The number of individuals switching to Linux is not specified in the current context.
The number of individuals switching to Linux is not specified in the current context.
I moved to Linux in 2014. I purchased a Raspberry Pi 1B for amateur radio projects and picked up some essentials in Linux. At that time, I bought a new laptop, and Windows 8.1 felt almost unusable because of all the Dell software it included. I considered trying Linux on my machine, so I used VirtualBox, then LiveUSB, and finally followed an online tutorial to set up Mint Cinnamon 17, Quiana. That was my first stable OS. No more erratic trackpad actions, no unexpected reboots, no Wi-Fi glitches, no hiding the battery indicator, no more annoying browser crashes, and no Internet Explorer. Still, there were some challenges I faced. One problem was with the Synaptics trackpad driver—after Dell swapped my 7537 for a 7547 under warranty, the trackpad stopped working in Mint 17. I resolved it by switching to a newer kernel, using a USB mouse, or controlling the screen with keyboard commands. Another issue involved finding a keyboard that worked well. I needed a backlit mechanical keyboard but had to skip many options due to lack of Linux support for programmable backlights (which required Windows tools). Eventually, I settled on a Cooler Master model with an internal backlight and found it reliable. DisplayLink USB 3.0 docking was okay but not perfect; the Dell-branded dock worked for multiple monitors, though at a lower refresh rate. The website offers .deb drivers that function in Mint, though performance is reduced. Most of the time, I kept static content on my second screen. For printers, I bought an Epson XP-830 when I needed a small inkjet. Linux didn’t know how to handle it, so I was surprised by its lack of support. It wasn’t a total loss, but it improved over time. I learned to check compatibility before buying. One Steam game—Sleeping Dogs—was the only one that didn’t work on Linux. I had 30 games in total, and only one was fully functional. Later, a family member gifted me Sleeping Dogs, which I never played much. For games, I found two titles missing from my library: Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes and another unnamed title. AMD graphics were unreliable; even with the Nvidia GT750M, performance dropped significantly after the 7547 swap. The main issue wasn’t just driver support but multiplexing limitations. I realized that performance graphics on Linux laptops remain a challenge. Tools like OpenSCAD are simple, FreeCAD is becoming less practical due to ongoing bloat, and Autodesk products seem stuck in development. OnShape works fine, but licensing and cost issues make it hard to use. Laptop suspensions were a recurring problem—sometimes the lid would close, wake up, and stay on. I’d often leave my laptop plugged in, then carry it, only to find it warm and nearly dead when I opened the case. This likely cost me a battery. The behavior seemed inconsistent across different machines, with some working and others freezing or locking up. Developers didn’t seem to address these issues. Over time, the situation has gotten worse. FreeCAD is evolving slowly, and Laptop suspend/restart cycles are becoming more common. I’ve given up on high-performance graphics for Linux laptops; it’s clear that drivers either work or don’t, and that’s a trade-off I can’t change.
I moved to Linux five years ago and explored various distros. Eventually, I found one that suits me well and meets my requirements. Most of my games work on Linux, though I play them less often, so I’m considering uninstalling my Windows 7 Professional installation.
I've been using Linux full-time after dual booting for a few years, starting last December. I don't advise dual booting because Windows would often fail during Linux installations with each update. I'm content with my backups, and I picked Manjaro—it's performing well without any major problems so far.