Another suggestion for a Linux distro discussion (ending with Windows at the close of October)
Another suggestion for a Linux distro discussion (ending with Windows at the close of October)
I acknowledge your perspective and feel empathy for your reasons to move away from Windows. Yet, I believe Linux isn't a complete replacement in the same way. You'll have to abandon many established computing routines and acquire new abilities to make the most of any Linux distribution. Playing games on Linux isn't flawless and demands considerable adjustments. Unless you're using Steam (though Proton remains functional but not ideal), you might want to explore alternatives. GIMP and Da Vinci Resolve work well on Linux for photo and video editing, so I recommend giving them a try. This approach reflects what I meant when I said you need to adapt and let go of old habits if you truly wish to change. I suggest you try dual booting Windows with a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu, Zorin OS, or Linux Mint. Use Windows for editing and video work, and switch to Linux for the rest of your tasks.
For those familiar with Linux, the level of customization feels natural. Yet, for Windows users accustomed to instant app and game launches, navigating the system can be quite challenging. Many well-known titles remain unavailable on Linux due to kernel-level security features.
Thanks for your input. I’ll likely give it a shot over the weekend. I’ll back up and download a few recommended distros. A few clarifications though.
1. Windows treats case differently from Linux, and there’s now a feature called case-folding that might affect partitions. Should I make my Steam folder case-insensitive? Would this need to be set during partitioning or later? Are there simple guides for this? The tutorials I found seemed confusing for someone without technical experience. For example, even though a Windows directory wouldn’t store files with .dll extensions like Fred.dll and fred.dll, the actual code might still search for fred.dll when it’s called FRED.DLL. Is this okay on Windows, but not on Linux?
2. You’ll likely need three partitions: boot, swap, and root (for the operating system). Can I later move the home partition to a different drive? Since I’m testing on a small SSD, this might be feasible.
3. Installing Steam seems to support Wine/Proton. Paintshop Pro works on Wine, so maybe I can try Proton first. Would you need a separate install for that?
4. Some games require specific Proton versions to function properly. I can’t find clear instructions, but it looks like you’d have to manage versions manually. Can multiple Proton versions be installed? Is there a way to store them in the game directory? Also, for large games like ESO, would it be faster to copy the Windows version to a new Linux drive and verify the files instead of downloading everything?
Thanks ahead of time.
Linux offers a wider range of options; decide which desktop environment fits your preferences best. If you're transitioning from Windows, KDE (across various distros) or Cinnamon (primarily Mint-based) are the most similar in terms of interface design. For Mac users, XFCE is a compact alternative. The top contenders are KDE and Gnome, though Gnome has seen declining popularity since version 3. While some call KDE too heavy, it often stems from the slim-lining choices made by each distro. For a smoother experience, consider using Debian on a virtual machine before switching—this avoids driver issues since everything remains virtual. Hardware support beyond NVIDIA is generally reliable, especially with kernel versions 6 and above. You’ll likely need firmware if required. The nvidia installer is robust, but it depends on having the right kernel sources to build from. Proton has become a strong alternative, shifting from 90% custom wine to 90% Proton for game performance. The Steam Deck enhances Proton’s capabilities, making it more effective for running Linux applications.
Gnome offers certain benefits, particularly in visual consistency, and it's perfectly acceptable to use it. However, its design preferences can be quite subjective and may clash with other users' expectations.
No doubt, but OP is switching from windows; as someone who has to use windows about 50% of the time professionally cinnamon and kde are less likely to "mess about with muscle memory" meaning you can do more things using lower level cognition (re: without really thinking about it), and he's going to have enough to think about. This is why I recommend a Debian VM, because it supports them all with no messing around beyond installing them. It's important to at least see them all as everyone's concept of "what is intuitive" differs with each individual.
Never had to adjust that setting. - swapping partitions is optional (can be disabled or changed to file-based) - the home partition can be moved later. Steam doesn’t automatically configure anything you don’t download directly through Steam. Paintshop Pro isn’t listed in the Steam Store (unless you know). You can add third-party games and programs manually. That said... Steam and Proton aren’t my first choice for non-gaming needs. Steam will install its own versions of Proton when Steam Play is active, but if you want to use Proton outside Steam, you’ll need to set it up yourself. Also, you didn’t mention which Paintshop Pro version you’re using: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.p...ion&iId=76 I only see versions 7 (2000) and 9 (2004) with platinum ratings. How critical is it for you to run it? If you’re not using it professionally (for example, for income), just try Krita or Gimp instead. You simply choose in Steam which Proton version fits each game, and you can enable “force the use of specific…” if needed. If you received it from Steam, you can verify game files through Steam as well.
In Guild Wars 2 you can repurpose GW2.dat. I simply created a symlink for both Lutris and Steam.
Thanks for sharing the details. Here’s a clearer version of your message:
I’m testing Linux Mint and it’s mostly functioning. Paintshop Pro v7 works fine. I tried launching autorun.exe on the installation disk and it worked without issues. For our Epson printer, printing is fine. A Steam game called Pinball Arcade runs properly. However, the network printer seems problematic. The Pantum 2500W is working, but I can’t get it to operate beyond launching in most programs. I can print with Firefox, but other apps show messages like the job was sent or cancelled, sometimes disappearing entirely. The error log is located at /var/log/cups/error_log, but it’s quite lengthy. I’m unsure how to clear it. The suggestion on the cups website is to use sudo truncate -s 0 /var/log/cups/error_log. Does this work? Should I stop Cups first and then try again? Also, I noticed some lines in the log—like a broken pipe in the third line and a warning about authentication. It seems the printer is network-based, so a password might be required. I’m not sure if I need to disable Cups or what the next steps should be.