Leslieann

Mod an Xbox or mini-ITX system into it. Bonus points if you make the buttons usable.

Unless you disable Windows updates this is only going to be a temporary solution. Major Windows updates can and often do wipe out grub and alter your UEFI settings back to booting Windows as if it was the only OS.

Never? If you play you're probably going to nuke an OS at some point and it's probably one of the fastest ways to learn. I've nuked pretty much every OS I've ever used, multiple times, and it's a very long list. For the record, what happened to Linus is actually relatively minor and easy to fix. To a Windows user it looked destroyed and to be fair on Windows or Mac it pretty much would be but if you've messed with Linux for a little while it's a simple command to fix it, just drop to console and reinstall the desktop environment, less than 2 minutes if you know the command or have something like Timeshift installed. That's part of the beauty of Linux, you can install multiple desktops or even go without a desktop entirely so losing one is not a big deal really. However, I'm not blaming Linus for not knowing that and with it being a fresh install it would be easier to just re-install and start over fresh.

You're both right on this. You have to start somewhere and it's a logical place to start, unfortunately these days too many "articles" are click bait written by people without a clue and in the case of Linux, a lot of tribalism as well. Absolutely. This is why I say it's easy to convert "average users" (not gamers), they just need a browser, text editor, printer etc... Works fantastic for parents and grandparents once setup. My mom is running an Arch based distro and she loves it, it's been so much less hassle for her than Windows ever was but don't ask her how to install it. It's good to try various OS, learn them find what is good and bad about them, then use what works best for you. Even if Linus goes back to Windows (and he will for some things) his perception of Windows will never be the same.

This. People think because they can do Windows they can use any OS, it's just not true. Windows is Windows, Linux is Unix, it's not like going from Windows 7 to Windows 10, or Windows 10 to Windows Server, it's completely different. The same goes for Mac, Haiku, BSD... They are not Windows and the skills do not carry over the way you think they will. You are no longer an expert, in fact just the opposite, you know just enough to be dangerous.

Sure there are, every major release brings changes that effect troubleshooting and tweaking. Just a few off the top of my head, the ability to delay updates was added well after release, the network icon near the clock has changed functions as to where it goes when you click at least 3 times, some of the registry edits for early Windows 10 to disable telemetry and updates will brick modern versions of Win10. The older Win10 gets the bigger this problem is. I've had numerous calls with users where I go to walk them through a fix over the phone only to find the path has changed because they have an older or newer version than the one in front of me at the time.

I have Intel, AMD and Nvidia GPUs, the biggest difference is having to install the Nvidia driver myself. Meh. That said, it can be distro dependent. Something way behind the bleeding edge (such as Mint) is (ironically) going to have more problems than something like Arch which has all the latest drivers and installers. When you started with Windows (or Mac) odds are you started with a pre-installed system and slowly over several years learned more and more to the extent you could install Windows yourself. You didn't learn it overnight. Had someone handed you a new computer and only a Windows install disk your experience would have been much closer to what it is with Linux, BSD or even Hackintosh. That is a misconception. Linus knows knows Windows, all his experience, preconceived notions and more importantly terminology is Windows based. Knowing that terminology in Windows makes finding solutions easy and fast but it's because you know the terminology that you can find answers quickly. If you ask Google "how to change spark plugs Ford Mustang" it will tell you, but if all you know is cars and gasoline engines and search up "how to change spark plugs in diesel pickup" you won't find your answer. Why? Because diesel engines use glow plugs, not spark plugs. Terminology matters to the extent that the wrong terms can be worse than using none at all and until you learn the correct terminology troubleshooting can be a nightmare.

