Hey everyone, I'm making the switch back to Linux as my main desktop OS after a long 12-year break. I used to be quite into it, particularly with Ubuntu versions from 2005-2013 but then transitioned to Windows for work. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the changes in the Linux landscape since I last used it. I'm curious about the state of different distros, new packaging systems like Snap and Flatpak, and what's up with modern desktop environments. Also, I'm looking for advice on hardware compatibility and ensuring data privacy. I want a stable, Debian-based workstation for development, media management, and the odd VM. Are the things I remember still relevant? Here are some specific questions I have: 1) How close is modern Gnome to the old Gnome 3? 2) What's the deal with Snap/Flatpak compared to apt? 3) Should I go for AMD or NVIDIA these days? 4) Any issues with 4K displays and KVMs? 5) How's disk encryption on Linux? 6) Is there something like OneDrive for Linux syncing? 7) What's the RDP situation? 8) How's MTP support for Android devices? 9) Recommendations for pre-built Linux towers, especially in terms of hardware compatibility? Thanks for any help!
6 Answers
Debian has really stepped up its game lately! They release new stable versions every two years, with the latest being Debian 13 just out. If you're after newer software, the backports repo can be quite useful without disrupting the stable environment too much. Basically, it can bring some up-to-date packages while keeping the stability you need.
If you're into RDP or remote access, things have improved a lot! There's a shift towards using video codecs for transmission which has sped things up. I've been trying RustDesk for my connections; it's worth checking out, but maybe play around with it to see if it suits your needs!
Regarding MTP support, most distros will let your Android show up as a drive in the file manager which is super convenient! But I find using an app like KDE Connect more reliable and faster for transferring files over WiFi, especially for those big files. It might depend on your phone's compatibility though.
Man, Ubuntu's been pushing Snaps really hard, and Red Hat is all about Flatpaks. A lot of APT packages are being switched to dummy packages that wrap around Snap installations. You’ll still find APT on Debian, but expect to see a bit more emphasis on those newer systems in Ubuntu down the line.
For the 4K@60hz with KVMs, as long as your graphics card is supported and has good drivers, you shouldn't run into major issues. Just be careful with cheaper KVMs that might not handle display data properly. A good quality KVM should work fine without the OS even recognizing any disconnections.
For full disk encryption, it’s pretty seamless now. There are options that allow you to manage encryption with minimal hassle, but you will still need to enter a password to boot. But hey, for ease of use, it really isn't too bad compared to what it used to be!
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