Remember How Fun Computers Used to Be?

I was testing out Omarchy Quattro, and I noticed something odd… I was having fun.

I think I first seriously used Ubuntu Linux in 2011 and really liked it. I was coming from macOS, which I loved, and it felt pretty good. Not as good, but good.

Then… I discovered Compiz Fusion and OMG. Do you remember this period of life???

Things were on fire. Windows were transparent and wobbly. I was mesmerized by the desktop cube. It was awesome! It wasn’t the least bit practical, but it looked so cool! I was using Red Hat at work so it just felt like a nerdy fever dream. Since that moment, computers have only been less fun. I love macOS. I really do. It is just kind of clinical. Perfection delivered on a 13-month cycle.

I feel like the combination of very capable AI and open-source operating systems is getting the band back together. Fedora actually just brought back the desktop cube with KDE Plasma! I also wrote a post about how Omarchy Linux includes things that are just… fun, like the Memento Mori calendar.

For the last 20 years, operating systems have been the delivery vehicle for fun. They just needed to be stable enough to get the users to the web or games. Now, you can have your OS and enjoy it too.