolutely need to use Windows, since this workaround will inevitably be "corrected" by Microsoft. Then you can do whatever you like with the old hardware, such as install and learn Linux at your own pace.
Just wondering, what kind of VPN is windows only? FortiNet? GlobalProtect?
From experience on Debian and Fedora:
Zerotier One runs, but if I try to play with someone inside that network, it's extremely unstable or just won't connect (tried with Yuzu, Ryujinx, tModloader and Minecraft)
Xlink Kai also runs, I'd like to use it with Dolphin Emulator but it always says it failed to assign an IP and to manually add it to my console... Which is impossible on Dolphin.
Both options work without tinkering on Windows, and it's something I use regularly, I have no idea why they don't on Linux and most of the time I get redirected to the documentation... Which is useless anyway.
It's some kind of locked-down version of GlobalProtect that's integrated with a TPM module to prevent machines that aren't running our corporate image on corporate-approved laptops from being able to connect.
There's probably some kind of workaround, but I'm lazy and it's easier just to power up the Windows machine now and then.
Aw hell no!
you are talking about a small minority of users. what percentage of users use autocad at all?
Not many, but plenty use various corporate applications that are Windows-only.
such as?
As an engineer, all my jobs so far have used niche internal corporate software which would only be available for Windows. This would be Document Management Systems (DMS's), internal reporting tools (progress and hour keeping), software distribution programs etc.
And of course the engineering tools themselves are often only built for Windows, whether it's proprietary PLC programming environments or CAD software.
That said, I can run both WSL and a corporate-approved Debian VM on the same work laptop as a compromise, for whatever makes sense for the task. Still sucks though! At home I'm a Debian fanboy 4 lyfe.
you are still talking about niche software though
in my office about 90% of people there could be using linux for their daily tasks with no issues.
Interesting, how would that work if your corporate IT department uses an (Azure/Entra) active directory system? Can you use a bare metal Linux OS on a Microsoft-based domain service? Asking out of ignorance and curiosity.
you can actually, and id bet theres a linux native domain management system that works better.
"just use linux" is great advice. Not everybody has the money for PC upgrades. And the amount of people that require specific Windows programs and can not switch to an alternative that works on Linux is extremely small.
No, it's useless advice for people who don't already have knowledge about Linux.
What kind of knowledge do you think linux requires? Installing is like a 5 step process. Once installed any grandma can use GNOME or KDE just fine.
Which distros to choose, what are their pros and cons, which distros works best with whatever hardware they have? What about which of their existing hardware doesn't work on Linux? Which of the software they use everyday and probably have spent money on the licenses doesn't work on Linux at all and which can kinda work using WINE?
These are all questions that are not easily answered by people that lack the prior knowledge of Linux. Just saying "use Linux" is not simply useless advice if you don't know their use case or the hardware they use, it's practically harming the first time experience of non-tech savvy people with Linux.
You're over complicating things
if you don't know their use case or the hardware they use
Most hardware will work ootb, most use cases is opening the browser. But i do agree a blank "use Linux" is a bit too broad. Something like "Use Mint" or "Use Fedora" is better.
This is absolutely bullshit and you know it.
A few years ago you would be absolutely right. Nowadays most Linux distributions are pretty straightforward in their installation process though.
Give me a good Linux distro that's great on a tablet PC
ubuntu. anything with gnome, really.
You can't even open an application on Gnome without pressing the small Activities button on the top left of the screen.
touch input uses gestures instead, not unlike android.
Well, I can simply open an app by tapping it on the home screen on Android. What do I need to do on Gnome?