Hey everyone! I'm planning to make the switch from Windows 11 to Linux on my MSI Katana 17 B13V. My laptop has an RTX 4060, i7 13620H, and 16GB RAM. I'm hoping to get comfortable with Linux before I travel abroad in a year. My main uses will be work and gaming. I'm aware that I might experience a 10-20% drop in gaming performance, which I'm okay with. The games I want to play include Space Engineers, Minecraft, Cyberpunk, F1, and Star Citizen.
For editing, I'd like to use DaVinci Resolve and Photoshop CS6, but I've heard running Photoshop on Linux can be quite a challenge. Is there any way to make it work, or should I consider switching to GIMP instead?
I'm also not interested in a dual-boot setup since I can use my PC when needed. I've backed up everything from my PC onto my laptop, but I'm confused about whether I need to reinstall most applications or can simply copy over folders like AppData and Documents instead. Are the folder structures in Linux similar to Windows?
Any advice on getting started with Linux and what I need to install for these applications would be super helpful! I'm completely new to Linux, so I appreciate any tips you have for me.
5 Answers
When you’re starting out with Linux, keep in mind that there's a learning curve. Embrace the differences and check out resources like forums and guides. For your Linux journey, asking specific questions is the best way to get help as you go!
If you're looking for alternatives to Photoshop, consider trying Photopea—it’s a web-based app that mimics Photoshop's interface. It works in a browser and can be saved as a PWA. Definitely check out tutorials for DaVinci Resolve too, as setups can vary depending on your distro.
To address your gaming, many titles run well on Linux through Steam's Proton, but you'll need to reinstall them on a Linux drive. Some games might require extra tweaks, especially if they have anti-cheat systems. For Minecraft, using the modrinth launcher can help with mod compatibility.
I recommend starting with Linux Mint since it's super user-friendly and perfect for beginners. You can get Photoshop working through Wine or PlayOnLinux, but it can be a hassle. If you're looking for something that just works, switching to GIMP might be a good idea. It's free and widely used in the Linux community, so you won’t have any surprises.
Totally agree! GIMP is powerful, and there are tons of tutorials online to help you transition. Plus, it saves you the headache of getting Photoshop to run.
Regarding file structures, Linux is quite different from Windows. You won’t have C: or D: drives; everything is under the root directory (/). Your personal files will typically be under /home/username. As for backups, you’ll need to reinstall apps designed for Linux since Windows programs won't run natively. Keep your Windows files on a separate partition if you want access to them later.
Exactly! It’s better to store any essential files separately, and definitely check beginner distros like Ubuntu or Fedora to see which one you like best.
Good to know about Proton! I was worried about losing my game progress during the switch.