what was your reason for switching?

I really did not like Windows 10, but around 2019 I started using it because of the Windows 7 EOL. The final straw for me was when it automatically configured OneDrive to upload all of the files on my desktop to my account without my knowledge. My desktop was a huge mess and was easily bigger than the free OneDrive size so I started getting error messages that my OneDrive was full. Around that same time I had duel booted Ubuntu 20.04 onto my PC, and out of anger for Windows and also a general dissatisfaction for where Windows was heading, I started using Ubuntu more and more until I wouldn't even touch my Windows partition for months. Eventually, I just deleted it entirely and have never looked back.

Today I'm using Arch Linux and I am really happy with it! I think I made the right move with where Microsoft is heading with its AI crap.

My parents raised me on Apple, but since Steve Jobs died there really hasn't been anything added of value. So I already was in a position for a change. I chose Linux over Windows because I wanted to start distancing myself from Big-Tech data collection, and Microsoft is making that increasingly difficult. 

As a beginner I decided to go with ElementaryOS, and it's gone well so far. I ask AI anytime I run into a problem.

@Apav that's a big reason i switched too, all the data collection that is. started with mint, i switched my desktop to bazzite though and love it. i may switch my laptop over to fedora just to try something new.

i originally got the idea to switch back when the whole windows 11 ai recall stuff was being announced. up till then windows 11 did just look like a worse windows 10 to me, but recall was what really hit that home for me. it was also then i realized windows 10 is ALSO just a worse windows 7. what reason do i have to stick around when windows has only been going downhill for over a decade now?

i recently made the switch and its gone great! theres more troubleshooting involved, yeah, but after getting past that, its a much nicer experience using linux (kde neon in my case) than it is windows. it also helps that nearly all the programs i already used before the switch were open source and designed with linux in mind in some way, so thats nice. the only thing i have to boot into windows for now is vr ^c^ (i wish vr was better on linux...)

@artshineaura pretty much in the same boat lol recall and copilot were my tipping point. been using linux mint (xfce) since the new year on all my device (been using it on my laptop for longer tho) and i haven't looked back.

i just overall disliked windows slow performance and limitations. i was interested in online security as a whole and linux kept popping up alongside that and i found myself being drawn to it. i think if you find computers entertaining on their own (such as enjoying messing around with settings or find the "windows aesthetic" cool - not even necessarily being a pro admin) you should absolutely give linux a shot. there's a general sentiment that windows is bad but you have to just deal with it, when it's obviously not the case. 

on a side note, i dont really know how good bazzite is. it seems like a fedora-based steamos clone, meant for stuff like the rog ally. maybe nobara is a better usecase, or even just fedora? i could be wrong since i don't care for steamos and subsequent copies. ill probably switch away from mint if i ever switch setups because id really prefer to use plasma, but im comfortable enough on mint i dont want to try a risky rolling setup.

@xqh bazzite is good, but it definitely doesn't act like a typical linux distro. i ended up going back to mint and i've been totally fine with it. it's a very simple, yet full linux distro, it's honestly great. though i do understand wanting the plasma desktop; while i didn't enjoy it a ton i do understand why people like it.

@cleb Yep, i also don't really like plasma (beacuse of qt mostly) but i get the appeal. I even switched to GNOME from a window manager because i wanted something simpler.

Mostly privacy concerns, but also losing more and more customization and freedom on windows over the years.

Ended up wanting to try something new because Windows 10, although being reasonably functional for the most part, just became boring to use.

tried dual booting with ubuntu for a year back in 2021 before switching over to Arch in 2022 on my main computer. I still have a macbook for audio and video work though.

a lot of reasons to be honest but mostly 3 reasons

- No tiling window manager, a bit strange and I know of an alternative for windows but it just isn't the same as on linux 

- Too many pop-ups,ever time I would've turned on my laptop  I get a pop-up for discord which (to my knowledge) I cannot turn off, one for Microsoft 365, and sometimes a pop-up for windows 11 for which my laptop doesn't have the required drivers

- Too get more familiar with computers in general,  in windows I don't believe I ever used the cmd nor did I know that much about PC's other than the basics and I thought the terminal would be a good way to learn about such things

I switched due to security and privacy concerns, but also because of the ability to configure the system to do what I want it to do. I haven't used Windows in years, and have no intentions of ever intentionally using unless I am required to. The amount of free software you mingle with when you switch to Linux is also a huge plus, because most of that software is just better than the alternatives.