STARTING OVER AGAIN

SIFT LINUX PAGE UPDATE

 

 To help people making the switch to Linux I started compiling my Linux posts into a SIFT LINUX PAGE back in 2024, but it became a jumbled mess and needed a tidy up. So I decided to start over again and make it all as simple as possible. 

One way to simplify things is to have a list of links back to original posts rather than trying to copy and paste them all into one big page.

LINUX POSTS ON THIS BLOG (newest at top) 

 AM I AN IDIOT? - Self doubts about my geek skills 

BTW I USE ARCH - Some memes to troll Linux Arch geeks

WHICH LINUX DISTRO? - I really only recommend two, either Mint or Zorin

ONLINE PRIVACY - A few ways to keep hold of a bit of privacy

TESTING OUT FOSS - There is masses of Free Open Source Software (FOSS)

LINUX NEEDS MORE FILE BROWSERS - My issues with Linux file browsers

RETURNING TO LINUX - Why I quit Windows & moved to Linux

LINUX MISINFORMATION - Yes even the info about Linux is full of lies 

 

My Linux info is not aimed at geeks, it's for people who have been using Windows or Apple computers, and want to move to Linux in search of privacy and security, or for ethical reasons.

As with most subjects, with Linux there is far too much complexity and misinformation online, and that is often just confusing rather than helpful.

An ever increasing number of people are now asking about Linux. In the past this was mainly just an idle curiosity, but now they are seriously looking for an alternative to Windows or Apple. 

Linux was originally aimed mainly at geeks and was fairly difficult for regular computer users to come to terms with. When I first tried Linux Ubuntu in 2010, after about a month I gave up and went back to Windows XP.

Back in 2010 I did a page about Linux "LINUX A n00b goes for a test drive" which is still online, but despite having had a quick update in 2016, it's mostly out of date now.

With the benefit of hindsight, Windows XP was actually a pretty good operating system, as were Windows 2000 and Windows 7. But things have really changed since those days, and Microsoft are no longer even trying to hide their evil intentions.

For me Windows ended with Windows 7. Windows 11 is full on spyware and Microsoft is clearly aiming to build an AI operating system monitoring everything you do, meanwhile Apple is moving in the same direction, so sooner or later I think anyone who wants any privacy on a computer will have to move to Linux 

These days, some of the Linux Operating systems (Distros) are pretty good, as they have been slowly progressing, while Windows has been relentlessly going backwards since Windows 7.  

Like many people I had been complaining for years about Microsoft, but there reached a point where I had to admit that I had no future with Microsoft, so would need to do whatever it took to move on. 

(This is a screenshot of my desktop, and it's pretty cool really - It's Linux Mint which is my favourite Linux distro)

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025, and ramped up their efforts to push the even more appalling Windows 11, with its built in advertising, and full blown spyware (Recall) taking constant screenshots of your desktop and sending them back to Microsoft. 

I'm expecting that even non security minded Windows users are finally going to start having issues with this level of spying.

SOME HANDY LINUX LINKS (sorted alphabetically) 

 A n00b goes for a test drive - My own original page about Linux from 2010

Distrowatch - A great introduction and overview of Linux distros

Libre Office - My pick for best replacement for Microsoft Office 

Linux Mint - My own daily driver & favourite distro

Linux Zorin - A stylish & highly recommended distro

TECMINT - Information about Linux stuff