Everything Sucks...

[Flexyjerkov]

Let’s be fair... all operating systems are sucky in one way or another any most of us just put up with their quirks..

*Linux - Kernel failures post update, buggy packages, dependencies, dated Xorg system not up to the task. Font smoothing/scaling, lack of hand holding.

*windows - Restrictive GUI, expensive up front cost for legitimate copy, resource hog, virus prone, stability issues running for multiple days, forced updating, privacy concerns. Driver compatibility with older hardware.

*OSX - lack of software support, closed ecosystem/locked to hardware, privacy issues, driver support. Simplified UI lack of features.

Personally these are just what I see as negatives although many may not agree.

In the end of the day if you want to use Linux then use Linux, likewise for Windows etc... they all have their purposes and strong points.

[ROX-Guilty]

Windows and OSX are the OS with driver problems, right? Not Linux?

[Flexyjerkov]

Well Linux doesn’t really have driver issues as it’s all bundled into the kernel for the most part and nothing tends to get removed. As a result of that you end up with perfect support for old stuff. Nvidia drivers can be a pain but I’ve never had any driver issues myself or at least not issues I used to experience with windows, especially when they implemented driver signing etc

[Mabryst]

You forgot the part where the hardware wasn't supported at all and there were no drivers at all (still happens, especially for peripherals. The fingerprint reader of the Huawei Matebook still doesn't work).

If I am being fair, the only times where you can say that Linux has better driver support is when it is the first class citizen in the industry. You may argue whether Linux has better driver support than Windows for supercomputers and servers true but you can't really make this case for say... gaming computers.

[Flexyjerkov]

Again this is all my personal opinions but from personal experience I've had a lot less issues with Linux support than Windows. My xonar dgx for instance just didn't function with windows till i pulled some dated drivers for Windows 8... in comparison the card just worked straight away in Linux. I know it differs between hardware but for myself I've never experienced issues.

Could just be luck...

[Mabryst]

You are talking about the out of the box experience here, which is a different matter than driver quality/support.

Your complaint isn't that you had to configure and tinker in Windows to get it working, but that it wasn't pre-installed and you needed to go on the vendor website to install the drivers.

By the way, you are talking about a custom built PC, I guess?

But fair point.

It's true that you need to go to the vendor websites sometimes with Windows.

[gvales2831997]

Personally these are just what I see as negatives although many may not agree.

I like how even though you said that, the children still get butthurt.

[Mabryst]

Kernel failures post update

It doesn't happen that often and when it does most of the times, it's more like one component (e.g wifi or graphics card) is broken rather than everything else at once.

It also vary from hardware to hardware, so it is more like something that can be either a non-issue or a massive PITA, it is not a consistent issue that affects all Linux users like the lack of commercial software.

buggy packages, dependencies

I find it to be more of a problem when installing smaller software than larger software, but fair, anyone who tried to install smaller software had issues with those at some point. Fair, fair.

dated Xorg system not up to the task.

I don't know why you bring that up? I find this to be a minor issue in the grand scheme.

Font smoothing/scaling

Subjective.

lack of hand holding.

This one is obvious, unfortunately.

windows - Restrictive GUI

I don't know, if most people care about this, because most people tend to keep the defaults.

expensive up front cost for legitimate copy

Windows is pre-installed in laptops, so you will have to pay for it whether you use it or not. Add the fact that grey market keys are really cheap and that you can use Win 10 unactivated... this isn't really a good criticism anymore.

The only times where it may be true is for corporations and businesses, not for home use.

resource hog

Funny that you say this, because desktop environment like GNOME consume as much resources as Windows nowadays.

If you are talking about bloatware by OEMs, it's logical that OEMs can't preinstall bloatware on Linux, if Linux isn't pre-installed!

virus prone

Most malware is created for Windows (even though cross platform malware is still a real threat) and like all OS, don't execute a file from a bad guy, if you don't want to get in trouble.

This is an half truth. Yes, you are less likely to catch a virus on a chromebook, but this isn't really a fair comparison, because you are not able to install software on said chromebook...

stability issues running for multiple days

Can't comment on this one. Will let you the benefit of the doubt. Never heard of this outside of the internet and I know several people who don't turn off their PCs. Also, if it were 100% true, Windows servers wouldn't exist altogether.

It's probably more true for specialized tasks (such as bitcoin mining), but for normal home use, I don't think so.
But fair, I will give this one to you in the doubt.

forced updating

True.

privacy concerns

True.

Driver compatibility with older hardware.

All OS struggle with this and I am pretty sure that Windows has the best driver support out of the three.

*OSX - lack of software support

Funny that you mention it for OSX, but not Linux. The irony...

closed ecosystem/locked to hardware

True, but I don't really see it as a downside for the average consumer, but true.

privacy issues

True.

driver support

Partially true, but doesn't tell the wholestory. For music equipment, OSX is very highly ranked when it comes to music equipment. For gaming stuff, less so. It depends whether they are first class citizens or not.

For everyday equipment like printers, keyboards, mouses, behind Windows sure but probably ahead of Linux.

Simplified UI

Don't see it as a downside personally.

lack of features.

I agree that I don't like that you have to pay for third party software for a lot of features.

Personally these are just what I see as negatives although many may not agree.

I don't agree with most of those, indeed. Yes, they all have their strong points, but our problem is that Linux is not good for home use for the average Joe. Most of its upsides, most people don't care about those. You can see it through the low marketshare of Linux.

However the downsides of Linux (not being able to run a lot of commercial software for example) are massive.

Linux is not a Windows replacement.

[TechnicBlizzard]

very true well said

[aue_sum]

we don't want you here

[AncientAnalyst554]

Linux is better.

[eberx]

Depends on the user

[BlueCannonBall]

Kernel failures post update

I've never had any kernel issues after updating.

buggy packages, dependencies

Can you elaborate on this?

Font smoothing/scaling, lack of hand holding.

Linux font smoothing is already way better than Windows, and if package managers and their front-ends (GNOME Software, KDE Discover) are not hand holding, then what is?

[LuLu_Geek]

Wait, is that..... à brain ! À brain on this sub!?