Linux Mint and Ubuntu are real options to replace Windows for a bigger set of computer users.

I've been using either Ubuntu or Linux Mint on my daily driver computer since 2005, and it has been a great experience. For the most part, it has been so good that I haven't had to really be conscious about the fact I run a Linux distro for the most part.

Since 2018 I've settled on Linux Mint, mainly because changes on Ubuntu has made Linux Mint the better option for my needs. All the software I use on my personal life is available, and works great, on Linux Mint. The best part, is that it has been getting better over time, and I haven't faced any mayor issue with Linux Mint at all.

What has made the whole experience better, is that I'm able to work using Linux Mint from both the office and home. Since we need to connect to a remote desktop, no matter where we are, being able to do so with no issue from my laptops using Remmina, has meant that I can keep working as usual using my laptop without any problems at all. So much so, that the IT department at work are finding that is viable use an Ubuntu based Linux distro all the company's computers and only use Windows on the server where we have to work.

Mainly because both Ubuntu and Linux Mint are friendly for users that not have much technical know-how, with the added benefit that there are easy to manage by the IT department. On the up side, all of the software needed for work can be run and controlled at the server, and any of the extra software most of us use, like Chrome, Firefox, or Spotify, is available on natively on both Ubuntu and Linux Mint.

As times goes on, Linux Mint and Ubuntu have made it easier to advocate the use of Linux for more people. Specially since the question of what OS is better for a particular user has been more of a question of the apps they use rather than how good a particular OS works.

Besides, Linux Mint just works for most users that just need a computer to connect to the Internet, listen to music with a streaming service, or watch streaming services like Netflix or Disney +. It just works the way most people expects a computer to do, though there a minimal learning curve the first few days one starts using it, just as with any new OS.

Other than that, there is no real issue to prevent the move.

Technology is not what's pulling people apart.

Personally, what is pulling people apart isn't technology in itself. What is pulling people apart, is how people use technology. Most often than not, people use technology use technology to hide when the world they face isn't one that allows them to engage others in a healthy way.

When the world around them is one that facilitate the use of technology to connect with others in a healthy way, technology become another tool to do so. Yet, when the world people face is one that is toxic, technology acts as a shield to hide from it.

There is also how we were thought to interact not only with technology, but also with how to deal with our emotions when things don't go as we want, or expected, them go. If we aren't thought to deal with our emotions, and view technology as a tool and not as a replacement for the world around us, it becomes quite easy to use said technology to hide from our emotions and the world.

There is a need to stop blaming technology for people hiding behind it, and actually giving people what they need to interact with the world. If we don't do that, most people will keep using technology to hide since its easier to do so.

When we give people the tools to make meaningful connections with others, technology can actually be a powerful tool to create, and strengthen, connections with other people. Modern technology can actually bring people closer together when people have what they need to use it in that way.

The problem is not technology in itself, but why people use it either for connecting with others or to hide from the world. Unless we become conscious about this, and take steps to counter it, chances are the people will continue to use technology to keep shielding themselves form a world they don't have the tools to deal with in a healthy way.

We can se technology to change the world for the better, unless we don't give people way to do so.

Learning needs to become something that people just do.

The Internet has given society access to all the knowledge we could ever need about just every subject, and it keeps getting bigger with time. The problem is that, also there is a lot of misinformation and lies along with all the valuable information.

What makes the situation worse, is that our education systems don't give most people the tools needed to navigate the Internet to find the information that is valuable to the subject at hand, and disregard the misinformation out there. This makes moving forward a lot more difficult, since some refuse doing so based on misinformation.

There is a need to change this, and changing how our education systems work is one of that can have the biggest and most valuable impact to improve the situation. Even so, it can take years to actually make its impact felt.

Yet, there is a need to actually doing to do so if we want to build a better future for humanity. We need for all to be able to keep learning throughout their lives, as something that is something normal to do. There is a need to stop the idea that learning is something just done in classrooms.

That the Internet gives people access to knowledge is not enough, unless people can actually learn how to make use of that knowledge.

I'm a happy Android user.

Ever since I started using Android in 2012, it has been getting better. Currently the device I use as my daily driver has Android 11, and it has been quite the step forward.

When I made the jump, to be honest I had my reservations. I had become used to using Nokia devices running Symbian, so making the switch to Android was something I wasn't all to keen to do. Yet, the only other options I had at the time was a Windows phone, or an iPhone.

