It’s generally easier because the drivers are built in. Nvidia is perfectly usable, but it’s more susceptible to breaking during kernel updates. It’s not as bad as everyone makes it sound though. That said, AMD is usually the way to go on Linux unless your use case requires Nvidia.
FYI this is the nouveau driver no one uses. There is absolutely no reason to use an nvidia card and this driver.
I have the latest Framework 13 and I had a ThinkPad before this. I can recommend either of them. The Framework is one of my favorite computers I’ve had, but it’s not cheap. You will save some money if you ever have to make repairs, but I don’t know how the TCO works out for upgrades. It’s more about empowerment and reducing waste though.
Linux runs fine on both the Framework and the ThinkPad. You can pretty much just take your pick of distros and they should work, although you may want to stick with one of the more up to date distros on Framework because it has new hardware. Fedora, Arch-based, Tumbleweed all work well.
There hasn’t been a better time before now and I think it will keep getting better. Linux used to be about making a lot of compromises. Now, it’s legitimately good on the desktop, although it’s admittedly still geared towards power users and developers.
I switched to a Mac right around when OS X was first released. Software was sometimes a little bit of an issue with things being Windows-only, but you could generally find something comparable on the Mac. During the next few years, it became increasingly common for developers to offer a Mac version alongside the Windows version and it changed everything. All of a sudden, Mac wasn’t a platform where you were going to run into a bunch of compatibility issues and people started adopting it.
That’s what Linux feels like these days. It’s finally reached the point of having enough market share that you don’t feel like a second class citizen using it. It is THE premier platform for developers and power users in the same way Mac became popular with developers 20-25 years ago. It’s the target platform for many developers considering it powers virtually the entire internet and a billion mobile devices. Also, what Valve did with Proton can’t be overstated. Their work on Proton and the Steam Deck is really a watershed moment for Linux. I think we are on the verge of seeing some decent Linux growth on the desktop.
I would love for him to find NixOS and then create a better version.
We need to sanction these fuckers. If you own a business, stop doing business with them. Don’t conduct any kind of transaction with them. Refuse service, tell them to leave your establishment, etc. Stop dating these losers, hanging out with them, etc. If you have one as your neighbor, give them the cold shoulder. These people live among us. Find out who they are and isolate them as much as possible. Don’t invite their kids to birthday parties, kick their kids out of sports leagues, etc. Be calm, polite and firm.