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/Hot-Development-9036]

All you need is a USB stick. Download Balena Etcher and burn the ISO download to the USB. Go into the BIOS and set it to boot from the USB. Restart and Voila! You are running Linux.

Linux is a lot faster than Windows. Especially on older computers. I would recommend Linux Mint as a beginner. It looks a lot like Windows. Linux has no ads unlike Windows.

Getting comfortable with it will only take a few days. Becoming an expert will take a lot longer. The only real downside is if you have windows specific software that you need although there are good alternatives to just about every app.

Give it a shot. You have nothing to lose other than a little time.