this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2025
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Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I have used Windows all my life, and I have some questions. (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 days ago by ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Basically the forced shift to the enshittified Windows 11 in october has me eyeing the fence a lot. But all I know about Linux is 1: it's a cantankerous beast that can smell your fear and lack of computer skills and 2: that's apparently not true any more? Making the change has slowly become a more real possibility for me, though I'm pretty much a fairly casual PC-user, I don't do much more than play games. So I wrote down some questions I had about Linux.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

And also, what distro might be best for me?

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[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

...you mean western countries where nvidia gpu's are the most common?

If we're including beginners in developing countries this is even less common of an issue, when I was in india, not a single person I helped with tech had a graphics card, why would they have a 470xx series driver gpu and not an integrated system? It's not even the cheapest choice. I recently built a PC in india, coincidentally, and we ended up going with an integrated system for a gaming PC.

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/videocard/

i mean, look at these stats, it's such a minority it's hardly worth mention. You'll probably say "these are just the steam stats, most of them aren't on steam anyway!" But if they're not using steam/proton... they almost definitely aren't using xwayland anyway so the issues don't apply to them in the first place.

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5204/~/list-of-kepler-series-geforce-desktop-gpus

compare that to the list on the hardware survey and you'll see how unbelievably rare this problem actually is. They don't even make the list, it's less than a 1% issue.

[–] fatur0000new@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If we’re including beginners in developing countries this is even less common of an issue

For you

[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I demonstrated that was statistically false

[–] fatur0000new@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

For you again

[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

...no, it's a statistical fact, look at my sources.

[–] fatur0000new@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Fact for you

[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My source is a survey with thousands of respondants, your source is dude just trust me. It's a fact, you can cover your ears and go lalala but it changes nothing

[–] fatur0000new@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It’s a fact

Fact for you again

[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

No, it's a fact for everyone.

read: https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/videocard/

[–] fatur0000new@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

…you mean western countries where nvidia gpu’s are the most common?

If we’re including beginners in developing countries this is even less common of an issue, when I was in india, not a single person I helped with tech had a graphics card, why would they have a 470xx series driver gpu and not an integrated system? It’s not even the cheapest choice. I recently built a PC in india, coincidentally, and we ended up going with an integrated system for a gaming PC.

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/videocard/

i mean, look at these stats, it’s such a minority it’s hardly worth mention. You’ll probably say “these are just the steam stats, most of them aren’t on steam anyway!” But if they’re not using steam/proton… they almost definitely aren’t using xwayland anyway so the issues don’t apply to them in the first place.

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5204/~/list-of-kepler-series-geforce-desktop-gpus

compare that to the list on the hardware survey and you’ll see how unbelievably rare this problem actually is. They don’t even make the list, it’s less than a 1% issue.

Why did you edit your comment?

[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

because I realized I could improve it and you hadn't replied yet, I just added the link to kepler gpus

[–] fatur0000new@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Ohh really? I don't trust people like you