View from the Labs
If there’s one thing this Labs shows, it’s that Linux is now far easier to install – and a mature alternative to Windows and macOS
It’s been four years since PC Pro last ran a Linux Labs ( see issue 308, p78). Much has changed since then – and all for the better. On that occasion, I performed the tests on a Core i3-based Dell Inspiron laptop, and some distributions had trouble connecting to Wi-Fi. The laptop had no Ethernet port, and the only fix was to connect to a mobile hotspot once the OS had been installed so I could download some hefty updates. Support for the trackpad was likewise patchy, and it was occasionally unresponsive upon waking up.
That laptop is still in daily use, and still running Linux – flawlessly now – but wasn’t called up for duty this year. This time around, I used a mini PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor. Although it has an Ethernet port, I didn’t touch it, as none of the distributions had any problem connecting to Wi-Fi, even if they were running a dedicated installer rather than a live boot environment.
This demonstrates how far things have come. You’d expect the odd glitch when comparing eight diverse operating systems, with a hotchpotch of kernels and mismatched window managers, and the fact that I haven’t hit any problems can be taken as a sign that Linux’s time has come.
What do I mean by the “time has come”? Linux has been with us for more than 30 years, and Unix for more than 50, after all. However, until now, it has frequently been something that mainstream users would only consider once their hardware was too old to run the latest version of Windows. That’s happening less and less. Windows is getting better at running on conservative specs, and computers are lasting longer. For many, the day when Linux is the only possible fallback may still be years away. For some, it might never arrive.
So, why not consider Linux from the outset, as an alternative to Windows and macOS, not merely their eventual replacement?
When grading eight operating systems that perform close to flawlessly, I’ve had no choice but to amplify small differences. So, while I’ve chosen a winner, I wouldn’t steer you away from any of the distros on test. They’re all up to the job of keeping you productive day to day, whether at home or in business, and compatibility with specific applications is becoming less important as more work than ever is done through the browser.
Whatever your reasons for switching to Linux, there are several ways to go about it. A small number of manufacturers produce Linux-native hardware. Others will custom-build a machine without pre-installing an operating system. Or you could buy a regular Windows machine and wipe it. The last of those was more or less the approach I took, although rather than wiping the drive, I swapped it for a blank SSD. That way, when the time comes to upgrade, I can replace the original Windows drive before selling, donating or passing it on.
“I wouldn’t steer you away from any of the distros on test. They’re all up to the job of keeping you productive day to day”