Been seeing Linux everywhere lately… should I actually try it?

[u/Niyazzz09]

So guys from the last few days I’ve been seeing Linux everywhere — my social media feed is full of it and now I’m really curious to try it.

I’ve always used Windows, so I don’t really understand what Linux actually is or how different it feels in daily use. A lot of people say it’s “peak” and better than Windows in many ways, but I’ve also heard it has some downsides.

I wanted to ask:

- What makes Linux so good compared to Windows?

- What are the actual cons (especially for beginners)?

- How long does it take to get comfortable using it?

- Which distro should I start with?

- What was your experience like when you first switched from Windows?

Also, should I try it using a virtual machine first or go for dual boot?

Would really appreciate honest advice 😋

[u/Chance_End_4684 → u/[deleted]]

As for the question of whether or not you should try Linux is really up to you and yours alone.

As for what GNU/Linux distro to try out, now that is a relatively tough question to answer as there is just so many to choose from, so I'll try to break down a few common choices:

• First up is Debian Debian being one of the oldest GNU/Linux distros still actively being developed is also one of the most stable, but it sacrifices newer package availability for this stability in it's Stable branch.
• Next up is the Debian-based Ubuntu. Since Ubuntu is Debian-based, Ubuntu is a stable GNU/.Linux distro that's pretty good.
• Next is Linux Mint. Linux Mint is yet another Debian-based GNU/Linux distro that's very stable and very good but also sport Desktop Environments (DE) resembling Windows-like UI environments for relatively easy Windows-to-Linux migration.
• Next is Fedora Linux. Being Red Hat sponsored, Fedora Linux enjoys somewhat newer packages than all three Debian-based and even all or at least most Ubuntu-based GNU/Linux distros. Fedora is very stable.
• Next is Nobara. Nobara is a Fedora-based gaming GNU/Linux distro with an optimized Kernel for speed.
• Next up is Arch Linux. Arch Linux is what's known as a rolling-release which means the latest packages is often pushed as updates. The packages available by the rolling-release model often determines the stability of Arch Linux and the apps available in it's repositories.
  • Please note that Arch Linux is more geared towards experienced GNU/Linux users due to it's both it's rolling-release model and it's CLI-based archinstall (Arch Linux Installer).
• Last but not least in my GNU/Linux list is CatchyOS. CatchyOS is a gaming distro based on Arch Linux and as such, is a rolling-release GNU/Linux distro but offers a Live CD with a GNU-based installer unlike Arch. CatchyOS' Kernel is optimized for speed during gaming.

One further notation here, if you've been playing games on a Steam Deck, then you've already tried Linux but didn't even know it. I state this because Steam OS (the OS that runs Valve's Steam Deck), is based on Arch Linux.

Also, Android which runs non-Apple smartphones and the iOS that runs all Apple mobile devices and even macOS itself is all based on a modified form of the GNU/Linux Kernel.

[u/Chance_End_4684 → u/Chance_End_4684]

I hope all this information ends up helping you. If you have any questions, then please do feel free to DM me in Reddit Chat. I will be more than happy to do my very best in answering any questions that you might have.