Well, it is not like Linux is magical. Like MS-Windows, or any OS, it will require a bit of configuration. But the last decade has seen so much improvement in Linux. You can expect to plug in your phone to a USB port and it "just work", your network printer will likely be find and "just work", your WiFi will very like "just work", etc.

I recommend Mint is primarily because it has a more friendly/sane set of defaults than Ubuntu, has native packages for important stuff (LibreOffice, Firefox, etc, with no forced SNAP crap), and yet still works with everything out there (like Ubuntu packages and howtos), and full flatpak support (if you are into that container stuff). The default Cinnamon desktop is not as flashy or complete as Plasma/KDE (which you can certainly install), but is fast and easy to understand and far less annoying than crappola like Gnome. Updates never break anything, and I even UPGRADED (in-place) to the newer Mint major versions without a single hiccup.

Just bought a new model of Lenovo laptop last year and loaded Mint and EVERYTHING- wifi, sound, screen rotation, suspend, trackpad, trackpoint, mic, webcam, F keys, USB, accelerated graphics, fingerprint sensor, charging controls, external monitor connection, "just worked." All I did was turn off fastboot/boot lock in the BIOS. Same thing on a Fujitsu (including touchscreen, SD card reader, second battery support, ethernet port). Linux has come a long way.

Also, despite what some think, Mint is not a "starter" or "novice" Linux, it serves just fine for most any role or user type. Just think of it as "Ubuntu done right."

>"Or maybe switch to Linux, when it stops sucking."

It stopped sucking many, many years ago.

It might not run the particular application YOU want, but that isn't Linux's fault. I have installed Linux hundreds of times on dozens and dozens of different brands/types of machines, and almost never have any problems; probably far less than people installing MS-Windows. It is rock solid, easily updated, under your complete control, easily customized to your own needs, with tons of easily installed open-source software, having excellent performance, and great security and flexibility. No forced crap, no tracking, no harassment, no limits on virtualizing or being virtualized, no user limits, no registration, no cloud dependencies, no forced obsolescence, no bogus "minimum hardware requirements", no update contracts. Being $free is just a bonus.

If you want to see Linux not suck, probably start with Mint:
https://linuxmint.com/download...

>"Microsoft is not under any real antitrust surveillance."

Based on what they continue to do, almost forcing hardware vendors to include MS-Windows on all their boxes, they should be.

>"That's what the "Download Ubuntu" button is for."

Actually, it is what THIS button is for:

https://linuxmint.com/download...

Anyway, how much more abuse are MS-Windows "customers" willing to take?

>"Microsoft seem to make several reasonable points about a piece of software in a measured way."

That was my take as well. A reasonable and valid argument as why to not use it. So used to FUD from them, that it is easy to jump to a wrong conclusion....

>"It's 2024 - people still use Windows? Why?"

1) Because it "comes with the computer"
2) Because people don't know any better
3) Because it is what many know
4) Because some businesses force it on everyone
5) Because, sometimes, it is needed for certain applications

That said, all my computers run only Linux, have for decades, and will likely continue to do so (plus hundreds of machines I am responsible for). And probably way more than half of MS-Windows machines out there could run Linux and do what the users need, just fine. The SNAFU's with MS-WIn 11 artificial hardware "requirements" will likely open more opportunity for Linux on millions of otherwise perfectly suitable machines that will, otherwise, end up in landfills.

Better questions is to ask are: Why do certain popular commercial software vendors not support Linux? Why do we allow a near-monopoly (MS) to essentially force manufacturers to include their OS on most, if not all, of their computers? How much more abuse will MS-Windows customers tolerate before jumping ship?

>"Disables biometric authentication on an iPhone."

And on Android starts an emergency services call.

So on Android, simply turn off the phone. Any reboot always requires the non-biometric unlock.

Or go into settings and choose "show lockdown option" which puts a button on your lockscreen (and power button menu) that instantly disables all biometrics and lockscreen notifications.

>"Biometrics: Credentials that can be stolen off your body"

If DNA or fingerprints, they are "credentials" that can be stolen off anything you have touched or been around, and for a loooong time. They are pretty bad overall methods for confirming who you are if you care about abuse or security. And in the case of DNA, it *really* invades privacy, by its nature.

