Your biggest tech challenge will likely be in installing linux. So take your time and work through a tutorial.
Linux is a fundamentally different OS from Windows. Some desktop environments resemble various Windows versions, while others are very different: they might be more Mac like, or more mobile like, or completely unfamiliar.
Installing programs is generally easier on linux because the default is to use the package manager (basically an app store) rather than downloading sketchy programs off websites that all want to update on their own schedule and all want to start when you boot the OS. Just search them, set updates to pop up weekly or whatever your preferred schedule is, and your package manager will do the rest.
Troubleshooting is harder for new users but easier for experienced users: it typically requires more work that can be daunting for casual users, but it lets you get much deeper into the OS to fix problems, where on Windows you might just be stuck waiting for a patch.
Compatibility is usually the biggest frustration, since many programs do not release a linux version, so you need to find alternatives or run them in a compatibility layer. Both of these solutions can sometimes cause problems getting the exact functionality you need, whereas if you’re using the natively supporting OS it may be smoother.
Thanks I appreciate the detailed response. Luckily I dont game. I’ll be honest I was hoping/ expecting it to suddenly be twice as fast and that was a major factor in considering linux. But if it decreases overheating I’m still happy with that.
I have been degoogling and going the foss roite on my phone to the point of considering graphene os for my phone too so won’t be going the google route thats for sure.
Even if you wanted to game casually, getting Steam and games running is straightforward these days. You just need to enable Steam Play for all titles in settings.
It seems that BT 5.3 in USB format is a challenge to find, let alone support under Linux. If 5.0 is acceptable, the TP Link UB500 uses an RTL8761B chipset which has been supported since around kernel 5.16.
I have a few UB500 and UB400 adapters and both have worked OOTB without issue under Fedora.
You shouşd definetly give mint a try it is one of the most just works distros. great for beginners, maybe test the software you want to use on the live environment before installing, if all goes well than give it a spin.
Plasma 6 is currently in beta, so it really isn’t meant to be used for anything other than testing. I have it installed on arch, and honestly it’s good enough for my use with wayland, but you will definitely will run into issues. I also use Nvidia, though, so I’d probably have more issues than you will.
Overall, I only recommend it right now if you can roll back or if it isn’t that big of a deal if your install breaks.
I think it depends on what you plan to use it for.
If it’s just browsing the web or basic usage (email, watching videos, etc.) it’s perfect for a tech illiterate person. You have distros that just work, like Mint, or Pop!_Os (compared to distros like Debian that can require a bit of tinkering, or Arch/Gentoo where you need to tinker a lot more). I’m not certain but I think these distros work well for gaming as well.
If you have specific needs for software like the Adobe suite, Excel or audio/video software, it’s still possible but definitely less accessible.
As far as the difference between Linux and Windows, I’m not sure you’d notice much if you stay at the surface. The main difference is the fact that you actually own your system and you can literally do what you want with it (even irreversibly break it).
This is pretty much my take. For tech newbies that essentially only need a browser, linux mint is great. On the other extreme, if you want to tinker, get your hands dirty, then you probably already know what distro you want.
It’s toughest for the people in between who need some more advanced os functionality or need programs that aren’t natively supported, but otherwise don’t want to know more about their os than they have to. Not because Linux doesn’t have that advanced functionality (and more!) or because there aren’t alternatives and workarounds for those programs, but because of the learning curve.
For someone already tech illiterate, the learning curve is almost a moot point. For the tinkerer, it’s practically a feature. But for the people in between, it can a real obstacle.
It can be a great experience. I used to work in a program for teaching informatics to people who didn’t have access to technology, and we used linux. The results were great. Most people who came from a phone-only background would feel more comfortable with gnome as a gui, so I’d recommend a gnome-based distro for you, like ubuntu, pop os or fedora. Don’t think too much about the distr, just pick one and give it a try. And don’t forget to post your experience here later.
But you don’t have to remove windows. You can install linux in another partition and have an option to choose which system you want to boot. If I remember well, the ubuntu installer has an option t do that automatically ( I will check for you later) . You can also install linux to an external usb media for testing and insert it every time you want to give it a try (usually, pressing f12 or other vendor-specific combination at boot time allows you to choose boot media)
Probably the most important thing to ask before you do anything is, do you have someone who can fix the computer if you screw it up? Installing Linux means removing Windows, so if you get half way through and get stuck, you’re going to be left with a computer that doesn’t work. Will you be able to recover it, or have someone who can?
Once you’re on the desktop, most of what you do is going to be very similar to Windows, except most of the programs will have different names. I would imagine that the vast majority of people can use Linux once it’s installed, especially if they’re in your situation, where they’re not used to computers and don’t have any habits from Windows.
Create a linux mint install USB. When you boot from it, you’ll be in a fully functional linux OS, without installing anything. This way you can try it out before making a commitment.
Although a recurring recommendation is to install linux on a second PC to try it for a while.
It doesn’t have to be someone who knows Linux, you just need to be able to get back to a working computer. If it means going back to Windows until you know more, that’s fine, just keep learning :)
Are you sure about that? Most countries around the world have a Linux user group of some sort. Find out what your local group is called, get in touch and I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone who’ll be more than happy to help.
Ok i’m reading up on this sub and not arch seems to be the consensus for a newbie. I want to download smth and just have it there without thinking bout it the way it is with windows. Not a hobby that i spend hours on.
Apparently theres many versions of linux you can get?
Linux Mint is very easy with GUI’s for everything you need and the UI is pretty similar out of the box. Try it out on a live usb before making the switch.
Yeah, don’t use Arch if you’re new to Linux and not tech-literate. You seem pretty interested in Linux Mint from other comments here, I’d say give that a go.
i gotta join in with the other Linux Mint voices here. It’s very user friendly. You just need to know:
the desktop environment is called Cinnamon. this will help you google stuff.
the system package manager is called APT, and if you just use the update manager you won’t have to interact with it directly, but it’s good to know.
in the software center many apps have the options sytem package or flatpak. system package means it goes through APT, flatpak is a sandbox system that is good for isolating your apps from your system. imo always choose flatpak, except for steam.
If you want to automate your system install Nix is a good one to look at, nowadays when I use a new system/wipe an existing one I can just install NixOS drop my config, sign into the things that need signing into and go
Obviously doesn’t work as well if you’re trying other distros but you can still use it on them
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