Why I Moved from Ubuntu to Fedora — and Fell in Love

Switching Linux distributions is like moving to a new city. It’s exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of surprises — both pleasant and challenging. After years of calling Ubuntu my home, I recently made the leap to Fedora, and I have to say, it feels like I’ve found my perfect match.

While the transition wasn’t without its quirks (hello, fingerprint reader and camera setup!), Fedora has won me over with its smoothness, speed, and elegant simplicity.

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Why I Left Ubuntu

Let’s start with the why. Ubuntu served me well for years. It was my go-to for development, casual use, and even a bit of gaming. But as my needs grew and my curiosity expanded, I started noticing a few things:

1. PPA Overload: Adding Personal Package Archives (PPAs) for software updates felt like patchwork. I wanted a more integrated, modern approach to managing software.

2. Performance Lags: Over time, Ubuntu started feeling heavier. Boot times weren’t snappy, and certain tasks seemed to tax my system more than I expected.

3. Desktop Experience: While GNOME on Ubuntu is solid, I felt it lacked the cutting-edge feel I was craving.

   
   

Enter Fedora, a distribution I’d always admired from afar for its focus on open-source principles and upstream-first philosophy.

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The Fedora First Impressions

Installing Fedora was a breeze. The default GNOME desktop is vanilla, modern, and just plain gorgeous. It felt lighter and faster right out of the box. Updates are seamlessly integrated through DNF, and Flatpak support opens a whole world of possibilities for modern app management.

What I Loved:

1. Smoothness: Fedora GNOME feels like gliding on ice. Animations, transitions, and general responsiveness were noticeably better than what I experienced on Ubuntu.

2. Simplicity with Power: Fedora’s ecosystem feels minimalistic yet powerful. There’s less clutter, and tools like Cockpit for system management add a pro touch.

3. Cutting-Edge Software: Fedora’s close-to-upstream approach means I always get the latest GNOME features and kernel updates without delays.

   
   

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The Quirks and How I Fixed Them

Of course, no move is without its hiccups. Here’s what needed some manual intervention:

Fingerprint Reader

Fedora didn’t detect my fingerprint reader out of the box. With a bit of digging, I found a tool called fprintd, which made configuration straightforward:

sudo dnf install fprintd

fprintd-enroll

After a few swipes, I was ready to log in with just a tap. It’s these little moments of accomplishment that make using Linux so satisfying.

Camera Setup

My webcam wasn’t functional initially either, which was a surprise. The issue turned out to be a missing driver. After some research, a simple firmware update and v4l-utils package did the trick:

sudo dnf install v4l-utilssudo dnf install v4l-utils

Now, everything works like a charm.

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The Verdict: Why Fedora Feels Like Home

Despite the initial quirks, Fedora has brought joy back to my computing experience. It’s fast, elegant, and gives me the feeling of being on the cutting edge of technology. I’m more productive, and my system stays out of my way, letting me focus on what matters.

If you’re considering a change or looking for a distro that combines innovation with simplicity, give Fedora a try. You might just fall in love like I did.

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What about you? Have you made the move to Fedora or another distro? Share your experience in the comments — I’d love to hear about your Linux journey!