My story of Linux - sorry but NO

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OK, so I wanted to give Linux a try. Just like I do every 2-3 years.
And for the last 20 years there was always "something".
And this "something" wasn't even that big of a problem... but the solution was overwhelming. Like a punch in the face. Tons of configs, fiddling with terminal, dependencies, things like "if you have this and that, then do this and that..." things like "in line /usr/bin/blahblah.something change line 34 from wineuserconf=21424.21521 to wineuserconf=111.124"... you go to /user/bin and there's no file like blahblah.something or there is no line 34 (should I add it?) or there is no "wineuserconf=" but there is "winexuserconfig=" and well - is it the same?
No one knows because neither of the options works.

This. Is. Linux.

Back in the days, SUSE 6 or 7 times - you had to mount the CD-ROM in order to open. Wow. Such user friendliness! You have to use the terminal in order to do ANYTHING.

Years passed on, new distros came, some quite solid. For everyday tasks like web browsing or word processor - OK, usable. You can even set window behavior and other petty things. WOW.

BUT it's not just web browsing or opening Figma in the browser window...
I generally need, at this point, some 2-3 pieces of software that I really can't find replacements for. Or don't want to. One of them is Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher - the freshest version is the "v3" - Affinity Studio.

Tried OpenSUSE because I always liked this distro. No way. My nVidia GPU, after initially being able to work in 165Hz, after the UPDATE OF DRIVERS (!) stopped allowing this. Stuck at 60Hz.
The forums? Well... it IS a problem, there doesn't seem to be a solution, really. Blah blah... maybe Linux is not for you - haha! Thank you for helping me!
Someone mentioned they even changed the GPU to Intel hahaha : ) and I thought I could GAME on this distro!
And you know what? IMHO it should work just like that! Out of the box.
Does Linux want to be "for the people" or not?

OK, tried CachyOS and I remember half a year ago it worked. Dropped the distro because I wanted to open an encrypted PDF from my bank. A pretty normal job, right? You tend to get those encrypted PDF with e.g. card data.
The amount of work in the terminal (and it never works like it should!) was astounding. I just didn't have patience. And simply - I didn't want to have patience.
Does Linux want to be "for the people" or not?

Zorin 17 last year - no luck, don't even think about running Affinity on it.
Zorin 18.1 this year, fresh install... there's a dedicated script that does "everything". Well... Zorin is among those distros that aren't compatible with it. Zorin, the fresh and popular so-called "best Windows replacement"... haha...
OK, the other way - Lutris.
Installed this, that, downloaded this, that.
Winetricks is too old.
Github again. 2 pages of terminal commands - if you have this, then that, if you have this, then that, etc.
Here is winetricks: just download and install.
YEAH, SURE.
The alternative involves checking files, configurations, blah blah... tears came to my eyes while reading all this.

And I think I even got to the point when I actually started an update command or installed fresh winetricks which I thought would be the freshest version but still it downloaded something from 2025!

OK, I go to github to the winetricks project. There it is (latest winetricks)! The script opens in my browser window... but how do I install it? Oh... wait a minute - there it is! But what is an asc file?
It turns out it's an encrypted file (WHY???). There's even the password given next to it.
How to open it? Kgpg.
Installed Kgpg. How to run it? Clicking on the icon doesn't work.
Oh, the internet says there's a bug - you have to run it from the terminal with some additional parameters.
You get me? A program that has an icon in the system and is a typical GUI program that you have to run from the terminal.
OK, ran it.
But what next? Drag and drop of the asc file does nothing.
(I thought it would be THAT easy hahaha)

The web mentions importing the key? But where, how? Where is a + button or and "import" button... and how to use it later?
Why I can't just right mouse button click on the file and choose "decrypt with Kgpg" or something?
I still don't know how to decrypt the file.
Stuck and nearly in tears... this is the time of writing this text here.

And on the forums?
Oh, don't tell me what is happening on the forums.
They eat you alive if you question the genius of their lovable distro...
Linux is not for me, I am a Windows fanboy, I don't have the necessary skills blah blah... yeah, sure.

I understand Linux, know how to use this and that, the terminal, know about dependencies, definitely something like a mid-level user but also for sure higher than anyone who came fresh from Windows.
But wait... doesn't Linux want to be more popular? More - for the people?
And I just wanted to install one popular graphic design program and I wanted to decrypt a PDF from my bank! I didn't want to create magic, just wanted pretty much basic, every day stuff!

Holy ■■■■ Linux... get your sh** together.

