Most people are willing to buy new hardware, and nobody pays for a Windows key tbh.

Many people are also not willing to buy new hardware. I have several friends where each PC purchase is a massive hit on their budget that requires other things to be sacrificed. And one does pay for a Windows key every time they buy a Windows PC. SIs who sell PCs with Windows as optional offer the Linux PCs for cheaper since you don't have to pay the Windows license fee.

Even if they did it would be a free upgrade from 10 to 11.

Depends on the PC, some of them just will not go to 11, in which case you are talking about spending hundreds of dollars to go from Win 10 to Win 11, but $0 to go from Win 10 to Linux.

Enhanced Privacy

Once again not something people strictly care about.

Privacy is exactly what got me and one of my other friends to switch. Many, many people don't like being spied on. And taking reasonable steps to reduce it is very much so within our control.

The implication that carbon emissions is something an individual can do something about has been objectively disproven.

Not buying something new and using what you have demonstrably helps. There is no world in which throwing away a perfectly good PC just to manufacture and transport another is somehow better for carbon emissions. Microsoft should not be rewarded for creating so much unnecessary ewaste by encouraging people to go out and buy another Windows PC.

The big thing to consider is what software do you really NEED, what can change, and what can you do without. Then the change is easier.

Then there's the learning curve of new software. Wheee

You certainly won't be told what 'core telemetry' is required at any point in time.

Except the Diagnostics Data Viewer has been a thing for a long time and tells you exactly what data is sent back as telemetry. Now if you don't believe it that another topic.

at least I haven't seen anyone prove it sends all data of your machine

What the hell are you on about. This is not a "everyone or no one" thing. You can consider it. I have, I switched. I still use mac at work but I absolutely can switch at the homefront. Some companies use Linux, most use Windows. And they absolutely can consider switching.

Davinci, yes but it can be frustrating to set up.

Unreal, I'm pretty sure yes. I don't see why not. I think it takes effort to setup though.

Adobe, No.

You might unironically want to go for Mac. Either the laptop or desktop XD

I imagine the downvotes are backlash against all the people who convince themselves that Linux is the only viable solution regardless of use case or workflow. There are definitely loads of people in the Linux community and the open source community in general who will pick a piece of software and proselytize it with no consideration whatsoever whether it fits someone's actual needs. Like, personally, I like Linux but there are things I need to do that require me to have Windows. For some people this fact is absolutely unacceptable and they simply won't hear it.

If one were to run Win10 Enterprise LTSC IoT, "activated"... would it continue to automatically receive updates?

What can't you do on Linux that keeps you on Windows or Mac?

• Voicemeeter and Virtual Audio Cables for separate audio channels with separate volume controls, macro keys, and easily adjustable toggling between outputs (more easily adjustable and less latency than JACK)
• Eartrumpet for easy and immediate per-program control over audio channels
• FL Studio
• Adobe Premiere
• MX Ergo drivers that have full functionality including remapping and holding down mouse 4 and mouse 5 and toggleable precision mode with LED indicator
• No sudden troubleshooting mid-way through working on projects to break my flow
• A Windows testing environment
• 100% compatibility with every game I own

There may be a few more, but these are the big ones. JACK, at the moment, just isn't a replacement for Voicemeeter and while there are some DAWs for Linux, they're not FL and I don't know if they're compatible with Guitar Rig. I've used OpenShot for video as well, and while it's not terrible it isn't really comparable.

I'm sure that Linux is a good fit for many users. Personally, as an operating system alone if it weren't for these issues, I'd prefer it. I'd love to be able to do what I need to do and also have a plasma, it's much nicer. But at the moment it isn't a real option without sacrificing things that I actually need. I also really can't be dealing with suddenly needing to sort out how to make a finicky program work at the drop of a hat when I'm in the middle of working on a project.

I've been dabbling with Linux since the early 00s. I like it and I wish it were a substitute for Windows for my use case, but it isn't. No amount of people being rude and obtuse in threads will change that. Time might, but it hasn't yet.

Does it have separate audio channels and input/output controls with volume sliders and hotkeys? That would still leave a few other issues, but progress is progress and I do like to keep myself aware of the options so that I'll know when it finally ticks all the boxes.

People here so full of shit. I just reimaged my lenovo t570 with windows 11 took less then 10mins to install. Another 5 to remove all the bs built in software like solitaire Cortana etc and then another 10-15 to apply all windows updates. Bam done.

I'm guessing the cheap laptop was running Windows? You didn't mention, it sounds at first like you're saying you were using Linux on it.

What ads were everywhere? Why did it "take 2 hours to get to the desktop" - you mean, that's how long it took to install or something?

I really need to stop putting it off and install Linux on my PC and laptops

Im seeing these posts twice a day at this point. So someone like myself who is totally ignorant on Linux, I have some questions if anyone can lend advice?

I’ve been on PC windows for over twenty years now. And I use it mostly for video software like davinci resolve. Adobe software workflow. Unreal engine. I use clients harddrives and often times my own for working off of. And often times will send those harddrives to other people and their computers to finish the work. I also occasional play games on steam and Xbox App.

With that said, is it even possible for me to switch over to Linux and keep using all the same software and workflow I have for high end video production workflow?

Does it have separate audio channels and input/output controls with volume sliders and hotkeys? That would still leave a few other issues, but progress is progress and I do like to keep myself aware of the options so that I'll know when it finally ticks all the boxes.

Linux Mint would like a word. Best choice tech wise I ever made. Shit just works and it's dead simple, polished, easy to learn and read programs. Fuck Windows. I will never go back. Make the jump!