Heyho, recently someone asked for the silliest reasons, but as someone who has suggested linux to many people, I often encounter people having valid reasons for staying with Windows or switching back.
The most boring but valid one is “I have to use Windows for work. It is a requirement (of some software I have to use)”. But there are also other answers that fit. My sister for example tried Linux, but while installing software constantly encountered issues that I helped her solve and eventually switched back because she felt like she had less control than over windows. While I am aware that this is fundamentally wrong, it is valid that some amateur users do not want to invest enough time to get over the initial hurdles of relearning how to install software.
What are the best reasons people have given you for not wanting to try Linux?
Something equivalent to…“I just want to drive the car, not learn about the intricacies of internal combustion”.
The same reason everybody gives when dealing with pretty much anything: “I don’t want to learn something new”.
“It’s not compatible with all games”
“VR on Linux is trash”
“I can’t play XYZ game because Linux isn’t compatible with anticheat”
“Program XYZ doesn’t have a Linux version, I don’t want to learn a new program”
“Windows bloat never bothered me, I just ignore the AI/advertisements”
“I’m forced to use Windows because of my job”
“Linux is to complicated/troublesome. I just want something that works”
Adobe software, autoCAD, and anticheat are the top 3 reasons I usually hear. While there are alternatives for the first two, people who need these specific tools professionally don’t really have the choice.
Anticheat for gaming is a big one too. Personally I didn’t even consider switching until I finally quit Destiny 2 for good. If the main game someone plays just doesn’t work, they’re not gonna switch.
Personally I didn’t even consider switching until I finally quit Destiny 2 for good. If the main game someone plays just doesn’t work, they’re not gonna switch.
I’ve been running Linux as my main system for about 30 yers. During that time I’ve had a Windows partition or disk, on and off purely to run steam. Having to wait an extra thirty seconds to run a game was never an issue. And I could still do my stuff in a comfortable environment (once you’ve gotten used to a Unix desktop, you’ll suffer so much in Windows).
I am very pro Linux but “I like Windows” is valid enough for me. I might ask why but I am not going to act like that reason is invalid.
My school requires the installation of office apps like Microsoft access. I can’t get Microsoft office apps to run with wine.
I also can’t get games from Ubisoft connect to run with wine. I usually try lutris but the games always crash. So I have a virtual windows machine for school work and I have to play all of my games on steam.
Sounds like I don’t know how to use wine or wine hates me
I mostly run Linux though.
Microsoft access
I wasn’t aware that thing still existed.
First my problem was fractional UI resizing making everything stutter and only supporting 60hz. I fixed that by going to KDE (Kubuntu).
Now my problem is that my battery doesn’t last for a whole day of lectures - while it does with windows. Also, sleep is ass.
Will still probably fully switch in 2026.
They rely on AutoHotkey.
It’s true, Linux doesn’t have anything close to AHK.
They are not ready. They took several years to master Windows to just a minimum of use. They don’t have the money to pay for help if problems occur. They don’t have someone in their network that can help them. They need a specific app to work flawlessly for either job or hobby. There’s a lot of good reasons. But there are getting less of them, while Linux is evolving.
Solidworks not being supported.
The solution I’m working on is to connect to a Windows computer via moonlight for their solidworks stuff, hopefully freeing up the potential to do Linux on their main machine
I can give you reasons I have for not installing Linux on one of my laptops:
-
Intel graphics support, or the absence of it;
-
decent touchscreen support (Windows Ink);
-
WSL which I use with NixOS, and it does simplify most of my dev needs;
-
unfortunately, Adobe apps which I still heavily rely on (I’d wish I had an alternative),
-
PowerPoint (again, I’d wish I had an alternative).
If you want to comment: "oh but have you tried Affinity, Pixie, Only Office, Libre Impress, reveal.js, {enter your fav presentation/photo editing tool} – yes I have, and no, unfortunately, it’s not even close. Also, to be clear, I’ve never paid, and never will for the Windows/Adobe products.
(e) PowerPoint (again, I’d wish I had an alternative).
Oh for ducks’ sakes… just make pdf slides, do you really need animation and/or transitions? They are going to be a proufoudly horrible and disconcertingly awkward mind searing experience anyway
i use neither animations nor transitions. but i do extensively use movies (which have a horrible support in Impress), and i use lots of equations (which you can enable using third-party plugins in Impress, but working with them is very difficult).
i’ve been bitten twice when i’ve been traveling on a conference and had to quickly put up slides in Impress, and ended up not being able to do what i wanted because of all of its limitations. i ended up using reveal.js, but that also has its own drawbacks, e.g., the lack of UI, which i can use to quickly fine-tune arrows, text positions etc.
-
I love Linux. I use it wherever I can. I don’t use Linux on my primary gaming workstation, for the simple reason that the display drivers, specifically mixed extended desktop and screen mirroring is just straight up ass.
My friend
- loves making and sharing home videos, but his entire workflow is tied to Windows Movie Maker
- his wife insists on using an iPhone and is tech-illiterate, so depends on him having iTunes for syncing stuff
- has bad memories of Linux from the 2000s and has grown comfortable with a copy of Windows that I’ve debloated
They didn’t want to constantly rely on me to fix every little thing they break instead of learning how to do it themselves.
No wait, that was my reason for not switching them. 😆
For one of my friends its just cause she has a shitload going on and enough problems to deal with without trying to figure out a new way for her computer to work and whatnot
Plus I think art stuff she uses doesn’t support linux and she found krita unsuitable for how she likes to work