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I can understand this Point. But i'm so ... arrogant and say that we here are not like this. When You have an Issue and You post it here, we try to help - independend if You an experienced User or not. And if it should be neccessay to suggest to choose a different Distro we do that, too. What counts: It have to work for You.

To say something to Your experience to run a Windows Program on Linux: this can be indeed tricky and it might not run well or not run at all. There is Software like WINE and the other who try to make Windows Software running. But these are no Guarantee that it runs.

Can I ask: Did You tried WinBoat to make this Adobe Stuff running? It is a relatively new Project and works a bit different than the others.

And I would like to mention another Thing: When You use Software like Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher this is made for Windows (and Mac when I saw that right). they don't offer a Linux Version. They could make it easier for the Users and offer a Linux Version but they don't do. So, You could blame them, too for not support it.

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In terms of Affinity 3 I did see a youtube video which pointed out its shortcomings now that Canva is in the driving seat, with Affinity being a 'regional branch' of Canva - in particular issues around Vector Graphics. Affinity 2 has been got to work with Winboat as confirmed by @NeilW who uses it regularly.
Someone posted a link to YouTube where someone showed how they configured WINE to run Adobe Photoshop, and in my searches, Winboat does indeed support Adobe CS6.

What I did not realise until today was that it actually needs to be running as a (K)VM - I did not realise that it installs basically a stripped down version of Windows 11 that it installs for you, minus all the 'you need a Microsoft Account to install' and all the other garbage that Microslop wants to apply to your Windows so that you become the product. You do need a reasonable amount of RAM though in order to be able to run it.

There is also a YouTube video on how to run Affinity 3 on GNU/Linux, but from what I can tell, even though the YouTuber states it should work with .deb (it doesn't) and they used Flatpak in their video to get it working. I personally object to Snap and Flatpak - period. If it can't run as a .deb then devs need to put the hours in to make it work. Flatpak should be restricted to IKEA! :rofl:

In respect of mounting the CD, don't forget a lot of hardware is copyrighted and a nordic teenager was put under house arrest after reverse engineering code to get DVD writers/players working with GNU/Linux. Unfortunately we don't live in a free society, because copyright and closed source prevents the GNU/Linux user community from accessing code without breaking the law. Go figure.

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Shocked The Wind GIF

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I hear your frustration and empathize.

If you have to run specific applications whose developers refuse to allow a Linux version, and you can't find an acceptable Linux compatible alternative, then you probably have no choice but to stay with Microslop, let them screenshot your machine ten times every second, sell your data and charge you a fortune for security apps you don't need for Linux and proprietary programs that have free open source alternatives. It's your choice and no one is going to try to talk you out of it.

We will try and help you with specific issues if you ask specific questions and we're all unpaid volunteers just trying to help our fellow users, so please be nice and respectful. Thanks and good luck with whatever course of action you decide on.

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Oh yes I'm so arrogant...
But I know how to search something on the web (and my mother 85, also.And she's so arrogant when she use linux... she was not with windows, strange no ?)

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I don't believe that the OP called anyone arrogant (did he?). He very much wants to use LInux, but is hamstrung due to the programs he must use. After yet another attempt, Zorin can't help him any more than the other distros could. After the hours of effort he has spent trying to make it work for himself and his needs, with no success, he blows off some steam in the feedback section. I think that's useful feedback.

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Sponsi,

I still have a Windows box because I too have programs for which I still need it.
But if we're still stuck with Windows, at least we don't have to put up with all their cruft.

I used the Chris Titus' free winutils utility to tame the installation. It is powerful and comprehensive. What a difference using it has made in the way the operating system responds, and how much less it nags me, etc. https://winutil.christitus.com/

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you could use Windows in Gnome Boxes
i have Windows 25H2 Home up and running in Gnome Boxes

as there are two programs i use occasionally
Garmin Express and Rufus ISO burner

best of luck Steve ..

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I think the OP was referring to other forums he has visited. That said times have changed since the early days of SuSE Linux which I haven't played with seriously since 9.3 Professional that I paid £43 for.

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In my opinion it very much sounds like you want a
Point click open OS and Linux will never be it.

That is all I will say about it right now, so you must get your act
together before trying Linux again

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When moving to another OS, virtualization is the key to reuse Windows-native software.
I recommend a "more complete" solution than Wine, e.g. Boxes or Qemu/KVM. They work out of the box. Only some minor glitches to overcome:

This is not a pure Linux problem. If you move e.g. to macOS, many people have to virtualize business software like Lexware, which sticks to Windows. All this is possible with a modern OS and modern hardware.