If your requirement for switching is for Linux to be a drop in replacement for Windows it's never going to happen. You have to find what it does better than Windows and accept the things it doesn't, there's a lot of good in Linux but it takes a while to learn the ins and outs to really get the most from it and it's going to take more than a week or two. If you really want to do it, do NOT dual boot, do not give yourself an easy way back. Install it and force yourself to adapt. Dual boot and VMs are great to get accustomed to an OS and learn the basics however once you decide to switch dual booting is the fastest way to kill any attempt to convert because you always have an easy way to solve any problem by just rebooting into Windows every time you get frustrated. You can dual boot and use a VM for years, you will not get the full experience until you cut yourself off from your crutch.

You need a major brand putting advertising dollars behind it and they simply won't since they can't monetize it in ways they understand. You can have the best thing ever built by man, but without advertising dollars behind it it more than likely will die on a shelf. On the other hand people will literally buy rocks if you advertise them properly.

As others have said, it takes time to learn a new os... It's even worse for power users. You spent how many years learning how to do everything on Windows and become an expert on it, now you jump onto a new system expecting to be as much a power user and you really don't know what you're doing so you get into trouble and frustrated just as Linus did. Which beings us to the other major problem. With Linux you have option to return to Windows, it's easy to get annoyed and just say screw it and go back to Windows. The reason Windows-Mac and Mac -Windows users can change is because they just bought a new computer, they can't just easily toss the other OS on it and go back to what they know so they tough it out. Without being invested you aren't going to give it full effort to make it stick. I truly believe this is why most people fail when converting to Linux. All that said, as Luke said on WAN show, Linux gets out of the way. I don't think most people realize just how invasive Win10 has become. I don't mean spying and such, I mean just day to day interruptions. If you really want a shock, load up a fresh install of Win10 and set it up as your system currently is you'll be amazed just how much it interrupts a new user before it settles in. Better still, fire up Win7 and see how little it bugs you, it's shocking just how much Win10 is in your face making suggestions and distracting you. If you use an adblocker, going back to Windows after Linux is like disabling your adblocker.

The TPM is less an issue than people think but the whole thing is a mess because it was all last minute and rushed, we don't know because they don't know (the effect it will have). I'm really curious what's coming that caused them to rush this to market. While you have some time before it becomes mandatory the truth is if you stay with Windows you will either be pushed onto Win11 or 12 at some point or get left behind. People like to think they can just stick with what they want but at some point you will need new hardware, new direct X, new software, etc, you either get stuck with old hardware and software or you keep up. Win 8 is a great example, you can't get a lot of current gen GPUs running on Win 8 due to a lack of drivers (AMD in particular). You're fighting a losing battle. Linux is less limiting in some ways and more limited in others. You can't play the latest competitive game, your choices on what software you can get running such as photo editing and CAD are also limited but if you can get by with those choices and/or some hacks it feels great to be free of MS and Apple. If you can't handle that though stick with Win10 and keep evaluating your options, take your time but don't wait until you're forced, you don't want to be dealing with new hardware and backups all while trying to figure out a new OS. Similar or not it's just more stress in a stressful situation. If you want to do Linux start with using as much Open Source software as you can prior to switching then start looking in to what it takes to run the rest in WINE or Proton or manage it in a VM as a last resort. Easiest way to look at distros is the package manager, you can run any desktop environment (or none) on pretty much any distro, I would recommend Suse, an offshoot of Ubuntu (Pop! is good) or a distro based on Arch (Arco or Manjaro are my favorites) simply bacause they have the largest software repositories to pull from and a large user bases to get help when you need it. Once you switch you really need to force yourself to stick with it for a few months otherwise you'll just end up running back to Windows. I know it sounds odd, but even dual booting you won't really "get" Linux. It's too easy to cheat rather than take the hard road and find the answers and locate those valuable resources you need to make it really work. You'll think you're swimming in the ocean when really you're just playing in the shallow end of the pool.

Use what works best for you, I'm just glad we have viable options.

