• ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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    7 hours ago

    I remember when I was dualbooting Windows and Linux. The year was 2006 and many devices needed special drivers that were closed sourced and available only for Windows. Laptop cameras, WiFi, memory card readers… Linux would run on most laptops but many things still didn’t work right. Similar thing with some software. You would buy a smart watch or something and it would require running some weird Windows only app to set it up. We’re so lucky those strange times are behind us now.

    • FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      I haven’t really messed with it since installing it on a PS3 so the growth combined with MS bullshit is compelling to bring me back

    • voodooattack@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      You would buy a smart watch or something and it would require running some weird Windows only app to set it up.

      Unfortunately still the case for most BIOS updaters, RGB/cooling setups, and proprietary HID stuff. You need Windows for anything beyond the basics.

      • Err(()).unwrap()@lemmy.worldM
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        6 hours ago

        most BIOS updaters

        I’ve had to RMA plenty of otherwise perfectly usable motherboards because Windows had fucked up their firmware with unprompted updates, bordering on zero-click malware behaviour. The farther that shit stays from Linux, the better.

      • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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        7 hours ago

        Not really. Plenty of hardware to choose from today. Yes, it’s possible that some random RGB/cooling setup will not work with Linux but you can easily find one that will. 20 years ago it was possible that the one device with Linux drivers what too expensive or didn’t have the features you needed.