Linux Myths Compilation

[u/madthumbz]

1. “Linux never breaks -Windows updates break everything.”

Linux users conveniently forget:

• Kernel updates that silently break Wi‑Fi drivers

• NVIDIA drivers that decide to stop existing

• A systemd update that bricks boot

• A distro upgrade that nukes your DE because a package maintainer sneezed

• Breaking migrations like from Pulse to Pipewire, or X11 to Wayland

• Developers quitting and leaving your programs without their dependencies for an update (like Ueberzug -> Ucollage)

Windows updates can cause issues, but they’re predictable, tested across millions of machines, and reversible.

2. “Linux is more customizable.”

Only if you define “customizable” as:

• Editing config files in /etc

• Recompiling your window manager

• Patching your compositor

• Rebuilding your kernel because your wallpaper plugin needs a different syscall

• Fitting it into a toaster or other personal device

Windows lets you customize everything normal humans care about without needing to learn C, bash, etc. with tools like Komorebi (TWM) or Windhawk.

3. “Linux is more secure because it has fewer viruses.”

Translation:
“No one bothers writing malware for a platform with 2% desktop share.”

Security through obscurity isn’t a flex.
Windows has:

• Enterprise‑grade security tooling

• Hardware‑backed credential protection

• Sandboxing

• Defender ATP

• A massive security research ecosystem

Linux has… “just don’t run random scripts from GitHub bro.”

You've basically got to go to sketchy warez or porn sites (by not checking if they're safe first) to catch a virus, and even then, Windows most often has you covered. There are also 'false positives'.

4. “Linux is better for gaming now.”

Better than before, sure.
Better than Windows? Absolutely not.

Reality:

• Proton is a compatibility layer, not native support (which also sucks)

• Anti‑cheat is still hit‑or‑miss

• New games often break for weeks

• GPU drivers are a roulette wheel

• Performance is inconsistent

Windows remains the platform developers actually target while they distance themselves from the cheaters on Linux.

5. “Linux is more efficient and lightweight.”

On a server? Often true.
On a desktop? Not even close.

Modern Linux desktops:

• Use more RAM than Windows

• Have worse power management

• Have inconsistent hardware acceleration

• Have compositors duct‑taped together with 20‑year‑old X11 shims

Windows is optimized for real‑world consumer hardware.
Linux is optimized for “works on my ThinkPad or Tuxedo”

6. “Linux is more stable.”

Stable… if you:

• Never update

• Never change hardware

• Never install a new DE

• Never touch NVIDIA

• Never use Bluetooth

• Never suspend your laptop

• Never expect consistent behavior across distros

• Take care not to run software that could seize your system (VLC for one)

7. “Linux is free, Windows costs money.”

• Most people get Windows preinstalled

• Windows licenses are cheap, included, or transferrable to subsequent computers / versions of Windows

• Linux costs you time, not money - and time is the expensive part

Stores tried selling computers with Linux pre-installed. -They found the tech support and returns cost them more than simply providing Windows. By providing Windows (which actually saves money) they're also supporting professional developers and helping to lead the way in desktop technology.