Hello!
I’m interested in moving my personal computer to running Linux but I’m not sure where to even begin. As background, I am a casual user and have a desktop with hardware from around 2014 running Windows. I am hoping to setup a NAS drive as a media server in the next year or so, offloading all of the files currently on the Windows desktop and have been interested in open source software such as Jellyfin. I also mostly game on an Xbox and Nintendo Switch, but have used the desktop in the past for gaming such as with an Oculus Rift Headset and some Steam games so not huge on getting games working on the computer. But, I do sometimes torrent using the computer so don’t want to lose that capability (especially with upkeep for the media server).
With all of that said, I didn’t know how to get started with choosing what Linux OS to use, setting it up, backing up my files to make sure I can use them with the new OS, etc. Making the switch seems to have great options for customization and “choosing a distro that works for you”, but I don’t know what would work for me or what will be user friendly for a beginner.
Any tips or pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
I’d say don’t over think it. Just pick a distribution and try to stick with it. The vast choices is also a curse for newcomers. It definitely delayed my journey by years going back to Windows.
Start with something well supported, I’d pick Mint.
Get games or whatever you use the computer for the most to work OK. Nvidia don’t like Linux, pick AMD.
Be prepared to give up some old habits instead of forcing windows software on Linux. For example I had to give up Lightroom and as a photography hobbyist it was hard at first. Now I use Darktable and the switch back to Lightroom today seems equally hard.
So in short. Install a beginner friendly distro and get the most important stuff working and begin using the computer as much as possible.
Lots of suggestions for Mint so it seems that’s a good choice for me! Thank you!
No problem. It probably won’t be the one you end up with if you stick to Linux for a couple of years but as I said don’t distro-hop. The big jump is the one to Linux. The difference between distributions isn’t that important. Good luck!
I forget what GPU I currently have but I may be upgrading soon anyway so I’ll be sure to keep that in mind for the purchase. That’s the first big step: finding software to fit my needs as they come up but that can be piece by piece!
Most people just use a browser these days, and they behave the same in every OS.
Steam has proton to run non native games on Linux, and works well enough for most things.
Try a few live images before making the switch.
That’s true, most of what I do would be in a browser as a casual user. My work laptop would still be running Windows and doing what I “need” (Excel, SolidWorks, etc.) Although I want to keep the ability to torrent and manage my media files nicely, I’m open to using different softwares than I’m used to for those.
Install Linux, get frustrated with it, reinstall windows and live with it - repeat for over a decade until you realise the last time you installed Linux you didn’t get frustrated and have been using it for the past two years.
Optionally, dual-boot until you can’t remember when you last booted into Windows.
Yes dual booting seems to be the way to go for a while so I’ve got my toes in the water but not lost the safety net just yet!
The only thing I’ll caution about dual boot is it means if you get stuck you abandon Linux all the way for Windows. Sometimes it just gets easier to go back.
When you get “settled” with your new Linux install I HIGHLY recommend you set up a Windows virtual machine (I used virtualbox but again there are… Options lol). With a VM, if you get frustrated and think “Fuck it why is this so hard?!” instead of abandoning your new Linux install you can just boot windows in a separate window and do what you gotta do. If this gets annoying you’ll figure out the Linux way instead of throwing the whole thing in the trash.
Okay so maybe ease myself in with dual boot, then Linux + virtual Windows, then Linux only. That seems like a good transition.
I’ve been using linux for over 30 years, from Linux from Scratch to Mint. Dont’ pick a distro that makes you seem 1337 or anything. I must say, that for the not-so terminal-savvy user, linux Mint is a great pick, most stuff (if not all) can be done with the GUI, and the installer is a breeze.
Picking a distro is one thing, picking a desktop environment is, in my opinion, more important. With default Mint, you get Cinnamon, which is a great pick, a balance between saving resources and eye candy. You also have XFCE which is very light, but some integrations are lacking, and it’s lightness shows in the basic appearance. Gnome is another beast, can almost look as slick as MacOS, but is very resource hungry. And then there’s KDE. This is something your either love or hate, no inbetween.
And for every task you want to perform, you’ll need to have a little selection process, since there’s a lot of choices.
Steam works most of the time. I only know about NVidia cards, but with the right drivers (for which Mint has a nice tool) it works well.
As said, I’ve used a lot of different Linux flavours, from very hacky and compily ones to very UX oriented ones. In the end, the UX one did it for me, I just wanted something that worked. So I do recommend Mint with cinnamon.
Okay great! An interesting tea combination: Mint with Cinnamon :) do most desktop environments work with most distros, or is there a list per each distro?
Yes, most desktop environments work with most distros. And it is quite easy to switch between them.
Something I didn’t think about when my Linux journey started: A new desktop environment is exactly that. By installing a second environment you will end up with two different programs to open pictures, two different programs to open your files,… Not a problem, just very bloaty. So chosing the prefered desktop environment in the beginning is the easiest way.
