A Month of Using Linux Mint
Let's talk about why I switched from Windows 7 to Linux Mint. It all started with the driver issues I have with my laptop (it was given to me by my godmother). The keyboard is not working when I boot the device and I have to lock it before I can use it. The touchpad cannot be turned off. We tried to find a solution to it but it is very hard to find one. Additionally, the laptop suffers from compatibility issues like in certain applications because of the un-updated OS. I cannot install the application I want to use. I tried everything to update it but it does not work. Lastly, there are a lot of virus and security issues that also stem from the un-updated OS.
My brother and I agreed to turn it into Linux. We did some research and chose Mint distro because we believe that it is the most suitable for me and my workflow. When it was installed, the first thing I love is how it looks. I describe it as almost windows 10. I can customize it but I did not really explore that one for now. The next thing I admire is the pre-installed applications such as the LibreOffice and Thunar File Manager. I did not miss Microsoft Office because LibreOffice function the same way. I just have to search on the internet if I can't find the feature I want to use and it is there!
Lag is not also noticeable here than in windows 7. It is so refreshing to use a 2GB ram device that is so optimized for various applications. GIMP? no lag. Using SimpleScreenRecorder I downloaded from Software Manager while drawing in GIMP? no lag also. It sounds impossible to have no lag in drawing while screen recording but it did here in Linux Mint and I'm so happy. My previous laptop can't do that, the lag is worse when screen recording. Privacy and security here seem to be better than what I used before.
Now that I talked about the good things I experienced in Linux Mint, let's move on to the things that I hate. First one, installing an application. I can't believe that installing can be so frustrating. I remember switching turns in installing an application with my brother only for me to find out it is not compatible with this laptop. We both took a rest after that unfortunate event then retry again. My brother is better than me when it comes to this knowing that he has a background in programming while I am only a dum-dum who only wants to get things done. I always ask for help when I want to install something but as much as possible, I avoid downloading apps that are hard to execute.
The next thing I dislike is the shortage of applications. I cannot download the application I want. I draw, edit videos, and make UTAU covers. The only thing I found available here is Audacity, for the alternatives I found GIMP and MyPaint for drawing without lag and Kdenlive for video editing. I do not know if I can use UTAU here through Wine but I'm sure I will encounter problems if I try. I do not really have much of a choice when I look at Software Manager or the internet. Krita is too laggy here even though that is the only application where pressure sensitivity works perfectly for my XP-Pen Deco 01v2. Good thing my old Wacom Bamboo works here even without downloading a driver. I just do not know how to change the shortcut keys. I still miss the correction in MediBang because it always felt like it is one of a kind. Still, GIMP is good, probably better than MediBang. I'm just not used to it and its user interface. I tried adjusting it to look like my setup in MediBang. I also used it in drawing entries for the sketchbook just so I can practice using it before making a full artwork. As of now, I have not finished a colored artwork here in Linux. When it comes to unavailable applications I want to use, I borrow my brother's PC.
Other than that, I think Linux Mint is a solid distro for beginners like me or people who cannot afford an OS (ehem, windows). If you mostly do simple things on your laptop like typing (Office), listening to music, watching videos, or just using a browser most of the time, Linux Mint is for you, everything is ready once you installed the OS. If you draw, edit videos, produce music, or anything that requires you to probably use adobe/certain applications, you are gonna have a hard time; they are mostly not available here. Professionals, you might not like here unless you have a really fast computer that can run a virtual box to use your desired application from Windows. Do your research first before switching. Give yourself time to learn if you switched to Linux.
For me, I like it here because the old device works faster. It feels like a newly bought device despite the age of my laptop. This is probably 14 years old, first used in 2008. I use the latest version of Linux Mint so everything looks nice and updated to the current time. I can also customize it whenever I want so Linux is a great deal for me. My wish for Linux is for the developers of some applications like Adobe, CSP, and more to make them compatible here because I think that is the only thing (except terminal) that keeps people from switching completely.
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