I too hated command line when I started, I thought it was archaic, but the more you use it, the better it truly gets (it's awesome). Remember, You spent years learning Windows, you aren't going to switch to Linux or Mac and be just as proficient overnight. Mac? Mac is easy, look how many switched to it! Every OS has a learning curve, you still need to find resources and compatible programs to replace those you lost as well as find your way around, so why do Mac/Windows switchers seem to have an easier time switching compared to Linux users? Easy, they're invested. They just spent how much on a computer that doesn't easily run the other OS, they have to make it work. With Linux you dip your toe, find something you don't like and then go running back to Windows. Dual booting (as well as usb sticks and virtualization) is the fastest way to make sure you find everything you hate about another operating system before running back to your comfort zone. Don't get me wrong, they're great tools, they let you dip your toe and get an understanding without going all in but that's where you need to end it because you can't really explore the pool/pond/lake without getting in the water and swimming. If you want to switch you have to go all in and not give yourself an easy way out because at some point it's going to be difficult.

It's only for the USB installer that you use Fat32, the operating system will use EXT3, EXT4, BTRFS or something else which supports 4gb+ file sizes. If it's your only stick for file transfers, reformat it after install and transfer your large files. Ventoy is handy, but it can be fickle with certain distros, Arch based distros in particular. For new people it's better to use a way you know will work rather than something inconsistent and turns them away before they even begin.

Except with Win7 you had at least somewhat of a choice in the matter, you won't here. With Win10 having automatic updates, non-commercial Win10 users will be down to low double or even single digits within 6 months after release because most will be pushed over to it, at at which point it's effectively dead to hardware/software manufacturers. People over estimate how much say they have in the Windows version they run. With forced updates, support can and likely will dry up faster for Win10 than any other version of Windows before it. Think you can hold out? Maybe, but all it takes is a game that needs a driver/firmware update and you're done. If you stick with Windows you will be stuck with the latest version, that's just how it will be from now on and you may as well get used to it.

It didn't run bare metal because it needs TPM and possibly Secure Boot enabled. If you play around with a lot of hardware those usually get switched off pretty fast, especially if you dabble with Linux, Unraid, and things of that nature. Linus was just too excited to try it out to be bothered to find out why it didn't run. It's mostly a skinned Win10, at least for now. They did get rid of the last remnants of old control panel. Setup is more fluid and faster, better laid out. It has more Bing/Edge (groan). Start menu is the biggest change and going to be very divisive, you will either love it or hate it. Some many will hate how it when centered it moves depending on how many apps are running (you can move it to the standard position), others hate how much effort is now required to access the rest of your apps (the button is too far from start button), while others will love the fresh look and interface.

Instead of putting the motherboard where you can reach it, make or use a docking station/dashboard. Mine has Power switch, drive/power indicators, USB ports, and at one time it also had Esata and an SD card reader. I'm currently working on a new version with a rotary volume control.

Linux isn't harder, it's just different. Mac users seem to switch easily, that's not necessarily because Mac is easier but because they get tossed into the deep end and they sink or swim, so long as you can just reboot or close a VM you are never forced to actually learn the more difficult things on Linux so you stay in the shallow end. You spent how many years learning those common Windows things you do, you will not be as proficient at Mac or Linux right away, that's just how it is. I spent years playing with Linux in VM, dual booting and on servers, when I finally committed to Linux and forced myself to find answers I learned more in 2 weeks than I did in 5 years because I had to figure it out. It sounds harsh, but you're playing with Linux, not using it. Also, give up the idea that Linux has to replace Windows perfectly, replace is a fallacy. Mac users don't complain because like I said, sink or swim, they just spent how much on their new computer, they have skin in the game to make it work. Changing your OS is a trade-off not a perfect replacement and so long as people hold Linux to that "perfect replacement" standard they will forever be stuck on Windows. The same applies to Mac or switching back to Windows, they all have strengths and weaknesses and for every loss there is a gain. Find the good, deal with the bad and decide which works best for you in the end. By the way, keep a handy text file with your commands on a thumbstick so you can access it anywhere. I haven't met too many Linux users who don't have a cheat sheet of some sort, Windows users are probably thinking "Ah ha! See it is harder!", it's not always because we need it, it's often because it's faster. Think about the last time you went hunting for drivers after an upgrade, needed to find a file, or had to find that one registry tweak that makes that fixes that game you like or any other myriad of problems.

