Waving Windows Goodbye
And Saying Hello to a Linux OS
In a Medium article I wrote at the beginning of the year, one of this year’s predictions was how Microsoft Windows would be wavering and concede more developers to alternative platforms. I am one of those developers. I have used a Windows PC for the majority of my professional life. I wrote about Microsoft technologies, programmed gobs of Visual Basic and C#/.NET desktop applications, right up through Microsoft’s ill-fated Universal Windows Platform (UWP). I tried a couple times to migrate to MacOS as my main driver, but the Apple way of lock-in simply didn’t suit my technical tinkering ways. I also tried desktop Linux several times, but I always felt I was spending more time tweaking and tuning than I did actual working.
But then last month, I hit a tipping point. I got fed up. Edge kept popping up more coupons that overlayed my browser window. Microsoft kept reminding me that my i7 Intel PC with more than adequate specs was not arbitrarily qualified to run their new version of Windows which basically brings rounded corners and a new taskbar layout to Windows 10. Rumblings of unwanted ads showing up in the Start menu was another tidbit circulating that I was not willing to support. So, I unplugged my Windows boot SSD, connected an unformatted SSD, and proceeded to install Linux on my triple monitor primary computing machine.
At first, I tried installing Pop!OS. I had great success with Pop!OS on an older Dell laptop. The distro identified and correctly configured every port, peripheral, and hardware setting. No tinkering required. Unfortunately, the installer for their 22.04 LTS distro went into an infinite loop when the Avanti mDNS service failed. Alas, pop went that OS.
Trying Out Solus
I took a break to survey the latest 64-bit x86 Linux distros available, from Fedora and Ubuntu to Arch and its derivatives. Then I remembered a distro I installed on an old Intel Mac a few years ago that I thought had promise.
After reviewing their latest build and the thoughtful design decisions and their developer-centric aesthetics of the desktop environment, I proceeded with installing Solus. From the moment their installer instantly recognized and booted into the live desktop, I was impressed. Fifteen minutes later, my PC booted into its freshly formatted SSD, displaying the login prompt at a time when I would still be waiting for the Windows splash screen to appear.
Logging into a clean desktop, I was once again stunned to see just how clean and responsive everything was. Solus recognized and properly configured my triple monitor setup, surround sound, webcam, NTFS-formatted storage drives, and, after a quick install of an open-source keyboard and mouse utility, even my high-end Corsair keyboard and mouse, complete with lighting assignments.
After copying over my local Thunderbird profile from my old Windows drive, configuring my programming environment (including Visual Studio Code), and setting my desktop wallpaper and terminal preferences, I was ready to get to work. Total time from install to personalization took less than an hour. I’ve spent more time troubleshooting wonky Windows drivers than it took me to convert entirely to this Linux desktop and being instantly productive.
After several hours of productivity in this new OS environment, it was time to wind down my workday with a game of Tin Can. Even though it’s a game compiled for the Windows platform, the Proton emulation layer in the Steam Linux client has become extremely stable thanks to Valve’s Linux-based Steam Deck handheld gaming system. After applying the necessary ‘experimental’ emulation files, the game booted right up and allowed me to exercise my analytical brain with a different kind of imaginary yet highly entertaining technical experience.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my Windows to Linux desktop migration effort, and still remain pleasantly amazed at how effortless it was to get there. The real question is how long this new environment will stick around. After the honeymoon, will Solus continue to impress? Are there long tail cases I haven’t encountered yet that will derail my satisfaction?
Will Microsoft realize that they allowed aggressive marketers to take more control of a once clean, productive desktop environment, and reverse course? Will they remove the arbitrary hardware restrictions they placed on Windows 11 to welcome back the multitude of computing professionals they have alienated? I will follow up later this year with the outcome.
Until then, I’ll be enjoying the clean, distraction-free desktop that the Solus maintainers have crafted for me. Thanks, Solus!
📢 Share your experience by leaving a comment. What operating system are you running, and why?
Be sure to pick up a copy of Portable Python Projects by Mike Riley, available from The Pragmatic Bookshelf. You can save 35 percent with promo code python_automation_2022 now through June 30, 2022. Promo codes are not valid on prior purchases.
