In January, I took the plunge and installed Linux on my desktop. I wanted to see if I could use a Linux PC as my main computer without diving deep into research or troubleshooting. So far, I’ve only had to boot into Windows twice—once to scan a document that wouldn’t work in Linux and again to print something for my kids. The lack of major issues is why it’s taken me three months to write this.
Initially, my Linux setup felt fresh and exciting, but soon it felt like just another computer. It’s not a perfect version of Windows, but overall, the transition has been smoother than expected. Finding and installing applications can sometimes be a hassle, but more often than not, it’s easier than on Windows. While there are a few apps I miss, most of my experience has been surprisingly calm. Even troubleshooting can be oddly satisfying.
Mild Mishaps
Most problems I’ve faced have been minor. For instance, my gaming mouse only works in games—a bizarre quirk. Much of my experience is tied to my specific hardware and the fact that I chose a newer rolling distribution based on Arch Linux instead of a mainstream one like Ubuntu.
One of my favorite fixes has been using Snapper, a built-in imaging service with CachyOS. It saves snapshots of the OS, allowing rollbacks if needed. I initially set the partition size to 2GB, which filled up quickly, resulting in a warning about storage space. To fix it, I had to adjust partition sizes, which was tedious but ultimately satisfying.
Network Headaches
In January, I had a frustrating issue where my desktop couldn’t get an IP address via Ethernet unless I connected to Wi-Fi first. After much troubleshooting, I discovered that enabling STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) on my networking switch was causing the delay. Once I disabled it, the issue was resolved, and my desktop connected smoothly.
Today, I’m experiencing problems with my Logitech Brio webcam. Its microphone sometimes refuses to transmit sound, possibly due to a recent installation of EasyEffects. While I have backup solutions, this is an irritation that could hinder my work more than I’d like.
Interestingly, some problems seem to resolve themselves if you wait. For example, I wanted text extraction for my screenshot tool in KDE Plasma. Instead of rushing, I waited for an update that added this feature, which worked out well.
Embracing Changes
When I last wrote about using CachyOS, I missed the Arc browser, and several readers suggested Zen, an open-source alternative built on Firefox. It turned out to be a great replacement. I’ve also been exploring other tools, such as a Spotify client from the Arch User Repository (AUR) and the web app Photopea for image editing.
While I’ve given up on installing howdy (a facial recognition tool) due to security concerns, I continue to enjoy gaming on Linux with titles like Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, which I’ve set up using the MCPE Launcher. My current gaming experience is light, but it’s been enjoyable.
Why Stick with Linux?
You might wonder why I stick with an OS that sometimes forgets the microphone on my webcam or suffers from network hiccups. Unlike my experiences with Windows—where issues often feel like failures imposed by the platform—my Linux situation is entirely my own doing. If something goes wrong, I can trace it back to my own choices.
Linux operates on the Unix philosophy, with smaller, modular components that work well individually. This allows me to build and transfer the skills I gain from managing one application to another. It’s empowering.
I still use Windows on my laptop for work, but I’ve found running Linux on my desktop to be more enjoyable. It gives me freedom and fun in a way that Windows no longer does.
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