Ever questioned what you are lacking via sticking to Home windows and now not checking out Linux? As a twin booter, I soar between Linux and Home windows each day, and I in finding Linux way more feature-rich in comparison to Home windows.
I take advantage of Linux for my non-public tasks and Home windows for my skilled obligations. This places me in a singular place the place I am getting to do the similar duties in two other ways—and, from my non-public revel in, I in finding the Linux method awesome. Listed below are the seven the reason why!
A blank and ad-free running device
This may well be Home windows 11’s maximum ridiculous drawback
Home windows 11 has advertisements enabled via default. There are random app ideas within the Get started Menu, Administrative center 365 and OneDrive promotions within the Settings, and promotional textual content at the lock display screen. And whilst you’ll be able to disable maximum Home windows 11 advertisements, it is not an excessively intuitive and easy procedure.
Linux distributions, in contrast, be offering a blank, distraction-free setting proper out of the field. Once I open the appliance menu on my Garuda Linux setup, I see simplest what I have put in—no promoted apps, no backed content material, simply my equipment organized how I need them. This ad-free revel in offers me a blank interface that now not simplest is helping me keep away from unintended clicks and concentrate on my paintings but in addition offers me a better sense of possession over my computing revel in.
The irony is that I paid for Home windows, whilst maximum Linux distros are unfastened. But, it is the unfastened possibility that treats me with extra recognize via now not looking to promote me one thing each few clicks.
Complete keep an eye on over the Taskbar
One thing that Home windows may do a long time in the past
Home windows 11’s taskbar is an important step again from Home windows 10 in the case of customization. For causes I will not fathom, Microsoft got rid of the facility to transport the taskbar to other edges of the display screen (even if this drawback is in the end being addressed). When you desire your taskbar to the perimeters (as many ultrawide observe customers do), you are merely out of success.
On Linux, I will place the taskbar anyplace—best, backside, left, or proper. In some desktop environments like KDE Plasma, I will also have more than one panels in several places serving other purposes. My non-public setup has a skinny panel on the best for device data and one on the backside for programs—functioning as a Dock.
Moreover, it is not simply restricted to the location of the taskbar. I even have keep an eye on over each facet of the taskbar—its measurement, transparency, conduct, contents, or even the way it responds once I hover over other components. This stage of customization lets in me to create a workflow that completely suits how I need to engage with my laptop.
With Home windows 11, you’ll be able to technically get this stage of keep an eye on, however you want to make numerous tweaks and edits, making the method more difficult than it must be.
Complex digital desktop configurations
Digital desktops assist arrange workflows via growing separate areas for various duties. Whilst Home windows 11’s digital desktop capability has advanced in comparison to previous variations, it nonetheless falls in need of what Linux provides.
As an example, GNOME has the Actions Evaluate function which places digital desktops (known as Workspaces) entrance and heart of the entire person revel in. It supplies a complete view of all home windows open on your whole present digital desktops. You’ll additionally open new digital desktops, transfer apps between them, and release apps onto explicit digital desktops. You now not simplest get a fowl’s-eye view of all of your workflow, however a handy guide a rough option to make tweaks at the fly.
Then you will have KDE Plasma. It does not provide you with an Actions Evaluate, nevertheless it permits you to prepare digital desktops in a grid format. You’ll have desktops organized each horizontally and vertically, making a matrix of digital desktops for various classes of duties. You’ll additionally scroll at the desktop itself to cycle between areas, or use a devoted widget (Pager widget) for easy transitions between desktops.
Those complicated configurations make job switching and workspace group way more intuitive in Linux, and I in finding myself attaining for those options in futility when the usage of Home windows 11.
KDE Actions: Multitasking on steroids
The Home windows workflow does not paintings for me anymore
KDE Actions is in all probability essentially the most tough workflow control software I have encountered in any running device, and it is one thing I sorely omit when the usage of Home windows.
