There comes a moment when you stop "trying to fix things" and you simply decide to change direction.

That moment came for me with Windows 11.

I’m not going to do the usual dance of "maybe the next update will solve it" or "perhaps I configured something wrong." No. Some tools, when they start causing problems again and again, steal something more valuable than time: they steal your patience. And when you’re tired, when your mind is full, or when you just want to work in peace, the last thing you need is an operating system putting obstacles in your way.

I don’t want to feel like every time I open my laptop I have to negotiate with my computer.

I want to open it and work.

I don’t want a system that complicates my life

My Lenovo laptop (Ryzen 3) with Windows 11 became a perfect example of what I don’t want.

Windows 11 feels heavy. It eats disk space, runs too much in the background, pushes things I didn’t ask for, and too often it feels designed to "manage" the user more than to serve the user.

Some people tolerate it. Some even like it.

I don’t.

I want my computer to be like a workbench: if I sit down, it’s to build something, not to fight.

The last straw: I couldn’t even install Office legally

Then came the breaking point.

I tried to install Microsoft Office legally, and Windows 11 simply wouldn’t let me. Errors, blocks, nonsense. That was a clear message to me: this is not a reliable environment.

I don’t want to depend on a system that interrupts me, forces me into hoops, or turns something straightforward into a headache.

Because in the end this is not about "technology." It’s about something much simpler:

peace of mind.

Linux isn’t a trend — it’s mental hygiene

I’m not saying Linux is perfect. But Linux has something that is almost a luxury today: respect for the user.

And by "respect" I mean practical things:

• It boots fast.
• It doesn’t drag itself with a thousand processes I didn’t ask for.
• It doesn’t impose a "way of working" on me.
• It doesn’t jump in front of me when I just want to write, design, or think.

I want a laptop that is a tool, not a battlefield.

Manjaro + Cinnamon: the sweet spot between freedom and comfort

I don’t want an ultra-minimal Linux setup just to brag about commands. And I don’t want to lose days tweaking every screw.

I want something stable, clean, and comfortable.

That’s why Manjaro appeals to me (and with Cinnamon, even better): modern, smooth, and with a desktop that feels familiar. It lets me focus on what matters: doing the work.

My "real office": OnlyOffice, Scribus… and goodbye subscriptions

I work with text. Chapters. Documents. Layout. Structure.

So my ideal setup is simple:

• OnlyOffice for .docx work without formatting surprises.
• Scribus for serious layout and publishing.
• GIMP for image editing.
• Inkscape for vectors, icons, and clean graphics.

And here’s the part I love the most:

I’m done with software that tries to trap you into monthly subscriptions and pointless "upgrade tiers." I’m done paying unnecessary fees just to keep doing what I was already doing yesterday.

I don’t mind paying for value. But I refuse to pay for friction.

The decision: Windows out, work in

So yes—when I have one free afternoon, I’m going to do what I’ve been thinking for a long time.

I already have the USB ready. I’ll boot from it, wipe Windows 11, and turn this laptop into a dedicated Linux machine: fast, clean, and focused.

Not out of anger. Not out of ideology.

Out of something simpler:

I want my time back. And I want my head back.

If a tool gives you peace, you keep it. If a tool steals your peace, you let it go.

And I’ve decided.

Closing question

Have you ever hit a "breaking point" with an operating system? Did you move to Linux, or do you stay with Windows because you have to?

I’d love to read your thoughts.

If you enjoyed this post, please leave me a tip.