I ended up choosing an Android device, because there were no Windows Phones that I liked, and moving to the iPhone was not something I wanted to do if I could avoid it. So, I got an Android device and almost from the start Android just worked for me. All the apps I needed were available, and I could set the user interface to work just like I wanted it to work.

While in the ten years since there have been several changes to Android, most have been for the better or haven't really been something that took away from the experience. Actually, with time the idea of moving to iOS has become even less appealing with time, since Android is getting better and the competition among the OEM within the Android ecosystem has meant that there are always several smartphones that meet my need to choose from.

The only thing I have done over the years, is jump among brands within the Android ecosystem. All have had their ups and downs on the hardware side, but I've been always set Android itself to work as I like with in 10-15 minutes. Yet, since I got my current Motorola One Fusion, I don't really expect to jump to another brand unless they offer something Motorola doesn't do at the time I make the switch to a new smartphone in a couple of years time.

Linux has been getting better for the average user.

As someone who uses Linux Mint on daily basis on my daily driver, I can say that Linux is ready to be used by basically everyone. The only reasons anyone couldn't move to Linux, is if they need an specific software that isn't supported on Linux, like Photoshop, Microsoft Office, or some accounting suites. Other than that, Linux distros are fully capable systems that anyone can use.

Distros like Linux Mint and Ubuntu, can be used by anyone for most of the average user cases. Specially when used basic tasks like web browsing, and media streaming, Linux distros can handle them without any problem at all. With time, the user experience has been getting better since many distros have been working on making the average user experience better.

While there is some learning curve coming from Windows, or macOS, it has been getting easier to make the switch with time. Linux Mint is one of the best examples, specially with when using Cinnamon, which I've been using for 3 years now as my daily driver, and for about 6 months for work now. It has worked like a charm, even when using a two monitor setup.

The best thing for me about Linux Mint, is that it is based on Ubuntu's long term support releases. This make Linux Mint a solid and stable operating system, because it prioritizes stability and proven software. This means that I don't really have to worry about up dates braking the system unless something goes terribly wrong with an upgrade, or something get corrupted.

Linux distros have come a long way, and now they have become a solid option for almost everyone.

Mid-range Android smartphones give me more value for my money.

After about 8 years using Android smartphones, it has become my go to mobile operating system. Android just works for me, in a way iOS just can't compete. Not that iOS is bad, its just that it simply doesn't works how I want it to, and Android fits with how I use my smartphone a lot better.

Add to it, that with each new Android version it just keeps getting better for my use case, moving to iOS is less appealing. There is also the fact that Android OEM keep releasing better smartphones each year, it does feel like an upgrade each time I make the choice to get a new one.

Most importantly, the mid-range Android smartphones give a great value in the hardware the have. They might not have the greatest, and latest, tech in them, but they work great for the use I've for my smartphone. They actually find they give me more for the cost they have.

The fact that there are several options with in the Android ecosystem, making OEM having to compete among themselves, makes for appealing smartphones and choose the one that better fits my needs with some extra things that I want to have at hand. In most cases, I'm able to find the smartphone that gives me that extra without going out of budget, or for just for a little more if I can.

Android just works, and it keeps getting better.

Linux Mint just works for me.

Windows 11 release last week proved how Windows has become rather irrelevant for me. I only use it for work, and through a remote desktop client, as such I don't really have to worry about keeping the OS up to date.

For the better part of a decade now, I've been using a Linux distro on my personal computers. Currently, I run the latest version of Linux Mint, which just works for all my needs. Actually, I've much less issues with Linux Mint on all my laptops than with the computers I've used at work running Window 7 or 10. Specially on computers on the lower end of technical specifications.

Yet, what really solidify Linux Mint status as my go to OS, is the fact that since at work we moved to using the could for work Remmina has proved that I can keep working using Linux Mint without any real problem. What is better, since I use laptops, that has meant that I can keep working from any where with an Internet connection.

With how good Linux Mint has gotten in the last 4-5 years, it makes hard for me to make a case to move back to using Windows. Specially when I take into account that almost everything now can be done through a web browser, or a mobile app.

Linux distros like Linux Mint, and Ubuntu, that have a solid development team behind them make for a great OS for most people. Now, unless you have a need for a very specific piece of software that only works on Windows, or on macOS, Linux is quite a solid option for most user cases.

