I have been using Windows since 1994 (over 32 years). After doing a deep dive on learning Linux for a month, I have decided to switch to Linux. Here are the reasons why:
Faster
- Linux is faster to boot on the same hardware. As a software engineer, I am constantly working on the computer. That is a lot of reboots. Linux gets you to work faster.
- Linux is ready faster. I would separate the boot time and when you can actually start working into two different buckets. Many times I am waiting until Windows loads Microsoft Teams or Directory Opus it before I can get going.
- Generally Linux is faster for everything that you do. Why?
- There is no telemetry sending information to Microsoft
- I run less background processes to do the same work.
Here are my Windows background processes vs my Linux background processes. As you can see there is less of them.
| Windows Processes | Linux Processes |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams | Teams for Linux |
| PicPick | Flameshot |
| Backblaze | SyncThing |
| SQL Express | SQL Express in Docker |
| Microsoft Copilot | None |
| Dropbox | None |
| OneDrive | None |
| Microsoft Defender | None |
| ESET | None |
| Malwarebytes | None |
| Directory Opus | None (Nemo can load on demand) |
| Windows Telemetry | None |
| Total: 12 | Total: 4 |
Centralized System and Application Updates
- Windows updates and application updates are separate. Linux performs both system updates and application updates at the same time.
- You are never forced to update with Linux. You choose when to update. I have been late to meetings with managers due to Windows Update running. I have nearly missed flights because Windows Update decided to run. I had to carry my laptop open while boarding the flight while Windows Update was running.
Less Nagging
- Until I used Linux I never realized how many notifications there are in Windows. It is ridiculous. Notifications from my virus scanner that it is done scanning. Every application in Windows nagging me when it has an update available.
- Advertisements in Windows. I bought Windows, why am I seeing advertisements?
- I could not stand all the nagging for me to use OneDrive, so I enabled it even though I don't use it.
Safer
- I currently run 3 virus checkers (Microsoft Defender, ESET, and Malwarebytes) because of all of the viruses, malware, and ransomware for Windows. On Linux, there is no need to run a virus checker. Linux is secure by nature. By default, applications are verified in the app store.
- Only 5% of the people in the world use Linux, hackers are less likely to target it.
Customization
- I feel in control of my operating system. I can choose the desktop environment and theme.
- I control how it behaves. I can install or uninstall anything that I like. How I wish I could remove Edge in Windows! Edge is still sometimes used for opening things even though my default Browser is Brave. Edge sometimes loads the default page on startup even though I never loaded it!
Horrible Unchangeable Defaults
- Saving office documents defaults to saving to OneDrive which I don't use!
- Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos are always pointing to OneDrive which I don't use!
Less Expensive To Run Per Year
My yearly cost for running Windows is nearly $500!.
| Item | Windows Expense | Linux Expense |
|---|---|---|
| ESET Premium (3 Devices) | $89.99 | $0.00 (Nothing Needed) |
| Malwarebytes (3 Devices) | $59.99 | $0.00 (Nothing Needed) |
| Backblaze | $60.00 | $0.00 (SyncThing) |
| Goodsync | $19.90 | $0.00 (SyncThing) |
| Lifelock | $124.99 | $0.00 (Nothing Needed) |
| Microsoft Office 365 Family | $129.99 | $0.00 (LibreOffice) |
| Total Yearly Cost | $484.86 | $0.00 |
