[–] Shafticle 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Rant time!
I stopped using Windows personally (and professionally where ever possible) in 2012.
Two things put me over the edge:
The Windows drivers for my 2x Crossfired Radeon 7850's in Win8 blue-screened relentlessly and for no good reason after the update to Win8! I could forgive them if the cards were overheating or a buggy game or something, but none of this was occurring. Sitting there idle and looking at the thing the wrong way would cause Win8 to explosively shit the bed. The "buggy" and universally loathed proprietary Linux Radeon drivers? No issues. None. You have to setup CrossFire-X from the command line, but it works and I've not had a video related issue in 3 years using the same bloody cards.
They're keeping my feet warm as I type. AND even IF X.org shits the bed, it does usually does not take the entire system down with it! The newer windows DWM.exe is suppose to be like this too, but nope not in my scenario, it's been a relentless bed shitter since win8. Use nVidia? nVidia drove me over the edge with a beyond faulty Geforce 8600 (GT I think it was?) chip in the late 2000's- but that's another rant all together.
I was always FIGHTING the operating system. This needed updates, that needed updates, this or that was ALWAYS nagging. I use a computer to work, not work for the computer! As my GF puts it "Linux just SHUTS UP!" When I realized I spent more time fighting Windows functionality (windows updates, third party programs, etc) then actually expanding peoples organizations and getting my work done I decided it was time to quit cold turkey. Yeah I miss a game or two but WINE is leaps and bounds ahead of where it was a decade ago and with Steam Linux support for some titles, it's not like I don't get to play any more. Apt-get (in my humble opinion), and it's similar Linux counter parts (YUM, pacman, etc) are greater than all windows packaging and update technologies introduced in all our life times. One command to rule all the updates of the entire system. Want to know what Apt-get has NEVER done for me? Pushed down a silent update without my consent. Can't say the same for windows update. Apt-get stays put until it's called upon to perform its magic, period. The new Windows 10 store, ninite, and these emerging powershell apt-get-like windows clones? Well I guess it's better to be nearly 2 decades late to the show then to not show up at all. Apt-get is still superior (imo) than each of 'em.
If you're thinking of jumping on the Linux band wagon pick any distro that floats your boat. I believe there is no wrong or right distro, you choose the one that jives with you. Obviously if you're just starting out, Distros like Linux Mint are going to be easier to figure out than jumping directly into Gentoo or Slackware. I started out with Mandriva (lol) in like 2006ish if I recall, which is like the retarded step child of linux distros. It left such a bad taste, but I pressed on until I found the family of Distros that suited me- Debian and its children (Ubuntu, Mint, etc).
(puts soap box away) Sorry for the wall of text folks.