Linux has become a big topic of discussion recently, and for good reason.
With the recent updates to Windows and Apple policies, many people are considering a switch.
But is switching to Linux right for you?
In this article, I'll explain why I think moving to Linux will be important in the next few years, and also who should NOT switch.
A good place to start is to find out why you might want to avoid Windows and macOS.
Then I'll show how Linux is different.
Finally, I'll share my experience with all three and give you my pick for the Linux version that I feel would be best for most people.
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Windows
I resisted moving off Windows for too long.
It's always been a terrible operating system.
From the missing drivers, to the viruses, to the random reboots…it's been a mess.
When the most common solution to problems is to wipe the drive and reinstall the operating system, it's obviously fundamentally flawed.
In all fairness however, later versions have been decent.
Windows 7 onwards has actually been fairly stable.
But now there are new reasons to avoid Windows.
First, Windows 10 and 11 log your keystrokes.
That means everything that you type into your keyboard is recorded and sent to the Microsoft servers.
Your information is supposedly secure, but when's the last time that you could trust Microsoft security?
And you can turn this “feature” off, but how do you know that it's really off?
The next issue is actually more troubling, believe it or not.
Microsoft's “great” new invention is called Recall and it takes screenshots of your screen every 5 seconds.
They claim that it will help you remember things that you forgot you did.
Does that really make sense?
I guess that's up to the individual to decide.
But if you use Windows and think that this invention is as creepy as I do, then it's time to evaluate your options.
macOS
I've been a huge fan of Apple products since 2010.
The “walled garden” model was actually very useful in the past because it ensured that all of the components of a computer worked well together.
But I feel that the model is starting to fall apart.
For me, the most frustrating thing has been how I'm not able to use my deGoogled Android phone with macOS.
Doing things like transferring files between Android and macOS should be very easy.
However, to protect the garden, Apple purposely blocks that access, whenever possible.
So annoying.
Furthermore, Apple is getting more strict about identifying “genuine” parts.
This means that it will be harder to use inexpensive replacement parts for your computer.
You'll have to buy overpriced Apple replacement parts instead of decent cheap parts on eBay or Amazon.
That doesn't make any sense to me.
Now that you know where Windows and macOS are going, let's take a look at the alternative…Linux.
What is Linux?
If you don't know what Linux is, I'll quickly go over it.
Then I'll get into the benefits and downsides.
Linux is an operating system, just like Windows or macOS.
In comparison to Windows and macOS however, Linux is not built by one corporation.
This is where things get interesting…
Linus Torvalds is credited with creating the first version of Linux.
However, what sets Linux apart is that Torvalds allowed anyone to copy it and make their own version of Linux.
It's open source, meaning that anyone can evaluate the source code of Linux.
So Linux is not developed by one person or group, but it has evolved as the result of many groups creating their own versions.
By some counts, there are currently over 600 active versions of Linux.
The most useful improvements have been adopted by the different projects and there has been a collective effort to make the operating system better over time.
But with so many versions, which one is best?
I'll get to that in a bit.
First, let's take a look at the upsides and downsides of this unique operating system.
Benefits of Linux
- Most versions are totally free
- Easy to download and install
- Open source, so anyone can examine the code to see what it really does
- Can run on a wide range of old and new computers, extending the useful lifetime of every machine
- Much less likely to collect your personal information
- Specialized versions of Linux for different applications (business, personal, server, etc.)
- New tools and improvements can be made by anyone in the world because it's an open system
- Tons of free and open source software solutions to choose from
- Linux runs some of the largest servers in the world, including servers at stock exchanges, website hosts and government agencies
- Android is a version of Linux, running on about 85% of the smartphones worldwide
- Many popular Windows and macOS programs have free and paid alternatives on Linux
So as you can see, Linux isn't some janky operating system that someone made in their basement.
It's one of the most powerful operating systems in the world.
But there are also some downsides.
Downsides of Linux
- It has improved dramatically over the years, but it still requires a bit of technical knowledge to use
- Since Linux is built to work with a wide variety of computers, there can potentially be some troubleshooting in the beginning to get it running
- You might have to try a few different versions, to find one you like
- It takes a little time to get used to the differences in Linux, compared to other operating systems
- Only about 3% of people around the world use Linux, so getting support can be a little more challenging
Now that you have a little background on Linux, here's what I think about it.
My Experience with Linux, Windows and macOS
To give you some background on where I'm coming from, I'll quickly share my experience with all three operating systems.
Like most people, I started with Windows back in the 1990s.
My first “real” job out of college was as a consultant for an IBM Business Partner. I've also worked at other IT-related jobs for many years.
So I have experience buying, installing and fixing hundreds of computers.
I personally used Windows until about 2010, when I finally had enough and moved over to macOS, then known as OS X.
Yeah, I was late to the party.
My current primary operating system is still macOS.
However, in about 2018 I started experimenting with Ubuntu Linux, but I only used it occasionally.
At the time, there were some major stumbling blocks to me using it as my primary operating system.
