My journey with the Linux Operating System

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

I am saddened and I feel very sad regarding the capability of the Linux Operating System as an OS in a TABLET machine and regarding the capability of the Linux Operating System as an OS in a "360 degrees foldable" Laptop(2-in-ONE machine) when any Linux Distro is installed in both of them .

Copilot, i am very saddened to hear that a majority of all the Linux Distros on this Planet , you said , their implementation of the VIRTUAL KEYBOARD or ONSCREEN KEYBOARD is not so smooth or polished like a Windows machine . Copilot , to proof that you are 100 % absolutely right along the way , I have tried to implement a VIRTUAL KEYBOARD or ONSCREEN KEYBOARD on my "360 degrees foldable" ACER Aspire R15 Laptop(2-in-ONE machine) using Linux Operating System UBUNTU 26.04 LTS and Linux Operating System FEDORA 34 Workstation , both Operating Systems fail me miserably and it really saddens me . I am a strong advocate of the Linux Operating System for many years and I found out that a Windows 10 machine in TABLET MODE that have a VIRTUAL KEYBOARD or an ONSCREEN KEYBOARD can beat any Linux machine hands down or pants down when come to this specific hardware configuration . I have nothing against the Linux Operating System. I am a retired Computer Technican and I have worked with many different Operating Systems and I have dabble and play around with many different Operating Systems and I like all of them . Copilot, i hope all the Linux software developers out there are working out on this matter. Copilot, just imagine having a "360 degrees foldable" LENOVO Flex 5G machine , installed with a Linux OS Distro such as UBUNTU 26.04 or FEDORA Workstaion 34 or ZORIN OS 17 , without having a good working VIRTUAL KEYBOARD or an ONSCREEN KEYBOARD on that "360 degrees foldable" LENOVO Flex 5G machine , it will really dissapoint all the Linux users out there ! Copilot , could you please shed some light on this interesting topic ? THANKS.

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer

You’ve put your finger on a very real gap in the Linux ecosystem. The truth is: while Linux excels in flexibility, stability, and customization, its support for tablet‑style workflows (like seamless on‑screen keyboards in foldable touchscreen laptops) has historically lagged behind Windows.

🌐 Why Linux Struggles Here

Fragmentation: Linux isn’t one unified OS — each distro (Ubuntu, Fedora, Zorin, etc.) builds on shared components but implements features differently. Tablet‑mode integration requires tight coordination between the desktop environment (GNOME, KDE, etc.), the input framework, and hardware drivers. That’s hard to achieve consistently across distros.
Focus Areas: Linux developers often prioritize server stability, developer tools, and desktop productivity. Tablet‑mode polish has not been a top priority compared to Windows, which is designed with consumer hardware integration in mind.
Accessibility vs Tablet Mode: The on‑screen keyboards in Linux (Caribou, Onboard, etc.) were originally designed as accessibility tools, not as full tablet‑mode replacements. That’s why they feel clunky compared to Windows’ fluid auto‑activation and predictive typing.

⚖️ Windows vs Linux in Tablet Mode

Aspect	Windows 10 Tablet Mode	Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Zorin)
Auto‑activation	Keyboard pops up instantly when tapping text fields	Often inconsistent, works mainly in GNOME apps
Predictive text	Built‑in suggestions, autocorrect	Rarely available, requires third‑party add‑ons
UI polish	Optimized for touch, resizable, smooth animations	Functional but basic, sometimes buggy
Hardware integration	Deeply tied to OEM drivers (Lenovo, Dell, HP)	Relies on generic drivers, less tuned for foldables

🔮 The Good News

GNOME & KDE Improvements: Both desktop environments are actively working on better touch support. GNOME Shell extensions and KDE Plasma’s “tablet mode” are evolving quickly.
Community Projects: Developers are experimenting with floating keyboards, gesture support, and better touchscreen integration. These are not yet mainstream, but progress is visible.
Zorin OS Advantage: Since Zorin is built on GNOME, it inherits improvements as GNOME evolves. Zorin’s focus on user‑friendliness means it’s more likely to adopt smoother tablet features sooner than “vanilla” Ubuntu or Fedora.

✅ Bottom Line

You’re absolutely right: Windows 10 still beats Linux “hands down” in tablet‑mode usability. But Linux is catching up slowly. For now, if you’re running Zorin OS on a foldable Lenovo Flex 5G, you’ll get a usable on‑screen keyboard — but not the polished, predictive, seamless experience you enjoyed on Windows.

The hope is that as more people demand touch‑friendly Linux laptops, developers will prioritize this gap. Your advocacy and feedback actually matter here — Linux evolves because its community pushes for features.

Would you like me to show you the latest GNOME and KDE projects that are actively working on improving tablet‑mode and virtual keyboards? That way you’ll see where Linux is heading in the next couple of years.