Seriously, stop spewing this to people who are not already Linux users. Kist stop. They are still trying to figure out if Linux is worth trying and here you are already discussing semantics, worry about that later when they might actually care. So long as they are not on Linux, they really just don't give a damn and it just looks bad. It doesn't matter if it's a joke or not you're sabotaging yourself to those outside of Linux. Stop doing it. I also really wish they had started with a desktop interface rather than starting off showing so much command line, it just confirms many peoples biggest complaints about Linux. Command line is great but it takes a bit to learn how good it is, remember, Windows users are stuck in gui land, the idea of typing commands is foreign to them, and frankly, it's not necessary to get going. Things non users want to actually know: Can it run my games? Yes. Can it run Crysis? Yes. Can it run Office apps? Yes But that command line... You don't need it to get up and going. At this point there's not actually much people have not gotten to run on it, though the difficulty of doing so is not always pleasant. That said, a lot of things are actually easier than on Windows, even native Windows stuff. At this point I'd say it's a wash, give Linux another year or two and that could bend greatly into Linux's favor. I'm glad to see LTT doing more Linux, it's come a long way, but us Linux users need to stop making these mistakes every time we try and show Linux to non Linux users.

I'm still using an Air 11.6in (8gb,i7) , which is even older than the one Linus showed. It does all I need it to do, and while I've been looking to replace it for years, frankly there's nothing that does, even if you include 13in. Gaming systems today are great, but the ultra portable thin market is atrocious, either all soldered, under spec'd, poorly made, major construction flaws (sooo much garbage), poor materials, or some other major issue they all have something wrong. I'm waiting to see what the new AMD laptops bring but I'm not holding my breath.

This will fail just like Surface RT and for the same reason. Laymen have no idea what ARM is they just want their programs to work.

So glad to see the used Lenovo brought up, I've been recommending people do this for years as they're just hard to beat for the money. One bone of contention. You can get the T540 with a higher res displays, you'll pay a bit more, but you can get them. Just beware if you're thinking of upgrading a low res display to to higher res, do your homework before you start. It used to be just an lcd swap, but some models require a new upper frame and hinges, and some need a frame, hinges and a new lcd cable. It's not difficult, just something to be aware of. The screens are easy, finding someone selling the conversion parts is not, my advice is make sure you can get the other parts before you buy a screen. Last note: Stay well clear of the Yoga line, while they look and function well, the hinges are glued to the screen cover rather than screwed and when the glue fails (and it will) it destroys the screen. It's not an easy or fun fix and certainly not cheap, that's if you can find the parts, with so many of them failing just getting the parts to do it is difficult. Many shops will simply refuse to repair it and those who will are going to charge you as much as the laptop is worth. This may not be true for the latest ones (find out first), but the older ones all have this issue,

If you can fit this on a desk, or even if you have a desk, you can probably fit a tiny desktop (S4 Mini, Ncase M1, Dan Case A4, Cooler Master 130, Node 202, etc.). For the price of this Alienware, you could build one of these for half the price, leaving enough to buy a decent laptop with money to spare. It's guaranteed to be upgradeable, cheaper, quieter, more powerful (since you could install a 2080 TI), room for more storage, more choices (Ryzen?)... Yes, it means dragging a separate monitor if you are taking the system someplace, but that wouldn't be an every day thing if you buy a small laptop to complement this (LG gram?), for which your back would thank you.

1994 would have been 25 years ago and this system is more like 1998 and even then ultra high end. This is closer to what we ran in 2000. Yes, this stuff existed in 1998, but even in 1998 it would be like buying a laptop today with 64Gb of ram and an 2Tb ssd. That hardly represents what people use today.

Why does the LTT gpu memory clock show only 2000mhz on the hall of fame chart while everyone else is showing around 8k?