I really enjoy Linux, yet I'm not feeling as productive as before.
I really enjoy Linux, yet I'm not feeling as productive as before.
On Windows it's straightforward but there are many tools like photo editing, vector creation, audio production. In Linux a word processor is tough to find, GIMP and Inkscape are difficult to master. They seem outdated. I struggled with VirtualBox due to poor performance on my i3-5005u. How can we boost Linux productivity beyond just browsing and watching movies?
gimp also runs on Windows and works just like it does there. I use it sometimes, but I feel it’s too complex for quick everyday image work. Paint.NET is my go-to on Windows for picture editing, and Pinta works well on Linux—it’s about as strong as GIMP but simpler. For video, I rely on Shotcut, which is available on Windows and macOS too. When choosing software, I always check three things: is it free? Can it run on multiple platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS)? And how easy is it to use?
Examine Wine, but you're unlikely to succeed with the office suite. I believe true productivity on Linux requires programming skills. Most companies creating photo/video editing tools, word processors, etc., focus on Windows and Mac users for clear reasons. If you're in that field, you might need to work on Windows or Mac afterward, but once you're done, you can switch back to Linux and enjoy. P.S.: Consider trying LibreOffice—it's meant to replace the missing office suite.
Libre offers a decent word processor and a PowerPoint alternative, though its spreadsheet capabilities fall short compared to Excel.
I'm not sure about the issues with GIMP and Inkscape. I began with them, so perhaps it's just a matter of being unfamiliar. For audio, consider Ardour or Bitwig Studio. Video editing options include Kdenlive (the top free choice) and DaVinci Resolve (free for non-profits and hobbyists). LibreOffice works well for documents. If you dislike the appearance of these programs, KDE might suit you—it's a Linux desktop environment with decent theming.