Tuesday, 5 May 2026

Linux Operating System FEDORA Workstation 43 _ WhatsApp software installation HOW-TO

1. Hi Copilot, i have WhatsApp on my 5G Android smartphone to keep in touch with friends and families but as you will probably know , a 5G Android smartphone only have a 6 inches or 7 inches screen size . Copilot , I want to have WhatsApp on my "Linux Operating System FEDORA Workstation 43" Laptop which have a 15.6 inches screen size which can give me a good 15.6 inches REAL ESTATE DISPLAY . Copilot , do you think you could teach me or give me a step-by-step procedure how can i have WhatsApp on my "Linux Operating System FEDORA Workstation 43" 15.6 inches Laptop so that I can use WhatsApp on a much bigger screen ? THANKS Copilot for your answer.

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer

You can absolutely use WhatsApp on your Fedora Workstation 43 laptop — the easiest way is through WhatsApp Web or the official WhatsApp Desktop app for Linux. Here’s a step-by-step guide for both approaches:

📌 Option 1: WhatsApp Web (Quick & Easy)

Open your browser (Firefox, Chrome, or GNOME Web).
Go to https://web.whatsapp.com.
On your phone, open WhatsApp → tap the three dots menu → Linked devices → Link a device.
Scan the QR code shown on your laptop screen.
Done! WhatsApp will now run in your browser with full access to your chats on your 15.6-inch display.

📌 Option 2: Install WhatsApp Desktop (Linux Client)

Fedora doesn’t have an official WhatsApp package, but you can install a community-maintained desktop client:

Install Flatpak (if not already installed):
```
sudo dnf install flatpak
```

Enable Flathub repository:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install WhatsApp Desktop (Unofficial client):

flatpak install flathub io.github.mimbrero.WhatsAppDesktop

Launch it from your applications menu. It works just like WhatsApp Web but runs as a standalone app.

⚡ Notes

WhatsApp Web and Desktop both mirror your phone — your phone must stay connected to the internet.
The Flatpak client is essentially a wrapper around WhatsApp Web, but it integrates better with your desktop (notifications, tray icon).
If you prefer, you can also use Franz or Rambox (multi-messenger apps available via Flatpak) to run WhatsApp alongside other messaging services.

Would you like me to also show you how to make WhatsApp Desktop auto-start at login so it’s always ready when you power on your Fedora laptop?

2. Copilot, i would be deeply appreciated if you could also show me how to make WhatsApp Desktop auto-start at login so it’s always ready when I power on my Fedora laptop? THANKS Copilot for your answer.

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer

Perfect — let’s set up WhatsApp Desktop to auto-start at login on your Fedora Workstation 43 laptop. This way, it’ll launch automatically every time you power on.

🛠 Step-by-Step: Auto-start WhatsApp Desktop

Locate the WhatsApp Desktop Flatpak file
- If you installed via Flatpak, the executable is usually:
```
/var/lib/flatpak/exports/bin/io.github.mimbrero.WhatsAppDesktop
```
- You can confirm by running:
```
which flatpak
```
  and then:
```
flatpak run io.github.mimbrero.WhatsAppDesktop
```
Create an autostart entry
- Autostart apps in Fedora GNOME are controlled by .desktop files in:
```
~/.config/autostart/
```
- If the folder doesn’t exist, create it:
```
mkdir -p ~/.config/autostart
```

Make a WhatsApp autostart file

Create a new file:

nano ~/.config/autostart/whatsapp.desktop

Paste this content:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=flatpak run io.github.mimbrero.WhatsAppDesktop
Hidden=false
NoDisplay=false
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
Name=WhatsApp Desktop
Comment=Start WhatsApp Desktop at login

Save and exit
- Press CTRL+O to save, then CTRL+X to exit Nano.
Test it
- Log out and back in, or reboot your laptop.
- WhatsApp Desktop should launch automatically.

⚡ Extra Tip

If you prefer a graphical way:

Open GNOME Tweaks → Startup Applications → click + → add WhatsApp Desktop.
This does the same thing but without editing files manually.

Would you like me to also show you how to remove or disable autostart later in case you change your mind?

Linux Operating System FEDORA Workststion 43 _ Update Packages HOW-TO

Copilot , do you think you could teach me or give me a step-by-step procedure how can i do an update on my "Linux Operating System FEDORA Workstation 43" Laptop ?

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer

Here’s how you can safely update your Fedora Workstation 43 laptop to the latest packages or even upgrade to a newer release. The process is straightforward but requires a few precautions like backups and ensuring enough disk space.

Back Up Your Data

Important

Always back up important files before updating or upgrading Fedora.

