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Ask HN: What desktop apps prevent you from switching to Linux?

4 points by johnhenry ↗ HN
Following up this post, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12803941, are there specific applications that, if available on Linux, would allow you to switch away from your current preferred desktop environment?

12 comments

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PaulHoule
It is the poor quality of the apps on Linux that keeps me away, plus a general devil may care attitude about details like font metrics. Years ago Ubuntu replaced scrollbars with something that is a complete joke.
coreyp_1
I hate the Ubuntu scroll bars, and Unity is the Devil incarnate!
savethefuture
Then use another environment or distro, xubuntu or mate or any other flavor. You can make linux be anything you want it to be.
PaulHoule
Back in 1994 I would download each kernel version over a 56k modem and lovingly configure and compile it.

I love Ubuntu as a server OS, because the bullshit per mile is mimimal.

I use Windows as a desktop OS because I don't want to waste time configuring and reconfiguring everything -- I have some real work to get done.

savethefuture
I totally agree and configuring linux can be very time consuming, but there are a lot of distros available that do not require any configuration. Generally installing and getting going with Ubunutu (or a flavor of it) is faster and easier than dealing with windows and device drivers. I don't think that justifies a reason to not use linux or at least try it to see if you do like it.
PaulHoule
I have tried it. I use it all the time on the server.

My experience with Windows 7+ is that device drivers "just work" for the most part.

benologist
My biggest issue preventing me is hardware. Apple keyboard/mouse/trackpads are fantastic but Linux support for them is not and alternatives are crap.
tonylemesmer
Solidworks Adobe CS And yes, the lack of attention to detail with fonts.
savethefuture
I use linux in my day to day for everything, but apps like photoshop and games in general are the only reason I still use windows at all.
coreyp_1
Notepad++ and the way I can use it for sftp (e.g., I can use it based on a connection, & I don't have to set up a complete "project". This is VERY useful for when I grade student assignments on a remote server, where I want a one-off connection that I can browse directories through, and the speed of a GUI.).

Winscp, also for the GUI experience.

Note: I am very comfortable with the command line and Linux in general, and I do use a CLI most of the time. However, there are some times when a nice GUI lets me ingest information and execute commands faster.

I like Ubuntu in general, and use it for all of my VMs and servers, but I hate, HATE, H-A-T-E Unity. In a way, Unity itself is something that prevents me from switching to Linux as a preferred desktop environment. (Yes, I know that there are other desktops, e.g., Plasma, but they are a pain to reconfigure every time that I upgrade Ubuntu. At least Windows is consistent for years at a time!

Also, a Linux desktop environment itself doesn't always feel as polished as Windows programs. And, as someone else already mentioned, those scrollbars are frustrating. Frustrating = I don't want to use it.

billconan
I'm using linux on desktop. it's great.

but on notebooks, linux isn't as great as mac os for two reasons.

1. doesn't support 3 finger gestures. i never feel I need to use a mouse with mac. but on linux, I still need a mouse. in particular, linux doesn't allow you to use 3 finger to move a window.

2. doesn't support retina display well. if you use the full resolution, text will be very small to see.

as for apps, office, photoshop.