Hey everyone! I'm just getting started with Linux and I've been recommended Ubuntu for beginners. As an electrical engineering student, I'm eager to dive into electronics and software development during my free time. I have two PCs at my disposal: my main setup which is powerful and used for gaming and programming, and a spare, less powerful PC mainly for additional processing power. My big question is whether I should dual boot or run a virtual machine on my spare setup or on my main machine. If going with a VM, what options would you recommend? Also, I'm a bit worried about messing things up if I dual boot, as it could lead to wiping my drives and losing data. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
4 Answers
If you’re new to Linux, going full Linux on the spare PC can be a good move! It gives you a chance to learn without the pressure of a dual boot environment. And honestly, both KDE and GNOME have made great strides in performance, so you'll still have a pleasant experience either way!
Just be careful with dual booting; data loss can be a serious risk if the installation goes wrong. A VM isolates everything well and protects against total wipeouts. But don't forget to back up data regularly no matter which route you go! Also, with tools like Mouse Without Borders, you might find easier ways to manage both systems without having to switch inputs constantly.
I actually set up Linux on my less powerful PC and my main PC remains on Windows. It's made my learning process smoother since I can easily control everything and simulate projects in Linux directly. I have found tools like NoMachine very helpful for remote access, so I can work on my simulations from anywhere. Plus, creating a private VPN with something like Tailscale lets you connect seamlessly between the two machines!
I think using a virtual machine (VM) on your spare PC is a great way to start! It allows you to experiment with Linux without risking your main setup. Plus, with your current setup, running Ubuntu in a VM should be manageable. If you run into major issues, you can always revert to snapshots if your VM software supports it. As for which VM to go with, VirtualBox or VMware Workstation Player are both reliable options for beginners. Just keep in mind that VMs can sometimes perform slower than dual booting due to hardware limitations, but for learning, they're definitely good enough!
That makes sense! I’ve been wary of dual booting because I don’t want to lose my files. VMs seem safer and easier for learning.
Sounds like a solid plan! Do you think it’s a big difference going full Linux instead of just dual booting?