Why a non-dev switches to Linux

I was an Apple guy for more than twenty years. If you had told me five years ago that there was a day when I would switch away from my MacBook and iPhone, I would have laughed.

This blog is about why I decided to leave this polished world and get into unknown territory.

It started with privacy.

I work in advertising, an industry that has become one of the biggest privacy-intruders in the last couple of years. As someone who witnessed the transition from analog ads to programmatic spying, I have become increasingly sceptical over digital advertising. I admit Facebook was fun in 2012, today I can't stand it anymore.

Big Tech knows too much about us and it capitalizes on sharing intimate data. You could argue now that Apple does not rely heavily on advertising compared to Alphabet or Meta. That is true but also Apple has a growing software business. As the iPhone, their cash-cow product, is facing heavier competition, I predict, software and ads (e.g. in the App store) will grow.

In case you want an example how privacy-intrusive Apple already is, read the intro in Michael Bazzell's book extreme privacy ((Link)).

Apple has lost its mojo

Apple used to be cool and innovative. You remember when people would queue up in the middle of the night before a new iPhone hit the stores? Noone would do that anymore.

Don't get me wrong. Apple is still a great hardware manufacturer and if you prefer a ready-made setup, their products are probably still the best choice on the market.

But I was looking for adventure.

My first experiences with Linux

So, I got into the world of Linux and its endless distros. I discovered Zorin OS, which is great for newbies coming from Mac. Its GUI interface is intuitive and you are getting used to it in few days.

The problem was that Zorin (and most other Linux distros) still feel like a trade-off. There are drawbacks in UX, visual design, software availability and other issues.

Spoiler: Omarchy will not solve all these issues. It doesn't have to.

Then came Omarchy

I had followed David Heinemeier Hansson for quite some time already. I like Basecamp's opinated-ness over digital products (Link: hey.com, basecamp.com) and productivity alike (Link Bücher, Podcast).

But it was only when I booted a USB stick with Arch Linux on it and ran the Omarchy install command, that I got really hooked.

Having my computer my way

What I realized that really frustrated me at Apple was that it felt it was their computer, not mine. Apple is like a five star resort. Everything looks wow, everything feels wow and your first impression (which may last long) is that you never want to leave this place. But this, like everything else, comes at a cost.

Besides minor tweaks, Apple does not give you a lot of control. They decide what store you can install apps from, what sources trusted software comes from. They offer you everything from cloud storage for your photos, to productivity apps to TV and music but they don't really want to let you go anymore. That's why it's so comfortable in there.

Linux on the other hand, is a bit like the Wild West. Once you're new there, you don't really know the rules. There are lots of stupid things you can do and they can get you into trouble. But on the other hand, there is still so much to explore. And once you found your spot, it is all yours.

How a non-Techie can survive with Linux

I guess many people are afraid of the cold Linux waters. Which is actually understandable. As a non-techie, I can say that today, Linux is probably as easy as never before.

• The community is growing and Linux people are generally very friendly and helpful.
• Thanks to LLMs, you can quickly and easily find help for a lot of problems. Be sure to backup data in case you change or delete critical data.

About me.

I am Simon, a copywriter from Zurich, Switzerland. Hit me up in case you have feedback. I would love to hear especially from other non-techies!