this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2023
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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TLDW of this video from ChatGPT

The video highlights the following main points about why Linux Mint is considered better than Windows 11:

  1. Start Menu and Customization: Linux Mint's menu is more organized and customizable than Windows 11's start menu. It offers three columns, resizable icons, and customizable labels.

  2. Taskbar (Panel) Features: Linux Mint's panel is more flexible, allowing repositioning, resizing, and creation of additional panels. Applets enhance functionality, offering features like quick desktop access and window behavior customization.

  3. Privacy and Telemetry: Linux Mint is privacy-focused, avoiding telemetry. Certain apps' telemetry can be manually disabled. Windows 11 is criticized for lacking privacy.

  4. Bloatware and Pre-installed Apps: Linux Mint has minimal bloatware, including useful tools or open-source alternatives. Windows 11 can have cluttered start menus with unwanted icons.

  5. Batch File Renaming and Management: Linux Mint's file management includes advanced batch renaming with insertion, removal, and case conversion. Windows 11 lacks similar features.

  6. Security (Future Topic): Security is mentioned as a potential future topic, with Linux Mint considered more privacy-oriented than Windows 11. Discussions about security are acknowledged.

The narrator encourages viewer engagement and discussion on the covered topics.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (16 children)

Security (Future Topic): Security is mentioned as a potential future topic, with Linux Mint considered more privacy-oriented than Windows 11. Discussions about security are acknowledged.

Is Wayland support finally actively worked on, or is it still postponed?

[–] kabe 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (15 children)

According to a recent announcement by one of the devs:

We also want to spend time on studying the pros and cons of Wayland and to assess the work needed in its potential adoption.

In other words, they haven't even started yet.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Big yikes. In that case, I wouldn't recommend Mint to beginners at all. Alone, the whole Sandbox concept of Flatpak needs Wayland to work properly. Wayland is the future, regardless if you like it or not.

[–] kabe 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Agreed. I actually think Pop OS and Nobara are the best beginner distros right now. Mint is falling a bit behind the times.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like the idea of Nobara but I'm scared of recommending it because of the Fedora telemetry stuff. Considering GE is a RedHat employee, I don't think he would disable Fedora's telemetry in Nobara.

[–] kabe 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

This might not be the most popular take, but IMO the fuss about Fedora's (proposed) telemetry is way overblown. By all accounts, it seems intended to help the dev team improve OS performance and will still preserve user privacy.

People tend to lump all telemetry together but Fedora's implementation would be significantly less concerning than that which users of Android, Windows and Apple OSs currently put up with on a daily basis.

[–] Qvest 4 points 1 year ago

I agree. A lot of people went over the discussion to voice their opinions. And the proposers have adapted it since. They listen to their users, contrary to other for-profit operating systems (to reiterate, Fedora is NOT for-profit, and it never has been)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

While true, the fact that this was proposed by RedHat engineers combined with the fact that RH employs some of the upper echelons of Fedora members, thus having quite some control over Fedora as a project makes me distrust parts of it. Someone like Matthew Miller seems trustworthy, but you can never be sure. And I think thag if this is accepted, it should NOT be implemented in Nobara, because even from the pro-telemetry perspective, it is still harmful, as it skews analytics significantly.

[–] kabe 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not familiar with your last point - what analytics does it skew and how?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I mean, It does some decisions for the user, when compared to a standard Fedora installz and as such, the number of people who install Lutris, for example, might jump significantly. It's likebwith the GNOME analytics, where, if Nobara would participate, it would significantly increase the amount of users using the dash-to-panel extension, even if most of rhem disable it immediately after. This is just an example, of course. The point is that it's an opinionated, gaming-focused version of Fedora, and runs the risk of skewing the analytics because of the way it does things.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

If it's not opt in, it's spyware.

There is literally no data generated by my machine that you can take without me making an active choice to give it to you without being a bad human being. It is not your data. It's mine. There are zero exceptions.

There is exactly one valid way to collect user data. You ask permission, with precise details on how you intend to use it and how you will anonymize it. Then you respect the answer.

[–] kabe 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There is vast ocean of difference between collecting non-personalized, aggregate data internally to inform UI design decisions or improve system performance on the one hand and secretly logging personal information in order to pass on or sell to third parties on the other.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Literally every single bit of data you collect without explicit opt in is malicious and unacceptable.

There is no possible theoretical excuse for collecting anything from someone else's hardware (without a very deliberate opt in from them) that is forgivable, let alone valid. It is not your data to collect.

If you actually think it benefits the user, you should have no issue asking them for permission and telling them how it's in their interest. The fact that you won't just ask for permission is implicit acknowledgment that users don't agree with you and won't freely give it.

[–] Qvest 1 points 1 year ago

It will most likely be explicit opt-in, if it is implemented.

[ … ] The proposal owner suggests a compromise "suggested opt-in" design, where the UI encourages the user to opt-in, but the user must explicitly make a decision to do so or not. [ … ]

Source: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/Telemetry#Many_users_want_to_require_opt-in_rather_than_opt-out

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

@conciselyverbose @Rhabuko @theshatterstone54 @BearPear they would argue that everything your machine does is with your consent - it's your machine, after all and you chose to execute the spyware

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