Windows has been slowing down my older laptop with bloatware and other background software, so I'm considering switching to Linux as my primary operating system. My desktop has an RX 6600 graphics card and 32 GB of RAM. I'm trying to decide which distribution would be beginner-friendly, especially for gaming. How well does Steam work through native Linux support or Proton, and which types of games tend to cause problems? I also use Microsoft Office occasionally—would the web version be enough, or should I switch to LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, or another alternative? Finally, I enjoy customizing my desktop, so I'd like to know how flexible Linux is with themes, icons, layouts, and other visual changes.
4 Answers
The desktop version of Microsoft Office doesn’t have official native Linux support. Microsoft 365 in a browser is fine for ordinary documents, and LibreOffice or OnlyOffice are solid installed alternatives. LibreOffice handles common Word and Excel files well, while OnlyOffice can feel more familiar to people used to Microsoft’s interface. Very complex documents or advanced macros may still require Windows or web-based Office.
Customization is one of Linux’s biggest advantages. You can change themes, icons, cursors, fonts, panels, window decorations, and much more. KDE Plasma is especially flexible and can be made to resemble Windows, macOS, or something completely different. Before installing permanently, create a bootable USB and test a few distributions in live mode so you can compare the desktops and hardware support safely.
There isn’t one universally best distribution. For an easy transition from Windows, Linux Mint with Cinnamon, Zorin OS, Ubuntu, or Fedora KDE are all reasonable starting points. KDE feels familiar and offers a huge amount of customization. If gaming is your main priority, Bazzite is also worth considering, though you don’t strictly need a gaming-specific distribution for an RX 6600. Your hardware is more than capable of running any of these options.
Thanks! I mostly want something stable and easy to learn, so I’ll probably test a few before committing.
Steam works quite well on Linux. Native Linux games usually run directly, while many Windows games work through Proton. The main exceptions are games with unsupported anti-cheat systems, especially some competitive multiplayer titles. It’s a good idea to check compatibility for the specific games you play, but the overall experience is much better than it used to be.
OnlyOffice is worth trying if file compatibility and a Microsoft-like layout are especially important to you.