More experienced users don’t choose a distro based on the desktop environments they come with but because of other factors… For me release cycle, package manager, stability and software philosophy were important and I installed Debian.
Would the programs I install while using one desktop environment not be accessible from the other desktop environment? Akin to installing software in a Windows computer and each user logging into that computer can access that software?
All programs you install while using one desktop environment are also accessible from the other desktop environment.
As with windows: you can have different users using different programs. If user A installs a programm it is not automatically accessible for user B (Edit: Not correct. His/her configs are not accessible, the program itself is.) User A can install two desktop environments, from both he/she can access every programm he/she has installed.
So if I wanted two users for instance, then I’d have to download an extra copy of each piece of software (one per user) to be able to access (if I wanted tk store them on the drive and not on the network?)
Sorry, I have to correct/specify myself: By installing a programm it is by default installed on every user account. The only things that are user specific are the config and personal files. So you can make the programm look and behave in every way you want, independent from other users.
So the program files are only once on the system, independent from the number of users. There are ways to make a program accessible for only one specific user, but I never tried that.
Okay I see. Thanks for the clarification!
Most desktop enviornments work with most distros. There will be a selection of linux users that say it doesnt matter because though its true you can make any distro look like each other. The navigations can change depending on the distro you use. I agree with most of the comments here, since you are starting out, mint is a solid choice. You get the backings of ubuntu, + its very user frienldy. A gui for packages/drivers and good sweep of software for daily usage. Im using it now since my arc 380 gpu is supported on it to use as the host for my virtual machines. ( i virtualize other distros/BSD and windows [for those pesky windows only games/programs])
Thanks for the response!
I second the Mint recommendation, but with your older hardware, I suggest using the version with Xfce instead of Cinnamon, as it’s lighter weight
Does a desktop environment really draw that much more resource than another?
Oh definitely. Though I’m not actually sure how heavy Cinnamon is. Xfce or LxQt are my preference, since my hardware isn’t great.
https://itsfoss.com/linux-mint-cinnamon-mate-xfce/ is a good comparison Mint-wise
I’ve added it to the list for review! Thank you!
My main tips are: get the live ISOs of a few of the most used Linux distributions, I’d recommend in particular: Debian (my current one), Mint, Fedora and OpenSUSE.
For Debian and Fedora, get both the KDE and GNOME editions. OpenSUSE is mainly only KDE, and Mint uses Cinnamon. Those are the “desktop types”.
Try each live system on a virtual machine and see which one you like best. Your main choice tbh is the desktop environment you like the best (mine is KDE, also called Plasma), each distribution has it’s own way of doing a few things as well.
Then pick the one you enjoy the most. All of those are long-lived, stable and well-supported and documented.
Source: me, I’ve used Linux since 2003 and introduced all my family it and they have been using it for years with no issue.
Okay I’ll try out a few and keep notes on which ones I prefer until I make that “final” decision.
Have fun, I believe one of those will fit your needs just fine ✨
I’m sure they will! I appreciate it!
What are the main differences between fedora and Debian?
Fedora with gnome is usually my go to distro, but I have been playing around with endeavor and arch.
Technical differences:
Fedora uses RPM for package format, and is made to work with the latest versions of software, so it’s almost a rolling release, and receives VERY constant updates (but it’s still solid). The only other release model is the SilverBlue/Kinoite which is all about having an immutable base system and managing your applications through Flatpak.
Debian OTOH uses the DEB package format, and comes in 3 update models:
- unstable (bleeding edge software, breaks may occur) with constant updates
- testing, or Sid (with actively tested software, more akin to Fedora’s main model. Stuff rarely goes wrong)
- stable (receives mostly security updates, focus on using battle-tested software versions. Ideal for servers and people who want their system to absolutely not go wrong. It’s my current pick)
Project differences:
Fedora is on paper “community driven” but it’s actually backed and steered on by RedHat. There’s also a current proposal about implementing telemetry (turned on by default).
Debian is entirely community-made and driven, with no big corporation being its owner and/or main sponsor, and it has a stronger focus on FOSS. It’s about as old as RedHat (both have their origins in the early 90s), so you can bet they’ll both be around basically forever.
Edit: both are great distros, mature, stable and easy to use. Fedora was previously my most beloved, but my relationship with it soured over RedHat’s leadership decisions. Don’t let my current salt take away from the review :')
Thanks!
You’re welcome, hope you enjoy your new Linux, whichever you choose ✨
I agree with this 100%. I’ve actually found that one distro can work out the box with my hardware, and another distro is impossible to use. I think it’s important to try out a few and see what appeals to you. Example, elementary os is pretty nice, but it almost seems vacant because it tries to mimic Mac. Zorin os is also really nice, but there’s something about it that just feels off. I recently installed endeavor os on a tablet PC, and everything is working out the box. I can’t believe how easy it was, and I’ve been using Linux on and off since 2004.
