Well, probably not.
But I’m typing this in Linux Mint 22, awaiting the eventual 22.1 release and curious to see if the upgrade blows up my Linux install, and what I’ll do if that happens.
Until that possible outcome, I have to admit, there’s a certain kind of (I hate to use the word) vibe to using Mint. It seems a bit retro, echoing the design of Windows 7, but it also just feels…quieter, somehow. I don’t have to disable notifications, because the system isn’t constantly throwing them at me. Updates are presented quietly in the System Tray and let me choose when to install them. It never tries to sell me anything, there’s no extra clutter, cruft or unwanted apps. The file manager is fast and just works, a feat Windows 11’s File Explorer struggles with lately.
It’s just a nice experience. Game support is much improved, too, good enough that I can get by a lot on Linux alone. The real deficiency is a lack of good graphics programs. There are some decent options, especially if your needs are relatively basic, but nothing to compare to, for example, Affinity Photo. Yes, GIMP exists, but every time I try it, I scream at the interface (in my mind) because it is bad, and it should feel very bad. I won’t put up with that level of jank in this year of the future, 2025.
I also haven’t quite figured out how to make Diarium work on Linux, and the requests for a web or Linux version of the app haven’t moved the developer yet in promising something. It is the only major OS that remains unsupported. Alas.
Overall, though, Linux is looking a lot more viable as a real replacement for Windows. I am looking forward to seeing what 2025 brings. In the meantime, here is an image I made for one of my online pals who is not a fan:
