I've just gotten a new Microsoft Surface device, and I'm planning to ditch Windows 11 for Linux since I'm not a fan of it. However, I'm a bit lost when it comes to the installation process. Most guides suggest using a USB drive, which I might need to buy because my current flash drives are the older USB types, while this device only has USB-C ports. Is a USB drive really necessary? If so, does it need to have any data on it beforehand, or can I just use it for storage? Also, will installing Linux get rid of Windows 11 and all its bloatware, or is there an extra step for that? Are there specific Linux distributions that work better with the Surface's pen pressure sensing, especially for digital artists and animators? I've been considering KDE since it's what they use at the animation labs, but I'm worried about compatibility with certain programs I want to use.
3 Answers
You'll definitely need a USB drive to install Linux, and it should be treated as the bootable installer, not just for storage. It can be a bit confusing, but you’ll need to use software like Balena Etcher to properly burn the Linux image onto the USB. This overwrites the existing data on the USB, so make sure to backup anything important. If you don't want to buy a new USB-C drive, just grab a USB-A to USB-C adapter instead!
Regarding your Surface, installing Linux will wipe Windows 11 completely if you choose that option during installation. So back up any data you want to keep! As for Linux distros for artists, check out Ubuntu Studio—it’s tailored for content creators and comes with useful applications for digital art and animation. For the pen pressure functionality, Xournal++ is a recommended program to get that feature working well.
I second that! Ubuntu Studio has a lot of great tools pre-installed, and you can always add more if you need them later.
It's worth noting that KDE is actually not a distro by itself—it's a desktop environment. Many distros, like Kubuntu or Fedora with the KDE Plasma, provide that desktop option. All Linux systems can run the same software, so don't worry about missing out on programs, as long as they have Linux versions or if you can use compatibility layers. But for Windows programs, you'll need alternatives or tools to run .exe files.
True! I mostly use LibreOffice for my work now and haven't looked back. It's all about finding the right tools that work with your workflow.
Exactly! Using an adapter is a great way to save some cash. Just make sure the USB drive you use is sufficient for the Linux distro ISO size.