Hey everyone! I'm considering switching my daily PC to Linux since Windows is being a hassle about the TPM chip. I've only used Ubuntu Server for my homelab, so I was thinking about going with Ubuntu Desktop, but I've heard that using Linux with a GUI can be quite different from just terminal commands.
My computer is mainly used for browsing the internet, Discord, and gaming on Steam—mostly single-player and co-op games. I've run into some issues with games like Phasmophobia and Tabletop Simulator, so I might need to dual boot.
I'm also interested in art programs. I know Clip Studio Paint can run on Linux through WINE, but I'm not sure if my setup will handle it, and I've heard of MediBang Paint but I'm hesitant to spend around $70 on a version that has ads. Blender seems to work fine though.
I'm also looking for suitable alternatives for PuTTY and FileZilla, which seem to run well on Linux. Lastly, I need a good PDF reader with tab support and basic editing features since my current app won't work outside of Windows.
So, I'd love some recommendations for a distros, general tips, and any must-have apps!
3 Answers
If you’re an artist, there are plenty of compatible options like GIMP and Inkscape, which also have Flatpak builds, making installation easier. If you're interested in Clip Studio Paint, they have guides online that can help you get it running on Linux. You might want to also look into FireAlpaca SE; it might work through Proton. That subreddit, r/ClipStudio_on_Linux, is a goldmine for tips too!
Linux Mint or anything from the Fedora/Red Hat/CentOS family could be great options to consider. They’re user-friendly and have a large community for support.
For art, I'd recommend checking out Krita; it's a fantastic open-source drawing application. If you're into a more comprehensive suite, Ubuntu Studio might be a great option as it comes packed with creative tools. For a Windows-like interface, Linux Mint or Kubuntu are solid choices. Also, Steam works pretty smoothly on most Ubuntu-based distros, so you shouldn’t have any major issues there. As for the PDF reader, most distros include a default document viewer that can handle annotations quite well. Keep in mind that PDFs can be tricky when it comes to advanced editing though.
I remember Ubuntu ships with a PDF viewer, but that was ages ago! I’ll definitely test out Krita and Ubuntu Studio. Sounds like the interface isn’t my main concern, but I’d like to know if I need anything special like Nautilus to manage files easily.
For basic PDF needs—like annotations and merging—I'm pretty sure the default apps should get the job done without any fuss.
Thanks for the tip! Just found the subreddit, and it looks really helpful!