Okay great! I’ll give those each a try. Thank you!
Please pick a rolling distro with KDE Plasma. I would recommend Endeavour OS.
A rolling distro is the most similar thing to keeping a Windows installation in terms of updates if you don’t change the big version. You get constant updates, sure, but it’s also really more compatible because software is not frozen until the next OS release.
In contrast, a standard release distro is more akin to macOS. You install the OS, but every X (6? 9? 12?) months, you must upgrade to the next big thing. This presents 2 problems IMHO: you have to wait that long for updates you might need, and the upgrade might break a lot of things.
And KDE is a Desktop Environment. This is the look and feel of the desktop. In my experience, I tried Gnome, Cinnamon, and XFCE, thinking they might be more aligned with the FOSS philosophy. Then I tried KDE because I bought a Steam Deck, and I immediatly loved it and haven’t looked back. It’s that good.
Okay great! What are the improvements/benefits of KDE that make you say that?
Customization doesn’t break as often, and you opt out of features already built in, rather than installing third party extensions that might bug out with every update.
You feel like you can change KDE to your workflow, rather than feel the DE force you into a specific way of working.
Interesting. Thank you!
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This is perfect! Thanks for linking it!
You should dual boot windows and linux if you want to keep using the Oculus Rift because there is no chance to getting it working on linux.
In my opinion its better to first test out some distros in virtual box and use them for the tasks that you would usually use your computer for. I’d recommend trying out Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Debian, and Pop OS. These are solid distros that work.
Once you find a distro that you like, you should start dual booting it. I got a second drive for that, before eventually copying all the files I needed over to the second drive and wiping the first drive to be my main after a year. (you can still access your windows files this way without losing any storage to linux) (steam games do not work when on windows partitions so you’ll still have to redownload games)
Oh, why would the Rift not work? Just no compatibility? I’ve used it with some Steam games which I thought I understood to work fine in Linux.
Yeah its not compatible, but also even with compatible headsets VR barely works. I have never gotten VR to work on linux myself.
Oh that’s a shame.
Scan through some YouTube videos of each of these recommended distros and see which one you like the look of best; They are all good recommendations.
I’d like to throw Zorin in the pot, I use it on all my devices (and servers) since it’s just smooth and works without fuss or tinkering. There’s a Gnome version and an XFCE version, both are very nice. XFCE is a little lighter in weight of course, which you may like or need.
What do the “versions” represent? From what I understand elsewhere, Gnome is the desktop styling correct?
Kinda like that, but a bit more. Those are desktop environments, which differ in more than just styling. Most popular ones are gnome, KDE, xfce, but there are dozens of others. Most distributions come with one directly supported, but you can install others usually and pick at login.
Oh that’s interesting. So each time I login I could potentially load into a different styling as I choose?
Yes, that’s exactly it. You could try out and see what you prefer. I tried everything, but also tastes change over time. I used to use KDE cause it felt more like windows (we’re talking XP era), later I tried Gnome, Unity, xfce, fluxbox, but then I tried i3 and it is really minimal and tiling and I don’t need anything more. Not for beginners, but after some time, it might become your jam.
The best way to switch imo is to first to switch some of your currently installed app on windows with others that have a linux version, so you will not be entirely lost when you switch os.
For example Microsoft Office is not available on linux so maybe try libreoffice or onlyoffice, another example Photoshop doesn’t have a linux version too.
Then maybe try to familiarize with the os on a vm or on a live usb, especially on a live usb so you know what works out of the box and with your hardware.
If you want to game look for you games on protondb if they work or not, for online games instead watch areweanticheatyeat to see if the anticheat work.
Last tip is to go with a know distro not something obscure like steamos or kali linux, they are not meant to be used as daily drivers especially kali and can give you problems that will not occurre in other distro!
Thank you for the tips!
No problem!
Okay thank you! Do you know of a good list of Linux compatible alternatives to Windows software? I’m sure I can track some down but may want to get familiar before making the jump like you said.
Dunno any, but if you maybe tell me the software you want to switch I can tell you the alternative available on both Linux and Windows if available.
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Perfect, thank you!
You should probably try Linux Mint, or if you have an NVIDIA card, Pop!_OS
Thanks! Why specifically an NVIDIA card?
Because Pop OS comes with nvidia driver preinstalled! On Linux mint you can install the nvidia driver pretty easly but not as easly with them being preinstalled for you.
Okay that makes sense. Thanks!
I just moved from Windows to Linux (currently, PopOS) this year around.