A nice update of Android by Motorola.

When I got my Motorola One Fusion a couple of months ago, it came with Android 10. Since I don't really don't care about having he latest Android version, just one of the last 3 released, it wasn't that big of the deal for me. Personally, that the smartphone I get runs Android and has at least 64GB of internal storage, about 4GB of RAM, is the baseline I go for.

Android 10 really was an improvement for me coming from an Android 9 smartphone. Besides, the OS actually worked rather well on the smartphone. Yet, on the 1st of October I woke up to the pleasant surprised that my smartphone had upgraded to Android 11 overnight. To be honest, I wasn't really expecting it to happen, but as an Android fan it was a nice thing to get.

In the week I've using Android 11 in a daily basis, it has actually improved my user experience in the same smartphone. Mainly, the user interface was a big improvement compared with Android 10, and as a whole my smartphone has worked better overall.

Each time I get to try a newer version of Android, it gets better for me. So much so, that I simply don't see myself jumping to the iPhone. If anything, I keep looking for better Android smartphones with at least the version of Android my current smartphone runs. Android just works for me in ways iOS would never do.

And with the update, Motorola has solidified itself as the OEM I'll give priority when I'd look into replacing my current smartphone. Now, I just hope that the Motorola One Fusion gets Android 12 in the near future.

Laptops work magic for me.

As time goes on, I've found that laptops are perfect for my computing needs. Laptops have more than enough computing power for my needs, and allow me to take them with me to work from pretty much most of the places I frequent regularly.

Laptops just fit perfectly my lifestyle, specially with Wi-Fi becoming so ubiquitous along side with charging spots. That make possible for me to actually be able to work from almost everywhere, or just get online when I need to access things for which a laptop is a better option than a smartphone.

It has been years since I've seriously considered a desktop as a replacement, or even as an upgrade to the laptop at the time I was considering getting replacing the laptop I'd at the time. Laptops just offer what I need from a computer, which is not really much on the computer power side. Portability is just far more important for me, since I like to be able to work from different places from time to time.

Fortunately for me, laptops have gotten to a point where they can cover all my work and entertainment needs without breaking a sweat. All this with improving the battery life by several hours, that make them a lot more useful for my needs.

The best thing, is that Linux Mint has worked flawlessly with my favorite brands of laptops. And with the on going development of Linux Mint, I expect for things to get better for me.

Linux Mint is my go to operating system.

As time goes on, Linux Mint has become the operating system that works for me for my computers. It simply works for me, and it has worked as a charm ever since Linux Mint 19 (Tara) came about.

I personalize prefer the version using the Cinnamon desktop environment, since the desktop environment that better suits my needs and system work really well with it. There is also the fact that it it works great with the dual monitor setup I prefer, and that Remmina works really well on Linux Mint.

The first Linux distro I ever used was Ubuntu, yet ever since they move away from using Unity I just haven't felt comfortable using it. Linux Mint, with Cinnamon, just gives me a better user experience.

With each new release since Linux Mint 19, at least the base experience has remained there. There have been some improvements, like being able to creating app Web App to create direct access to most used web pages that have served to improve my experience on the end user side, but the best thing is that overall the OS has been improving with each release.

Linux Mint is really the Linux distro that I can recommend the average computer user, or more advance users with specific needs. Specially since I've used it on my personal daily driver for over 3 years, and for work for about a year now.

Remmina enabling using Linux for work.

I've been using a Linux distro on my personal computers for about 8 years now. The two distros I've used from the start are Linux Mint and Ubuntu, though as of 2019 I prefer to use Linux Mint.

 

At work, most of the time I've to use Windows computers mainly because that was the operating system the computer I had to use had installed. Yet, since last year I've been able to use my laptop with Linux Mint installed for work since we have to work on a remote desktop.

I use Remmina, and it has work great for me. If I had issues with it, all can be attributed to a bad Internet connection or the server going off line. I didn't know much about it, but it has been really easy to configure to work as I want it to work. So much so, that I prefer it over the Windows option I was using before.

 

The best thing, is that it allows me to work from anyplace I can get an Internet connection. The flexibility I get from it means that I can use my time much more effectively. I don't have to worry as much about getting all I need to do at a certain time, since I can keep working almost from all the places I life to frequent.

I do recommend Remmina if you need to work from a remote Windows desktop and you want to keep using your Ubuntu based OS.