this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Hardware support is either non existent>generic driver>manufacturer driver that never gets updates
This sucks because on windows you'd be getting manufacturer driver support with updates and software tool support for additional configuration.
All the other "problems" are double edged because yes they are a problem for some but for others its a huge positive. For instance having all the files like .bashrc .compose .desktop as a way of configuring things is cool when you know an arcane when you dont. It should be in the settings gui.
On the plus side, for example, there are thousands of printers and scanners where the manufacturer never released a 64bit windows driver even if some of them were sold during the vista 64 bit era or even windows 7.
In that case Linux it's the only way to make them work on a modern computer (unless supported by paid third party drivers like vuescan or printfab)
Windows has a thing similar to cups to detect and use these.
It's very unlikely that those printers can support the new "universal print" standard (mopria, 2013)
At most can put them as generic printer text only which is worse