The Linux Struggle

[Shibblet]

I've been a "Linux" user for quite a while now. My first delve into Linux was in 2008 with Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron." I stuck with Ubuntu for a few years, then changed over to Kubuntu at 12.04 "Precise Pangolin".

Regardless... over the years, I have always had to dual boot Windows, due to some software or media that I needed to run.

I have been a Graphic Designer for over 20 years, and that industry uses Adobe. So, I have a Windows Partition to be able to use that software.

Secondly, and the reason I am continuously plagued by Windows, is that I am a gamer. Not a hard-core online gamer. Fairly casual gamer. I play single-player games from time to time. I have also watched the game industry change over the years. When Steam pushed foward with Proton, I was very impressed. Most of my Steam library became usable in Kubuntu with just the flip of a swtich... pretty nice.

Anyway, that's the backstory... and hopefully it will explain why I see these things:

I would love to switch ENTIRELY to Kubuntu, but there are just too many things that don't quite work well.

These are general Linux issues, not just Kubuntu:

1. In order to run my Adobe CS6 in Linux, I have to use a virtual-machine, and run Windows... then I'm not running directly on hardware, I'm virtualizing, and the performance mostly sucks.

2. Games, even with Proton, don't run as well as they do in Windows... at least, the games I want to play. Currenly, I enjoy Skyrim (SE-AE, with many mods), Horizon Zero Dawn, and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, to name a few. The performance difference between Windows and Kubuntu is around 20fps (Ryzen HX5900 CPU and 6600M GPU). That's a pretty major difference... enough to reboot.

3. Little things like hardware acceleration for video playback in browsers. YouTube uses CPU and not GPU. I just started to use Nvidia GeForce Now, to play games. However, with the snap app, I can only get 60fps, whereas in Windows I can use GeForce Now for 120fps.

4. Steam downloads are MUCH slower in Kubuntu. I get 18 mbps normally, with a little mod (found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gamin...his/?rdt=51152) I can get the speed up to ~350mbps. In Windows, I can get 1.9 - 2.0 Gbps without any fixes.

So, I am aware that these problems are not bugs or issues with the Linux OS's. I believe most of these issues have to licensing codecs (like h.265/AV1) for hardware usage. I also know that Proton/Wine is a wrapper and can cause extra steps between software and hardware, which can cause slow-down.

I also understand that there is not a native app for GeForce Now, so that the higher-end features may not be available.

The Steam problem is more than likely Steam's direct issue... which, you would think would be addressed, seeing as how they want to make their Steam Deck (Linux) work the best as possible.

So, I have really tried over the course of 20+ years to drop Windows entirely, but it feels like there is always something that causes me not to.

Since I am apparently not going to give up these things, what can be done?

[aljames2]

Hi Shibblet, I do not have a need for the Adobe products since what I do in that area has a suitable Linux alternative. Althouth, I do pay Adobe for my daughter's use of their suite for her college work in graphic design.

For the gaming, I have found no solution to mimic my gameplay experience on the Windows box. I do not dual boot, I just never liked the idea of welcoming Windows on my Linux hardware. So, I have a Intel 9600k w/Nvidia GTX 1070 video card. This box has W10 with Steam games only, nothing more. I still do some multiplayer on occassion with some old friends that I met in the late 90's when I was in a Unreal Tournament gaming clan, and we still stay in contact some. I think the multiplay game now we play on occassion is called Destiny 2. Anyhow, I keep a windows box around just for this.

I thoroughly enjoy doing everything else in my computing life on Linux. I don't see this "hanging on to" a Window box as a crutch, or as a Linux weakness. My perspective is the opposite, that it is a weakness of Windows, that it has lost my total & complete interest as a useful OS to me personally. I don't trust it. I use the W at work but only because that is what corporate puts in front of us. Funny, is that I have to call IT from time to time because I forgot where some stuff is in the Windows ecosystem. Thankfully, I am an independent contractor and paid commission and I am good at what I do, so they can't hold that over.

If Linux Steam gets better and if I still have the interest, then I guess that old box will be promoted to be a Linux server for me or someone else in the family for something..

Good luck!

[VMC]

I never gave it a second thought dual booting Linux, Windows. They both have their values. Some programs just run better, if not best using Windows. Why fight it. I find Wine useless. Tried it, several things about it I didn't like. I will most likely always dual boot Linux/Windows.

In my thinking, its not one-size-fits-all.

[Irihapeti]

I've been a Linux enthusiast for getting on for 20 years and spend most of my computing time using it, but I have a Windows VM as well. The reason? I was doing proof-reading for international students and I had to be able to guarantee compatibility if I was going to feel OK about asking for payment. Open/LibreOffice is fine for simpler documents, but not for some of the things these people were doing, and the last thing you need is to find something missing when you're half an hour from submission deadline.

Use what works for you, and don't worry about the "shoulds". There are no bonus points for being Windows-free (or Mac-free or whatever else it is you need to use).

[currentshaft]

1. In order to run my Adobe CS6 in Linux, I have to use a virtual-machine, and run Windows... then I'm not running directly on hardware, I'm virtualizing, and the performance mostly sucks.

Use GIMP and Inkscape instead.