The issues were:
- Programs weren't updating reliably
- I couldn't find replacement programs for what I was using
- Ubuntu was slow
I've recently revisited Linux within the past 6 months and did some research on versions other than Ubuntu.
I bought a cheap Dell laptop and installed one of the most recommended versions to give Linux a second chance.
The bottom line is that I am pleasantly surprised with this version of Linux.
Huge improvements have been made in just the last few years.
Updates work perfectly, it's super snappy and there are replacements for all of the software I currently use.
Yes, all.
The Best Linux for Beginners
Since there are so many versions of Linux, it can be hard to figure out where to get started.
I've done a lot of research and the best Linux for beginners currently are:
Remember that this could change over time and this is my opinion, so be sure to do your own research.
Here's why I've chosen these 2 versions of Linux.
The beauty of Linux Mint is that it's free and very easy to use.
Linux Mint is currently my favorite version of Linux and what I install on my computers.
Other versions of Linux are more customizable, but I value ease of use and stability, over customization.
On the downside, this is a “bare bones” version of Linux, so you'll have to find your own programs to replace what you use on Windows or macOS.
Zorin OS has a different business model, they charge about $50 to download the Pro version of their operating system.
This is a one-time fee and is totally worthwhile to support the project.
What Zorin does best is it makes the transition from Windows or macOS as seamless as possible.
The team has created different desktops that look like Windows, macOS, ChromeOS and Ubuntu.
Zorin OS also includes free replacements for popular programs like Photoshop, Microsoft Office and Adobe Premier.
So if you value a familiar interface and replacement programs already installed, then Zorin OS is a great choice.
Remember that you can test out any version of Linux by installing it on a USB drive and running it purely off the USB drive.
So you don't have to replace your current operating system until you find the version of Linux that you like.
Regardless of which version of Linux you use, be sure to support your favorite project by donating money regularly.
These projects need your support to keep going, so even a small contribution will go a long way.
Funding from users also helps keep these projects independent.
Projects usually go downhill when they run out of money and get purchased by large corporations.
Donating to your favorite project prevents this.
Who Should Not Switch
Linux is not all sunshine and unicorns though.
There are 2 types of people who will not benefit from Linux.
First, people who have zero technical skills and zero desire to learn, will not benefit.
If that's the case, then they are better off just continuing with Windows or macOS and understand that they are trading privacy for convenience.
However, people who don't have technical skills, but are willing to learn can be OK.
They just have to take it slow and accept that it will be a process.
The second type of people who will not benefit from Linux are people who need very specialized software that's only available on Windows or macOS.
As I mentioned above, there are still some software packages that don't have a viable replacement on Linux.
But there are replacements for a lot of the most popular software.
I was surprised how far Linux software has come.
What to Consider When Deciding to Switch
Before I get into how to switch gracefully, here two things to consider when deciding to make the move from Windows or macOS.
This will help you understand if it's right for you or not.
Technical Skills
The biggest thing is to evaluate when considering a switch to Linux is your technical skills.
A lot of Linux programs still require a fair bit of command line skills.
This is easy to learn.
But if you are totally unwilling to learn how to use the command line to do things, then Linux is not for you.
Most Linux programs are moving away from command line use, but there are still quite a few of them that refuse to make things easy.
So this is the #1 thing that you have to take into account.
Available Software
Next, take inventory of the software you're using on a daily basis.
The important thing here is separate what you NEED, versus what you never use or software that you think is just nice to have.
As I reviewed the programs I actually needed, the list is actually was actually a lot shorter than I thought it would be.
Furthermore, consider if you really need all of the features that your current software offers.
A good example is a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel.
Even if you don't use Excel, consider all of the features that the program has.
If you only need basic spreadsheet functions, then a Linux program like OpenOffice is totally fine.
Not everyone needs the advanced features in Excel, like mail merge and advanced database connectivity.
How to Make the Switch to Linux Gracefully
If I haven't scared you off yet, then here's the fastest way to get started with Linux.
In my experience, the best way to get into Linux is to buy a cheap laptop off eBay, or dust off an old computer that you're not using anymore.
Then install Linux on it and start experimenting.
Try to replace your primary computer with your experimental Linux computer.
You don't have to do this all at once.
Treat it as a process and take it slow.
Having Linux on a secondary computer will allow you to maintain your current workflow, while easing your way into Linux.
It will also allow you to test different Linux alternative programs against what you're currently using.
A great way to find the best programs for Linux is to watch YouTube videos.
There are a lot of great channels that do in-depth analysis on the best Linux programs available, so you can learn a lot by just watching a few videos.
Once you can do everything you're doing on your current computer, on your Linux computer, it's time to switch 100% to Linux.
Final Thoughts
So the bottom line is that there are both big positives and negatives to switching to Linux.
It's not for everyone.
But after my current Mac is no longer usable, my next computer will run Linux.
For sure.
I might switch even sooner.
In my opinion, Linux is the future of computing, if you care about becoming more self-sufficient and private.
If you don't care, then any operating system will do.
The choice is yours.
And remember, if you like a particular version of Linux, be sure to donate to the project.
It keeps the project going and makes an awesome product awesomer.