You can try out beginner friendly distributions like PopOS, Linux Mint, ZorinOS which are Ubuntu-Debian based or Fedora. Like others have mentioned, applications made on Linux are expected to be cross-compatible with all distributions so your choice will mainly come down to what desktop environment you like as there are many with different feel to the user experience.
To know what works for you try these out in a VM if possible before biting the bullet so you know what all packages are present in Linux, and what all of your usecase will need to be managed through WINE/Proton compatibility layers.
You would want to avoid Ubuntu, and installing anything through Snap or PPA repositories if it ever comes up in your searches.
Thank you for the response! Those you said are getting a lot of mentions so I think Mint will be a good first choice to make the swap.
No problem mate !
Once you’re on Mint’s page, just have a look over the other desktop environments (DE) offered. Screenshots will not tell you the entire picture, but at least you can have a look at what you don’t find appealing.
But remember not to really worry about the DE, you can always install another one and remove the one you don’t like.
Okay will do!
@curiousgoo @WR5 “You would want to avoid Ubuntu, and installing anything through Snap or PPA repositories if it ever comes up in your searches.”
Snaps have improved greatly and there’s nothing to stop people from using Flatpak instead. Also, it’s not clear why you suggested not using PPA repositories, there are risks, but there are advantages too. Ubuntu has a huge support community, I’ve been using Ubuntu happily since 2007, tried many other distros, but always go back.Why would you recommend Canonical/Ubuntu to new users when there are better distros without proprietary snap stores you have to work around.
Ubuntu is a good and stable distro, the community is great and it’s good that you feel at home with it. But that doesn’t make it an obvious choice for beginners when there are simply better alternatives for them - talking mainly about Mint.
Mainly from a security standpoint PPAs are something I would want to avoid.
I’ve not used Snap since I tried it out a couple of years ago, it wasn’t as good as Flatpak in terms of performance, and there were concerns which got highlighted like it’s entirely proprietary and hosted by Canonical only, I heard Snap was being forced even when you would want through system packages, and something about forced updates.
I get why Flatpak is better in terms of sandboxing each application, but I personally prefer to use system packages wherever I can.
If you’re not a techy person/power user, I would recommend staying with Kubuntu/Xubuntu (flavors of Ubuntu, that seem familiar to Windows users), or a more loved variant Linux Mint. You’ll have everything you need there, and your gaming will do just fine using Steam thanks to Proton. My first time (~2014) I went with Ubuntu, since it has an easy to use installer (like most distributions), with relatively sane default settings. Nowadays I would recommend Linux Mint or anything Debian based for the stability.
Here’s a tl;dr of my Linux learning curve – from 0 (Windows pleb) to hero:
Start with a “user-friendly” distro (Linux Mint, ZorinOS) and get used to its package manager (i.e How to install, uninstall and remove stuff. Also, your best friend.).
Then go for a more “serious” distro like Debian. And from Debian… Arch. Keep at it until you’ve got the most interesting commands (and “whom is whom” regarding video graphics, audio, etc… the “basic” stuff) written on your forehead.
After that, “duckduckgo” about “Minimal linux installation” or “Baremetal linux installation”. Follow the instructions closely and at heart. PS: You are gonna suffer a bit… but that is perfectly fine. Once again, you are gonna have to get used to it and to witness “your own distro” booting up for the first time. Yes, the nerdgasm feels quite great.
At this point, there is nothing “much” to learn other than to add more “depth” to the stuff you learned by “duckduckgo” about “Linux how do I improve my network”, “Linux how to improve performance”, etc until you are used to all that.
Now, you’ve reached the “average user” status and there is nothing “strictly necessary” to learn – so start your own github, send your .dotfiles/scripts in, and go take a break. Congrats, you are now a penguin.
“duckduckgo” is a horrible verb holy moly. We have to give that credit to google, “google it” sounds way way better than “duckduckgo it” “bing it”, “yandex it” etc
Now that you mention it…yep. That was horrible.
idk, how about “duck it”? Or “dduck it”.
Or just “dd it”
Yep, dd is way better.
I’m not wanting to dive into programming specifically (only dipped my toes in the past for school/work as needed but certainly not experienced) so I’m not interested in maintaining scripts and a GitHub if that is necessary for Arch or what you mentioned as “serious” distros. That’s good information though, thank you!
I think the above comment was a but of a joke but it’s not wrong. You will eventually develop the urge to customize your experience heavily and some scripts and dotfiles (these are just files that hold your configurations for various programs) will be necessary for that. But don’t worry about that right now. Just start small with the suggestion here like Mint or Ubuntu and enjoy. You will get frustrated, you will learn a bunch and you will have a fun time (eventually)
Okay thank you for clarifying!
Check out peppermint OS. Runs on most hardware , lightweight and easy. Debian based , stable and got most things you might need. Easy transfer from Windows since a bit prepared for using web-based stuff
I’ll add it to the list! Thank you!
