I've decided to seriously consider moving from Windows to Linux, but I want to research the practical downsides before making the change. I'm fairly new to technology—the most advanced thing I've done is homebrew a Wii U—so I'd appreciate beginner-friendly advice.
I mainly use Steam games, Minecraft, a Windows-only FNAF fangame, Opera GX, Spotify, and Discord. Most of my Steam library appears to work through Proton, although I'm unsure about games with kernel-level anti-cheat. I'd also like recommendations for a beginner-friendly distribution, installation guides, and advice on whether I should use a live USB, virtual machine, or dual boot. I don't currently own a USB drive and would prefer not to risk losing my Windows installation.
5 Answers
Since your main applications are games, Minecraft, Spotify, Discord, and a browser, Linux could work well for you. For the Windows-only fangame, Wine or Proton may work, but compatibility varies. I’d start with a virtual machine if possible, or test a live USB, then consider dual booting rather than deleting Windows immediately.
Dual booting is a reasonable transition plan: keep Windows on one partition and install Linux on another, then choose the operating system when the computer starts. It does require carefully resizing partitions and making a full backup first, so it’s not completely risk-free. A virtual machine is safer for experimenting, but it won’t give you the same performance for games.
The biggest drawbacks are software and game compatibility. Steam and Proton support a lot of games, but titles using certain anti-cheat systems may not work at all. Microsoft Office and Adobe applications can also be difficult to replace. Check ProtonDB for individual games, and keep Windows available if a game or program is important to you.
Linux is usable without the terminal, but software installation works differently. Most programs come from a distribution’s central software repository rather than downloaded installer files, and occasionally you’ll encounter instructions involving configuration files or commands. Don’t blindly paste commands from the internet—understand what they do, keep backups, and avoid heavy customization until you’re comfortable.
Linux Mint Cinnamon is probably the easiest place to start, though Fedora KDE and Ubuntu are also approachable. If you can borrow or eventually buy a USB drive, boot a live installer and test the desktop and your hardware before installing anything. You can try several distributions this way without changing your current system.
I checked ProtonDB and most of my games are rated Gold or Platinum. The main uncertain one is Rainbow Six Siege, but I don’t play it regularly, so that probably won’t decide things for me.