For as long as I can remember, technology has shaped my creativity. In the early 90s, my first real interaction with computers wasn’t about spreadsheets or gaming – it was about music. I owned two Atari systems, not because they were trendy, but because they had something unique: a built-in MIDI interface. If you were serious about composing back then, having a direct MIDI connection wasn’t just useful—it was essential.
Computers weren’t the only machines evolving; synthesizers and digital workstations were also undergoing their own revolution. I eventually traded my Atari for a Roland W30, a leap forward that let me compose without relying on computers at all. But in the background, personal computing was accelerating rapidly. Windows 3.1 arrived, then Windows 95, bringing with it a promise far greater than improved UI – the internet.
For a moment, it felt like computing had reached a golden era. I upgraded once more to Windows 98, enjoying a familiar yet increasingly powerful environment. But then, one conversation changed everything.
When Linux Was the “Cool Kid”
Working at IBM, I met a colleague who was obsessed with Linux. He talked about it as if it were some kind of secret society – a world where users weren’t bound by Microsoft’s rules, where freedom and customization reigned. His passion was contagious, and soon, I found myself stepping into the open-source world.
Linux had its charms. There was something inherently satisfying about learning the inner workings of an operating system, about having control over nearly every aspect of it. For years, I thrived in that environment. I built websites, explored programming, and took pride in using a system that few truly understood. But despite the many years I spent with Linux, there was always an underlying friction—one that tech forums brushed aside but never truly solved.
The Unspoken Struggles of Linux
For 25 years, Linux was my daily driver. And while many will swear by its strengths, I won’t pretend that the experience was always seamless. Power management was unpredictable – I lost track of how many times I had to troubleshoot suspend and wake issues that should have just worked. Bluetooth devices forget themselves, forcing re-pairing when the system decides it’s no longer interested in remembering them. Then there were the NVIDIA driver headaches, the web development quirks, and the feeling that certain fundamental usability challenges had gone unresolved for decades.
One frustration was particularly telling: setting up a local web development environment should be easy. Yet Linux still doesn’t offer a simple one-click LAMP stack installation in 2025. Instead, users are expected to go through the same manual configurations that have existed for nearly two decades. Whenever someone dares suggest automation, they’re met with the classic rebuttal: “Choice matters more than convenience.” But at some point, choice should mean having an easy option too.
Over time, I found myself drifting away from Linux, not because I had lost interest in open-source software, but because I was tired of unnecessary friction. Technology should work for me, not against me.
Why I Came Back to Windows
After years of keeping Linux as my primary OS, I finally decided to reevaluate. I installed Windows 11 on most of my machines, and suddenly, the problems I had resigned myself to disappeared:
- Suspend mode works reliably – no odd crashes, no lost sessions, just instant wake-ups.
- My Bluetooth keyboard is remembered – without me having to dig through settings to fix something that shouldn’t be broken.
- NVIDIA drivers are solid – offering performance levels that Linux struggles to match.
- Web development is simpler, thanks to streamlined local server setups.
Was the transition easy? Yes and no. But frustration-free computing isn’t just about specs or ideology – it’s about daily usability, about trusting that your system won’t turn small tasks into troubleshooting adventures.
I still prefer open-source software – I still appreciate FreeCAD, GIMP, Godot, Blender, Thunderbird, and many others. But when it comes to the foundation that powers everything? Windows has earned its place in my setup again.
Linux will always have its devotees, but for me, convenience matters. And after decades of navigating computing’s evolution, I’ve finally found a system that works for me – not one I have to work around.
Lastly, a huge THANK YOU to Rufus and Chris Titus. Rufus makes installing Windows 11 a breeze – without the hassle of a Microsoft account. And Chris Titus’s Windows Utility is a game-changer for removing bloat and fine-tuning Windows into the streamlined system it should be.