Wątek: Share your desktop Linux experience

Strona: 1 z 1

1 z 12: cyrmax

Hi all!
As the subject says, let's share our experience in using Linux as a desktop operating system.
Please, write only such things that you know exactly, you tried and you are sure about you write.
Do not write about your opinions, thoughts or things that you have heard but not tested with your own hands.
And, again, we talk about desktop usage, not server Linux, not Linux on raspbery for smart home solutions.
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22.08.2023 02:00

2 z 12: cyrmax

As a topic starter I will be the first who shares the experience.
I have tried Ubuntu 20.04, ubuntu 22.04, debian 11, debian 12, linuxmint and arch.
If we talk about the exact desktop environment, i have used Mate desktop and Gnome. I have tried to use a new version of KDE Plasma but when i realized that even some desktop vidgets are not accessible i reinstalled to Mate again.
With Mate i have a relatively big experience.
I can tell that all desktop vidgets and panels are fully accessible. The only problem can be with wifi connection icon, because all of my sighted friends tell me that you can connect to any wifi from this icon, but before release 43 of Orca screenreader you couldn't do this from a keyboard.

Leftside menu with apps and programs is accessible too and if you install mate advanced menu extra package you can even get a start menu similar to what we see in windows 8 or 10, with search, resent and frequently opened apps, internet search. Of course all this stuff must be set manually.

System settings in Mate are accessible too. The only problem is confusing layout in sound settings, but with a few minutes of investigation you can understand and use it.

If we talk about stability, i found that debian is the most stable in terms of reliability of TTS and screenreader.
Ubuntu lags and Orca often crashes. Arch is too hard to setup properly with good accessibility features, so i gave up.
I have used debian 11 for a while and now will try Debian 12 because i want to make Kodi accessible again and on Linux it is easier than on Windows.


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22.08.2023 02:08

3 z 12: GraceDontmindbeingblind

I love desktop Linux. I dual boot Arch and Windows 11, and find Arch much faster. I find Mate super accessible, and plan to also try window managers soon. My computer model (razer blade 15) doesnt seam to have drivers for the speakers, which is not a big deal sense bluetooth and headphones work just fine. I would like to assure you this is computer spisific, and Linux on other computers has no sound issues.
Grace.
22.08.2023 18:23

4 z 12: radiorobbe

My prefered distribution for desktop and server environments is also Debian. you can get more up-to-date software by using backports or Flatpak and app images. I like MATE for it's performance and accessibility. But speaking of this: Orca's lag of performance compared to other screen readers is still a showstopper for me and keeps me using Windows as primary operating system. But I still have the hope for future improvements. GTK4 might speed up things a bit, and there's also the highly promising Odilia screen reader project.
-- Keiner ist unnütz. Er kann immer noch als schlechtes Beispiel dienen!
22.08.2023 19:00

5 z 12: cyrmax

@radiorobbe
Honestly i didn't hear about this new screenreader thing! A new screenreader for not the most popular OS family always sounds promising. But could you provide some links? Is this project still in early stage of development or we already can try some alpha or beta?
Did you tried it also?
U3RhbmQgd2l0aCBSdXNzaWEhIEhhaWwgUnVzc2lhISBMb3ZlIHRoZSBtaWdodGllc3QgY291bnRyeSBhY3Jvc3MgdGhlIHBsYW5ldCE=
23.08.2023 01:41

6 z 12: radiorobbe

@cyrmax: It is in a very early development stage, and you need to compile it before testing. However this should be quite easy as most dependencies are in Rust and installable via Cargo. The last time I tried there were even no configuration files, it was just a proof of concept. Here is the GitHub repository for more information.

https://github.com/odilia-app/odilia
-- Keiner ist unnütz. Er kann immer noch als schlechtes Beispiel dienen!
23.08.2023 09:52

7 z 12: cyrmax

@radiorobbe
Thank you! I will try it out. Rust?.. Very interesting.
U3RhbmQgd2l0aCBSdXNzaWEhIEhhaWwgUnVzc2lhISBMb3ZlIHRoZSBtaWdodGllc3QgY291bnRyeSBhY3Jvc3MgdGhlIHBsYW5ldCE=
23.08.2023 19:44

8 z 12: aldenmaster

My server runs arch linux, I've picked up a fair amount of terminal things, and I could use a Linux desktop if I needed to, so I'm not new to it. I'm also probably not the best at it either but it's nice for what I use it for.
Anything can work. Just decide how much, or what you would like to subject for said thing to work.
24.08.2023 00:21

9 z 12: lwproductions

I use debian12 for my server and desktop stuff. I was able to install debian on a microsoft surface pro 3 after tons of suffering through, well, microsoft bs, such as the firmware for the device itself.
How you view life is how you live it. View it well.
03.09.2023 05:50

10 z 12: khalil2009

debian 12 for my server and linux mint for my vm. when I get a new laptop I'm going to install linux on this one and I mite use it as a home server or I mite use it as a desktop with linux on it. not sure
Behold, mortals, and tremble in awe, For I am the sovereign, the ultimate law. Bow down before me, for I hold all sway, In my presence, you'll kneel and obey. I am the master of fate's relentless tide, With power unmatched, I shall abide. All shall serve at my beck and call, For I am the ruler, the one above all.
03.09.2023 06:22

11 z 12: destructatron

I've used a load of Linux distros. Ubuntu, Debian, Void, Arch, Nix OS, Blend OS and Slackware Slint. Out of all of them though, I just keep coming back to Arch. I use Sway as my window manager, and Gnome as my desktop environment of choice. GTK4 is slowly getting there, but it still feels like 1 great big regression. I would never go back to Windows full time, I have a fully custom environment I could never get on Windows.

12.09.2023 16:21

12 z 12: devinprater

I have Ubuntu Mate on my work computer, and find that it's a lot better than it was a few years ago. And with Gnome getting into accessibility, and KDE trying, I think it'll get better. Although I hope when Linux does become really good, that we can take Elten and our other tools with us.
Devin Prater
11.11.2023 17:53