If you must use biometrics, the only reasonable one I have seen so far is deep vein palm scan. You are not leaving that data all over the place, is difficult to illicitly obtain, and it has live-sensing built-in. Plus it is fast, simple, accurate, easy and cheap.

This isn't something new to the US military, I can tell you that we've been thinking about drone attacks and drone defense for many years now. The drone swarm is an obvious next step past the UAVs we've been piloting for decades now.

>"It does not seem that capping charging on linux laptop is a generic thing. Is it?"

TLP can manage battery life and restrict charging to whatever ranges wanted.

See https://linrunner.de/tlp/usage... control through /etc/tlp.conf Edited /etc/tlp.conf and uncommented the two battery thresholds and it works to keep the battery charged no more than X amount.

>"I also don't see that option on my android phone."

Unfortunately, it entirely depends on your brand of phone and version of Android. Recent Samsungs all support it, both on phones and tablets (but for some reason, not watches). On Samsung, it is called "Protect battery" and is hard-coded to 85% only.

>"I don't understand this obsession in the media about how quickly people can charge their EVs."

Two reasons: Long distance travel, and for those who can't charge at home. And those are both valid. But for other times, slow would be fine, if it is better for the batteries.

>"If we're genuinely interested in conserving finite natural resources,[...], we really need to look more systematically at how we get from A to B on a daily basis"

I think we need to look at how we produce energy, primarily. The solution will most likely need to be nuclear fission or fusion. The current thought of covering the planet in [expensive and life-limited] solar panels and windmills and using tons of low-life batteries isn't going to cut it. Also, transportation is just 36% of energy usage, and a whopping 65% of our electric power is lost in conversion and transmission.

>"The way we typically do it nowadays, private cars that take up massive amounts of space & require huge amounts of infrastructure & bureaucracy [...]"

Alas, we are spoiled by this, and trying to force people to do something else is likely to fail (and has failed). I admit, I am spoiled as well. I want to get into my vehicle how and when I want, with storage, and go directly and quickly to where I want to go, in peace, comfort, and silence, and return back the same way. It really is a miracle, and incredibly wasteful, and I love it.

>"There's a plethora of alternatives that are more efficient & convenient"

Efficient, yes. Convenient for most use cases and areas, no.

I keep cell phones a "long" time, too.

My previous phone was a Moto G5 Plus and I used it from 2017 to 2021 (4.5 years). Before that was a Nexus 5 which I used for 4+ years. This current phone, Samsung A52 5G, is already 2.5 years old and will probably get at least 4 years out of it.

I don't get these people who replace their phones every year or two, especially when they get the $1000+ flagships. Kinda crazy. I like the Samsung A series, has most of the flagship features but for 1/3 of the cost. (This one has an OLED screen, in-screen fingerprint sensor, decent triple camera, SD slot, real headphone jack, great wifi/bluetooth, lots of storage and memory and speed, etc; mostly just missing the sexy metal casing and being ultrathin, neither of which I care about).

>"The manufacturers want you to replace your phone every 2 years"

Perhaps, but they can do that with just junk updates.

>"so they will just use this to shrink the batteries."

Nope. That would reduce the operating time. Consumers won't go for that. Operating time is even more important than long-term battery life.

>"There are many scenarios where a life extending charge method could be really helpful"

And that holds true, even if it takes LONGER to charge (not saying it would). I have my Linux laptop and my Android phone both set to charge to 85% maximum to prolong life (unfortunately, no such setting for my smart watch). I also charge with a slower (lower amperage) charger on the phone, for the same reason. Also do that on my NiMH battery charger- lowest rate (even says in the manual that will prolong battery life). 99% of the time, I don't care how long it takes with these devices, because it is going on the charger at night and certainly will not take more than 8, 9, or whatever hours.

If I had an EV, I would want to charge it the same way at home, at a low rate and not to full. I would always have at least 10 hours, and usually much longer downtime.

>"What do you think people search for and use on health websites?

This isn't "health websites", it is only "hospital websites." Probably typical things: Address, visiting hours, mission, donations, events, employment, phone numbers and other contact info, directions, history, parking, staff, policies, newsletter, services, so many things.

>" Nothing sensitive? Ever?""

Pretty darn rare, probably. People are far, far more likely to use a general search engine for that (and for most people that is probably Google, the worst offender in tracking) and also sites like WebMD.