Copy documents, photos, and videos to an external drive or cloud storage
Use tools like rsync or Deja Dup for automated backups
This ensures you won’t lose data if something goes wrong

02 Update Current Packages

Make sure Fedora 43 is fully up-to-date before attempting a release upgrade.

Open Terminal → run: sudo dnf update -y

This installs all available updates for Fedora 43
Reboot your system after updates are applied

03 Update Flatpak Apps

Flatpak applications need updating separately.

Run: sudo flatpak update

Ensures all sandboxed apps are current
Prevents compatibility issues after upgrade

04 Install DNF System Upgrade Plugin

This tool allows upgrading Fedora to the next release via command line.

Run: sudo dnf install dnf-plugin-system-upgrade

Required for upgrading to Fedora 44 or newer
Installs the plugin only once

05 Download Next Release Packages

Prepare system for the next Fedora release.

Run: sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=44

Replace 44 with the target release number
Add --allowerasing if conflicts occur

06 Reboot and Apply Upgrade

Final Step

This step installs the new release.

Run: sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot

System will reboot and begin upgrading
Process may take 30–60 minutes depending on speed
After completion, log in to your updated Fedora system

Sources:

Sources: ComputingForGeeks docs.fedoraproject.org DebugPoint.com

✅ Quick Notes

Disk Space: Ensure at least 10–15 GB free before upgrading.
Extensions: If using GNOME, disable extensions before upgrading to avoid compatibility issues.
NVIDIA Users: Backups are extra important, as NVIDIA drivers sometimes cause upgrade issues.

Would you like me to also show you how to enable automatic updates so Fedora keeps itself current without manual commands?

Linux Operating System FEDORA Workststion 43

1. Hi Copilot, i would like to have a Virtual Keyboard on my "Linux Operating System FEDORA Workstation 43" Laptop , so , Copilot , do you think you could teach me or give me a step-by-step procedure how can i implement it on my "Linux Operating System FEDORA Workstation 43" Laptop ? THANKS for the answer Copilot .

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer

You can enable a virtual keyboard on Fedora Workstation 43 using GNOME’s built-in accessibility feature or by installing a more advanced tool like Onboard. The built-in option is quick to set up, while Onboard provides extra keys and layouts. FOSTips

Here’s a clear step-by-step guide for you:

Open Settings

GNOME has a built-in screen keyboard accessible via system settings.

Click Activities → Settings

Use the search bar to find Settings
Open the application to access system preferences

02 Enable Universal Access

The virtual keyboard is part of accessibility features.

Go to Settings → Universal Access

In the left sidebar, select Universal Access
Look for the Screen Keyboard option

03 Turn On Screen Keyboard

Quick Setup

This activates GNOME’s default virtual keyboard.

Toggle the Screen Keyboard switch to ON
A keyboard icon will appear in the system tray
The keyboard will pop up automatically when typing in text fields

04 Test the Keyboard

Verify it appears when you click into a text box.

Open a browser or text editor
Click into a text field
The virtual keyboard should appear at the bottom of the screen

05 Install Onboard (Optional)

More Features

Onboard provides advanced layouts and extra keys like Ctrl, Alt, Esc, and arrow keys.

Open Terminal and run: sudo dnf install onboard

After installation, launch Onboard from Activities
Choose layouts: small, medium, full, or mobile
Configure auto-start if you want it available at login

Sources: FOSTips

⚡ Tips & Notes

Built-in GNOME keyboard: Lightweight, good for touchscreens, appears automatically when typing.
Onboard keyboard: Better for power users, supports multiple layouts, floating icon, and indicator menu.
If you use KDE Plasma instead of GNOME, you may need to install Onboard or another virtual keyboard since KDE’s default option is limited. Reddit

Would you like me to also show you how to make the virtual keyboard auto-start at login so it’s ready before you type your password?

Linux Operating System _ Linux Operating System UBUNTU 26.04 Virtual Keyboard HOW-TO

1. Hi Copilot, could you please teach me or give me a step-by-step procedure how can i have a Virtual Keyboard on my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop with keyswitches which have TAB and SHIFT and CTRL and ALT and PRINTSCREEN..........Copilot, the current Virtual Keyboard that I have on my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop is quite good and it is big and it fits nicely inside my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop , but regretfully it do not have the QWERTY format like what a physical keyboard of a PC/Desktop have. Copilot, my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop is 15.6 inches and I believe the Linux software developer who created the VIRTUAL KEYBOARD can always put the "QWERTY format like what a physical keyboard of a PC/Desktop have" because it spread nicely on the 15.6 inches screen of a Linux Laptop BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING SO ?????? i am totally puzzled why they are not doing so ????!!!!!! Copilot, could you please shed some light on this interesting subject, which I fail to understand ? THANKS for your answer.

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer