Rolling Linux versus Windows updates?

[Grizzellda]

These two concepts seem very similar to me.

But with Linux it is free. Well, we think it is "free" ...but someone must be putting in the work, because nothing in life is free, from my position.

[Zeisner]

It's the same principle for every OS: Never change a running system. If you reach a state where everything works, disconnect the system from the internet and never update.

[Grizzellda]

Got it. But at some point you may have to update for various issues.

What then?

[procrastive]

Part of the freedom of linux is saying no to updates -- without having to go offline.

Linux is free in more ways than one.

[Grizzellda]

I know! And I hear you! But even if Linux is flexible, what if the HARDWARE SUPPLIERS make different products, and do different things. Do you think they care about you...or Linux?

[Zeisner]

Got it. But at some point you may have to update for various issues.

What then?

It's not a running system if you have to update.

[j_e_g]

you may have to update Linux...
What then?

Pray.

[procrastive]

I know! And I hear you! But even if Linux is flexible, what if the HARDWARE SUPPLIERS make different products, and do different things. Do you think they care about you...or Linux?

I'm sure they don't care. That's only a problem to me if I care about their hardware.

[Pictus]

Part of the freedom of linux is saying no to updates -- without having to go offline.

I'm using Windows online and only getting updates when I want to.
https://www.sordum.org/9470/windows-upd ... cker-v1-8/
For anyone interested, WUB is not a malware, check the links below.
https://virusscan.jotti.org/en-US/files ... pzwjyjvd4o
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/187 ... ?nocache=1

[procrastive]

Part of the freedom of linux is saying no to updates -- without having to go offline.

I'm using Windows online and only getting updates when I want to.
https://www.sordum.org/9470/windows-upd ... cker-v1-8/
For anyone interested, WUB is not a malware, check the links below.
https://virusscan.jotti.org/en-US/files ... pzwjyjvd4o
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/187 ... ?nocache=1

And then if you have to update Windows...

Linux gives you far more choices about when and how to update, as well as what. You are free to choose these things (although it might not be all that easy to figure out how to make your choices effective).

Pros & cons, you know...

[Pictus]

And then if you have to update Windows...

IF I have to update? No problem, just set WUB to enable update again.

Linux gives you far more choices about when and how to update, as well as what. You are free to choose these things (although it might not be all that easy to figure out how to make your choices effective).

Pros & cons, you know...

In +- 1999 was the first time I compiled Linux kernel and was able to play StarCraft.

[audiojunkie]

These two concepts seem very similar to me.

But with Linux it is free. Well, we think it is "free" ...but someone must be putting in the work, because nothing in life is free, from my position.

Although I'm a big fan of Linux in general, I'm not a big fan of Rolling distros. Rolling distros give you the absolute latest, "bleeding edge" software that is available for linux. The problem with rolling distros, is that often there are breaking changes. This is just a regular part of software evolution. However, often, it requires manual intervention, in that the user has to manually fix software to bring it up to the current version and working. The Arch family of distros do this.

For some, this is not a problem at all. Some people enjoy rolling distros and enjoy actively maintaining their OS. As for myself, I prefer to have "Leading Edge" software that is still very new, but is not a rolling release. For instance, Fedora was the first to have Pipewire. However, I didn't have to do any manual intervention to upgrade to the current version. I just ran the upgrade, by selecting the upgrade button. Easy, modern, problem free. These are the ways that Linux does things.

Windows does things differently, but not too differently. Aside from very rare upgrades (ie going from Win10 to Win11), Windows generally runs very similarly to a rolling distro. There are updates that come, when they are ready. Patches generally get released to the system as soon as they are available -- like a rolling distro. However, one will almost never need to do any manual intervention--usually when you DO have to do manual intervention, it's when something goes wrong and you have to fix it. This does happen, but not too frequently.

Windows has a reputation of starting installs without warning, and at inconvenient times. This "used to" be the case, but has largely been resolved, by allowing the user to choose when to do updates. There are further settings to manage this. So, things are much better in this area than it used to be. You can even schedule when you want to do the updates. Linux is starting to do this as well. So, in essence, Windows upgrades aren't really that bad anymore. It has a bad reputation from past problems, but the OS doesn't really deserve the reputation anymore.

In all honestly, if it wasn't for the loss of freedoms and privacy, the flexibility and efficiency of Linux itself, Windows' monetization of the user, and the cost of licensing Windows (largely subsidized by hardware manufacturers) , I would probably use Windows myself--and I'm a hardcore fan of Linux. My linux preference is more ideological than for most other reasons. People complain about Windows, but it's actually a pretty solid operating system. People complain about Linux, but these days, it's a pretty solid operating system too. So is MacOS, if I'm being honest. They can all pretty much do the same as each other, it just comes down to your ideological preference, and whether you want any privacy or freedom when using a computer or not.

[legendCNCD]

And then if you have to update Windows...

IF I have to update? No problem, just set WUB to enable update again.

Linux gives you far more choices about when and how to update, as well as what. You are free to choose these things (although it might not be all that easy to figure out how to make your choices effective).

Pros & cons, you know...

In +- 1999 was the first time I compiled Linux kernel and was able to play StarCraft.

1993 for me...

[BertKoor]

For me it was 1970, just a minute (or two) after midnight of New Years Eve

[lfm]

Thread has gone even pre Monty Python


I've used Pictus suggestions WUB, 8 months on w10 and 15 months on w11.
- works fine

Thanks Pictus for the suggestion that I live by....