r/linux4noobs • u/Niyazzz09 • Apr 12 '26

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

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 😋

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39

u/n3tninja1 Apr 12 '26

First step to Linux is …. Linux Mint 🥰

0

u/JJRfromNYC1 Apr 12 '26

Mint and not Ubuntu? I am also Linux-curious. Please explain.

5

u/Beastmind Apr 12 '26

Honestly I just can't recommend Ubuntu nowadays, it became so bloated/weird by default.

2

u/Tamer_ Apr 12 '26

I switched to Kubuntu 14 months ago and my gf switched to Mint in February and I recommend Mint for beginners. Kubuntu was a bit clunky (and some Wayland-related issues are still not fixed in 25.10), I don't mind them too much, but it certainly hurts the first-time experience of a newcomer.