BUT IT DOES WORK

When I was checking out some Linux links as part of the updates I’m doing to my LINUX PAGE, I revisited a page called "Why Linux is not ready for the desktop" that I first read years ago.

It was written by a geek called Artem S. Tashkinov, who makes a really full on case that Linux doesn’t work as a desktop operating system, and is not suitable as a replacement for Windows.

It is fully researched and well presented. Mr Tashkinov really seems to know his stuff, and I remember when I originally read it I was fully convinced, so I went back to Windows 7.

He updates the page regularly, and has hundreds of people commenting, who mostly agree with him.

But he is wrong.

He is an experienced computer geek who really knows his stuff (an expert), while I am a clueless numpty who often struggles with the basics. So how on earth can I definitively say he is wrong?

Mainly because of one simple fact. For the past year I have used Linux as my desktop operating system every day, on both my PC and Laptop. I used it to replace Windows and it is not only working, it is generally working well.

Here is a screenshot of my Linux desktop operating system happily working well this morning:

He is not the only person online saying Linux doesn’t work and is unsuitable to replace Windows. There are dozens of YouTube videos essentially saying the same thing, but they don’t have all the research to back them up that Mr Tashkinov does.

But I’m certainly not the only person successfully using Linux as a desktop operating system. As of 2025, Linux-based operating systems now exceed 4% of the global desktop market.

There are estimated to be more than two billion PC’s in 2025, so 4% of that is more than 80 million. That means there are literally MILLIONS of people using Linux as their desktop operating system.

As well as all those PC’s, 100% of the top 500 supercomputers in the world are running on Linux in 2025, which tends to confirm that it must have some good points.

I’m not a geek and have no desire to get into arguments with geeks, because using their thinking methods and playing by their rules, they would shred me.

But as far as I’m concerned, if I’m using Linux as my everyday operating system, and millions of other people are as well, then this argument is done and dusted. Linux does work as a desktop operating system, the proof is right there in plain sight.

So how can these geeks claim otherwise? Personally I think they are deliberately ignoring all the millions of instances of it working, and focusing only on when it doesn’t.

However I’m not about to deny that for non geeks fleeing from Windows, Linux often initially doesn’t work very well, so next I’m going to do a post with 10 common mistakes and how to avoid them.

I’ve done multiple installs of Linux, and on some occasions have not been happy with the results, and have had to start over again. But I've found that by sticking to Linux Mint and avoiding some basic mistakes, it's not that hard to avoid most common Linux problems.

THE NUCLEAR HOAX

 Big ups to Dr Tom, he is one of very people to publicly expose some of the biggest scams in human history. Not only is he showing that viruses don't exist, he is also demonstrating that "nuclear bombs" are complete bullshit as well. 

 https://odysee.com/@Dr.TomCowan: Understanding What Nuclear Power & Nuclear Weapons Really Are

 

 As I've found out from my own posting on this subject, it really triggers a lot of people - https://sift666.blogspot.com/2025/07/no-nukes.html

GREAT SITES THAT LOOK A BIT CRAP

There seems to be an unwritten rule that if you have a huge website with masses of amazing "conspiracy" content going right back to the 90's, you have to leave the site looking like it did in 1998 and never update it's appearance or organise it properly. Here are some classic examples of must see sites that look like something the cat dragged in:

BIG LIES

 

WHALE

 

MILES MATHIS

 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

 

 

 ANCIENT CELTIC NEW ZEALAND

 NUKE LIES

 

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 Linux reviews are 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

LOLS FOR BREAKFAST

 Everywhere I look today there seems to be various flavours of TARD spouting utter crap. I often find the best cure for that is some LOLPICS, so here are 10 to start the day.