Friends, if Microsoft tries to squeeze you to buy a new computer to run version 11 when every new version of Windows gets worse and adds ads then please consider that more than 100 million people use Linux on their desktop computer, including people who make all sorts of projects with videos, illustrations, digital photographs, laser cuttings, animations, paper media, CAD, CAM, 3D printed stuff, circuit boards, etc.
Will it be exactly the same as Windows? No.
Can it be awesome? Yes.
@trevorflowers Just to say, I've been a hard-core Windows user since 3.0 but I switched my main machine to Linux Mint 2 months ago.
Apart from 1 old, unmaintained #3DPrinting program that I used, all other programs just work (or there are matching equivalents)
I I run a group at my local library, we have been contacted for some help on CAD and 3d printing, so I may see if I can tap in your expertise to help him. He has installed freeCAD but says some of the videos are confusing.
@trevorflowers I don't understand Linux and don't think it supports software I need. I switched to a Mac this year because I don't want to upgrade to Windows 11.
@Jennifer@trevorflowers Yeah, as much as I love messing with Linux when I want to make something out of a computer, I use a Mac when I want to make something WITH a computer.
@zleap@Jennifer@trevorflowers
I’ve gotten that question a lot. And I will suggest that you take a good look at the user hostility of open source software communities.
e.g. The biggest gap for me is page layout software. I’m a book designer. I’ve never received such contempt for feedback to software creators as when I tried to help Scribus approach professional grade.
Software that is ALMOST professional grade—where you have to fix the software instead of do your craft—is ruinously expensive.
@JoshuaACNewman@zleap@Jennifer It's true, there are at least as many jerks writing FOSS as in the rest of the population and many are grumpy about the stream of suggestions, requests, and demands that come in for even mildly popular projects.
That said, my experience with closed software has been aggressively user hostile at best. Mastercam won't even notice small fries like me but the FreeCAD team has been awesome.
I have someone coming to the next STEM meeting I am running and he is looking for help with FreeCAD, so the fact the community support is excellent is encouraging.
@trevorflowers@Jennifer In any successful public-facing project, commercial or not, it’s usually someone’s job to be non-grumpy, patient, and helpful to people who are new, frustrated, or surprisingly knowledgeable.
If that’s not someone’s job (it’s mine in plugdata) then the project becomes defined by what grumpy people don’t feel like doing.
Agreed, I am all for promoting FOSS, however first question should be what do you use your computer for, that way you can advise which distro / software is best for their need.
Linux Mint just works, granted it does use non-free firmware etc. However, from helping a new user perspective let's get people up and running, if people are happy with the distro, can do their work we are a good way there to keeping them on FOSS software.
Answering @zleap about what software I need. I use InDesign and Vellum for book design, and Camtasia for video recording/editing and they only run on Windows or Macs.
I think the closest we have to video editing is Kedenlive, as for book design, I use |LaTeX for most of my documents. I do understand they are probably not the best solution here though.
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