Actions are like digital desktops on steroids. Every Process will have its personal set of desktop widgets, wallpapers, panel configurations, or even other units of default programs. You’ll create separate Actions for writing, programming, and gaming, every with equipment and layouts optimized for that exact job.
I in my view have 3 separate Actions for Analysis, Writing, and Group Communications. This permits me to concentrate on one workflow at a time and minimizes the scope for distractions.
Now, on Home windows 11, the nearest you’ll be able to get to KDE Actions is via putting in other Home windows person accounts for various workflows. However this provides numerous friction between switching workflows. In relation to KDE Plasma, switching Actions is so simple as switching desktop environments.
Why does Home windows do widgets so poorly?
Widgets are extremely helpful equipment for tracking device data, checking calendar appointments, or maintaining a tally of to-do lists—all at a look. Home windows 11 does have widgets, however they are tucked away inside of a separate panel that you want to click on to get entry to, making them a long way much less helpful than they might be.
On Linux, in particular with KDE Plasma, I will position widgets at once on my desktop or embed them in panels. I’ve widgets to turn my to-do record, calendar, Downloads folder, and device assets proper at the desktop. While my panel at all times has widgets to turn the elements, clipboard supervisor, and digital desktop switcher.
This fast get entry to to data saves numerous clicks right through the day and helps to keep essential data visual with no need to modify programs or open menus. It is a small factor that makes a large distinction in daily productiveness.
If you need, you’ll be able to upload widgets to Home windows the usage of Rainmeter.
Decrease useful resource intake
Linux makes a mid-range PC really feel high-end
Irrespective of what Home windows 11’s minimal device necessities say, in my revel in, a Home windows PC wishes a minimum of a quad-core CPU, 16 GB RAM, and an SSD to accomplish easily. Give part this configuration to a Linux distro and it is going to fly!
I’ve effectively run Ubuntu off an HDD on a dual-core device the usage of 8 GB RAM and nonetheless were given a easy computing revel in! And that is the reason Ubuntu, probably the most heavier Linux distros. There are distros like Lubuntu or Linux Mint Xfce that may breathe lifestyles into methods with specifications that Home windows 11 will refuse to even entertain.
Moreover, Linux installations in most cases require much less cupboard space. A full-featured Linux desktop can with ease are compatible in 20 GB, whilst Home windows 11 wishes considerably extra only for the running device. This potency method extra assets are to be had for the paintings I am in fact doing, relatively than being fed on via the running device.
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A greater terminal revel in
Home windows helps to keep neglecting energy customers
No longer everybody makes use of the terminal, and you do not even want to understand how to make use of the terminal so as to use modern day Linux desktops. That stated, the terminal is a formidable software and if you know the way to make use of it, you’ll be able to get round your laptop way more successfully.
I personally am lately finding out other terminal instructions and shell scripting to develop into extra productive with my laptop, and I have discovered the Linux terminal is way more tough and user-friendly in comparison to the Home windows terminal.
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The very first thing that involves thoughts is that the Linux terminal outputs are a lot more uncomplicated to learn and perceive in comparison to what I am getting on Home windows. Moreover, Linux lets in me to thread more than one instructions in combination, which is a particularly productive option to do positive duties.
I suppose it is sensible whilst you consider that the Linux terminal used to be designed with on a regular basis use in thoughts, whilst the Home windows terminal used to be installed position for infrequent troubleshooting.
Linux does not beat Home windows at the whole lot, however I nonetheless like it
And there you will have it, seven cool options that you simply get on unfastened Linux distros however now not on Microsoft’s top rate OS. That stated, is fairly, I will’t name Linux best both, or else I would not be twin booting.
The rationale I want to use Home windows 11 is to get entry to some skilled apps, basically Rize, Asana, and the Perception Calendar amongst others. That stated, I will nonetheless get entry to those Home windows apps (albeit as internet apps) on Linux. On the other hand, the options I discussed are simply now not to be had on Home windows—giving Linux the win in my ebook.
How one can Twin Boot Linux on Your PC
Linux is regularly highest put in in a dual-boot device.
