Okay I know this sounds like click bait but trust me switching over to linux requires you to first master the open source software that you will be replacing your windows/mac counterparts with. Doing it in an unfamiliar OS with no fallback to rely on is tough, frustrating and will turn you off of trying linux. DISCLAIMER: I know that some people cannot switch to linux because open source / Linux software is not good enough yet. But I urge you to keep track of them and when so you can know when they are good enough.

The Solution

So I suggest you keep using windows, switch all your apps to open or closed source software that is available on linux. Learn them, use them and if you are in a pinch and need to use your windows only software it will still be there. Once you are at a point where you never use the windows only software you can then think of switching over to linux.

The Alternatives

So to help you out I’ll list my favorites for each use case.

MS Office -> Only Office

  1. Not for folks who use obscure macros and are deep into MS Office
  2. Has Collaboration and integration with almost all popular cloud services…
  3. Has a MS Office like UI and the best compatibility with MS Office.

Adobe Premiere -> Da Vinci Resolve

  1. It is closed source but available on linux
  2. Great UI, competitive features and a free version

Outlook -> Thunderbird

  1. Recently went through massive updates and now has a modern design.
  2. Templates, multi account management, content based filters, html signatures, it is all there.

Epic Games, GOG, PRIME -> Heroic

  1. Easy to use, 1 click install, no hassel
  2. Beautiful UI
  3. Automatically imports all the games you have bought

PDF Editor -> LibreOffice Draw

  1. Suprisingly good for text manipulation, moving around images and alot more.
  2. There might be slight incompatibilities (I haven’t noticed anything huge)
  3. But hey, it’s free

How do I pick a distro there are so many! NO

So finally after switching all the apps you think you are ready? Do not fall into the rabbit hole of changing your entire OS every two days, you will be in a toxic relationship with it.

I hate updates and my hardware is not that new

  1. Mint - UI looks a bit dated but it is rock solid
  2. Ubuntu - Yes, I know snaps are bad, but you can just ignore them

I have new hardware but I want sane updates

  1. Fedora
  2. Open Suse Tumbleweed

I live on the bleeding edge baby, both hardware and software

  1. Arch … btw

Anyways what is more important is the DE than the distro for a beginner, trust me. Gnome, KDE, Cinnamon, etc. you can try them all in a VM and see which one you like.

SO TLDR: Don’t switch to linux! Switch to linux apps.

  • Darohan@lemmy.zip
    2·
    3 months ago

    Was ready to downvote but this is actually a really good guide, well done OP! The one issue I will raise, though, because I faced it myself, is that as long as you’re still using Windows, it is way too easy to just go back to using the Windows programs not the open source ones. Only through switching to Linux can you really “throw yourself into the deep end” and force yourself to learn these new things. Microsoft has made themselves the “path of least resistance” (or at least that of “most momentum” for a reason) and if you’ve been using a computer for a while, it’s a lot easier to break the habits and realise the benefits by giving yourself no other option than it is by trying to discipline yourself into using the new options.

  • renrenPDX@lemmy.world
    1·
    3 months ago

    I keep a win10 virtual box available when I need excel while in Mint. Otherwise I’m good. Have win10 set as dual boot but switched main boot to Mint once I got used to it.

    • glaber@lemm.ee
      1·
      3 months ago

      What’s bad about it? It has better compatibility from my experience, and the UI doesn’t look ass. I’m a big fan of LibreOffice, but unless you’re only editing OpenDocument Format files it doesn’t work that well most of the time (and even if you are… I have tried, but god, does the OpenDocument Foundation need some money funneled into it. I never get .ods to work the way I want to)

    • okamiueru@lemmy.world
      1·
      3 months ago

      Just be aware that windows has a bad habit of fucking up for Linux when you do. Which sounds like it shouldn’t be possible, right?

      Windows can claim hardware resources that it doesn’t release properly, so your WiFi adapter doesn’t work in Linux, but works fine in Windows. Windows also (used to, at least) “correct” a boot partition, because, I presume, it sees something “unknown”. Oh, and the system clock might be off every time you switch between one and the other, because windows thinks it makes sense to write the current timezone value and not UTC.

      Those kinds of things.

  • 1984@lemmy.today
    01·
    3 months ago

    I don’t understand the difficulty. My kid who used Windows for at least 7 years installed Ubuntu and just started using it. Why is this difficult for people? I helped him boot the computer from a USB stick and that’s it.

    Here is the app store, install programs from here.

    Ok.

    • adam_y@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

      I think some folk want to pretend using Linux is hard so that they can feel more… Uh… Technical for using it.

      • kernelle@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 months ago

        It’s actually hilarious how disconnected some Linux folks are lmao

        The average person

        • doesn’t know what an operating system is
        • can barely work with windows, has had many struggles learning windows
        • is scared of change
        • doesn’t know about the existence of a BIOS
        • will never be able to boot anything else but default by themselves
        • doesn’t know how to troubleshoot anything about computers
        • literally does not know or care about the existence of Linux

        I know these things are changing, but anyone saying people are able to switch to Linux by themselves and its easy and doable for the average person is fucking delusional, this post is one of the most reasonable takes I’ve seen on the sub

        • netvor@lemmy.world
          01·
          3 months ago

          We can all get smart and snarky about “average persons” but then again, who says the OP was for average person.

          Your “average” person is not even on Reddit, let alone Lemmy, and if by chance they stumble along they are probably not clicking posts like this.

          So when you stop laughing from “hilarious disconnected Linux folks”, maybe sleep on it, then try thinking about this.

          In context of this community and this thread, no, Linux is not all that horrible compared to Windows.

          • kernelle@lemmy.world
            1·
            3 months ago

            then again, who says the OP was for average person

            Nobody, the post is to aid us who are assisting other people to switch. I’m saying people here vastly overestimate the average persons ability AND willingness to actually switch, by themselves or assisted.

            Linux is not all that horrible compared to Windows.

            It is, in part because Linux is not beginner friendly but mostly because everyone is used to windows. Almost every program they’ve used is exclusive to it, which is why this post provides a path to eventually introduce them to Linux. Using Linux isn’t hard, using it the same way people are used to is. As is troubleshooting and installing 3rd party applications.

            So when you’re done building strawmans, go touch some grass

  • geoma@lemmy.ml
    01·
    3 months ago

    Being a linux user for 23 years and a linux promoter and installer for newbies, I don’t agree with so many of your recommendations and priorities.

    • micl@lemmy.world
      01·
      3 months ago

      Seriously, OP sounds like they taste tested a handful of open software options and wanted to share, but had to implicate the newbie decision of windows vs Linux somewhere.