There also isn't such a thing as the linux lockscreen

It's 2024, and it's still not even the year of the Linux lock screen... loginctl unlock-session 5

I'm using Linux exclusively since two decades, but I think I've never had a fully working lock screen setup.

Take sleep. While I have not run into situations where Windows will leave the backlight on, I have run into situations where Windows will remain connected to Bluetooth devices. A more disconcerting quirk is pulling a very hot laptop out of a bag. For some reason there are scenarios where Windows will keep chugging along in the background even though there are no peripherals connected and the lid is shut.

Sometimes the criticisms of Linux's readiness are hilarious when compared to Windows, because the criticisms are more valid of Windows. The hardware I own is reasonably compatible with Linux. I can install it without issue. There are even cute benefits like the printer being automatically detected and ready to use. In contrast, installing Windows is a bit of an adventure. Simply getting through the installer involves doing some googling, pulling up a command prompt, and installing a network driver. If I don't do that, I won't get through the OOBE and to the desktop. Incidentally, I'm going through the installer without a pointer: neither the touchpad nor touchscreen will work until their own drivers are installed. Windows will pickup on and install those drivers with a system update, but that is done after the OOBE has completed. Incidentally, the hardware in question is a two year old Lenovo that shipped with Windows and was never intended to run Linux.

I am not bringing up these issues to cheer for Linux, nor am I doing so to proclaim how much Windows sucks. I fully realize that most Windows users won't bump into the installation issues since it comes preinstalled, or because a typical Windows "reinstall" is a system restore that doesn't wipe out all of the drivers. I also fully realize that there are many usability quirks with Linux that I am blind to since I have used Linux for decades. (Yet the same can be said of Windows users who have used Windows for decades.)

The reality is that switching operating systems takes effort. The reality is that individual experiences will vary for any operating system. Sweeping generalizations like "X is the year of the Linux desktop" or "X is not the year of the Linux desktop" simply aren't useful since the experience of adopting Linux depends as much on the individual, on their background and willingness to accept change, as it does on the readiness of Linux.

But if people still want to make such generalizations, I hope they don't mind if I declare that 2024 is still not the year of the Windows desktop because, in my case, it isn't.

> not need to worry about differences between different distros and death by a thousand small gaps between them

Why do you care about small differences. Just pick one.

> cycle between different package managers looking for an up-to-date version of a software that I need - not need to worry about differences between different distros and death by a thousand small gaps between them

Why do you need the very latest version of software? Yes, a traditional stable distribution will not have the latest versions of everything in its repos but I think that is fine.

If it is a problem for you use a distribution that uses flatpack or snap. That is very like MacOS.

I have installed many versions of Linux over the years, and some might take a few hours to setup but I have never spent days fixing stuff.

(No idea about face-id tho)

After years if Windows (at work) and Linux at home, I'm now using a Mac at work... Boy...it has its share of warts (like the other two)...and, imho, not the apex of design/usability that everyone raves about

1. Can't show address bar in finder... Seriously, go copy windows or any DE explorer 2. System bar (menu bar?)doesn't handle overflow? Where are the pitchforks ? Have to install Ice from github 3. Wanted to launch an app with CLI params and the Automator etc seems clunky... Both Linux and win do this better

I like the hw and battery life and the sw stack (nix) but UX is at par with windows minus sneaky behaviour.. I mostly don't care since primary goal was a nix for development but UX was a let down... I'll take GNOME any day ( is been rock solid and I don't recall the last time it crashed)

Yet, even here on hn I've never come across any griping at Mac os ux niggles ever