2. Games, even with Proton, don't run as well as they do in Windows... at least, the games I want to play. Currenly, I enjoy Skyrim (SE-AE, with many mods), Horizon Zero Dawn, and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, to name a few. The performance difference between Windows and Kubuntu is around 20fps (Ryzen HX5900 CPU and 6600M GPU). That's a pretty major difference... enough to reboot.

What troubleshooting have you done? My experience is the opposite: games under Proton run much better than they had on Windows.

3. Little things like hardware acceleration for video playback in browsers. YouTube uses CPU and not GPU. I just started to use Nvidia GeForce Now, to play games. However, with the snap app, I can only get 60fps, whereas in Windows I can use GeForce Now for 120fps.

Works fine in the browsers on my Ubuntu workstation, Chrome and Ubuntu. I can play 4K videos without an issue on my 65" TV.

4. Steam downloads are MUCH slower in Kubuntu. I get 18 mbps normally, with a little mod (found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gamin...his/?rdt=51152) I can get the speed up to ~350mbps. In Windows, I can get 1.9 - 2.0 Gbps without any fixes.

Not a Linux issue, something is wrong with your configuration.

So, I am aware that these problems are not bugs or issues with the Linux OS's. I believe most of these issues have to licensing codecs (like h.265/AV1) for hardware usage. I also know that Proton/Wine is a wrapper and can cause extra steps between software and hardware, which can cause slow-down.

What facts lead to this conclusion? Can you share them here?

It is true effort is needed to adapt to Linux full-time. Not everyone has the discipline for it. But the result is rewarding, worthwhile and possibly exceeding most requirements.

[coffeecat]

Thread moved to ULOS

[Shibblet]

Use GIMP and Inkscape instead.

While GIMP is a decent replacement for Photoshop, and Inkscape is an "semi-acceptable" replacement for Illustrator... There is no decent replacement for InDesign.
Plus, you need to understand, I am well trained in Adobe software, and switching to these programs turns into more of a "why can't I do what I normally do..." instead of a "Let's get this done," mentality.

What troubleshooting have you done? My experience is the opposite: games under Proton run much better than they had on Windows.

Why bother troubleshooting? That's just more time wasted. I can just reboot my PC into Windows and run the game.

Works fine in the browsers on my Ubuntu workstation, Chrome and Ubuntu. I can play 4K videos without an issue on my 65" TV.

Does not work well for me. I can play 1080p content with no issues. CPU goes to about 6%-8%. 4K causes my CPU to hit 50%-60% and playback is choppy. In either situation, the GPU doesn't do a thing, in Kubuntu. In Windows, CPU rests at 1%-2%, and the GPU jumps up to about 15%-20% on 4K playback

Not a Linux issue, something is wrong with your configuration.

If you know an actual solution to this, there is an entire community of people who would LOVE to know. Please share!

What facts lead to this conclusion? Can you share them here?

Absolutely. Aside from the situations notated above, I have a prime example: Skyrim (SE-AE). Works great out of the box on Steam. But I don't want to just play Skyrim, I want to mod it. In Windows, I use ModOrganizer 2, and I install the program and start dropping the mods in.

In Kubuntu, there is an automated way to setup ModOrganizer with Steam (here: https://github.com/rockerbacon/modor...inux-installer), and it works. But once you install it, ModOrganizer doesn't function as well as it does in Windows. There's some performance and stability issues. Even then, once you get your mods all set up, and run Skyrim, the game performance is around 75% of the capability in Windows, using the exact same mods.

It is true effort is needed to adapt to Linux full-time. Not everyone has the discipline for it. But the result is rewarding, worthwhile and possibly exceeding most requirements.

This is my problem. The effort requires sacrifice, and it's difficult to make that sacrifice knowing that the things you want to do, CAN work better and more efficiently on the exact same hardware, just by using a different OS.

The "struggle" is knowing that you could fart around with the computer for who knows how long in order to squeeze some more performance out of it to play one of your games. But how long does it take? How much better performance would you get? Is it worth the trade-off? In my opinion, the best you'll be able to do is get the game running at 80%-90% of its capability, after messing around for hours... and looming over your head the entire time is that little knowledge, that you could just boot Windows and play your game with the performance it's capable of, and not have to do anything but install it and play.

[currentshaft]

Your analysis of it being a struggle is apt, but I disagree with the conclusion that it may not be worthwhile.

Consider this: you could prevent more crime by having a policeman live in your house and watch over while you sleep, but something tells me you wouldn't like the consequences.

The analogy is fitting for Windows operating systems. The only difference is Microsoft is better at obscuring, euphemizing and otherwise externalizing these true costs from the user.

Certainly one can choose to remain willfully ignorant of this reality and it is true what they say: it will bring about bliss. Or one can mire oneself in the messy and stinky world of troubleshooting Linux, the fruits of which are less certain.

Whichever path you choose, do not let others' criticisms and judgements upset you; even a modest effort to move some computing to Linux is a noble goal and worthwhile achievement.

[909mjolnir]

When it comes down to it, buy a second computer.
Then the problem is solved.

[Shibblet]

When it comes down to it, buy a second computer.
Then the problem is solved.

How?