Hey everyone! My laptop is pretty much on its last legs, and I'm getting really frustrated with Windows. I'm thinking about making the switch to Linux, but I'm not sure which distribution to try first. I use a bunch of programs for school, work, and personal projects, including KiCad, FreeCAD (I might switch to SolidWorks or Fusion360 in the future), Matlab, and LaTeX tools like TexWorks and Texmaker. I also do a bit of programming using Quartus, Visual Studio, PyCharm, STM32CubeIDE, and Arduino IDE. On the gaming side, I play modded Minecraft (specifically GT:NH) and some Steam games. Any recommendations for a Linux distro that would work well with these applications?
3 Answers
You won't find SolidWorks or Fusion 360 running directly on Linux, so you'll need to find alternatives for those. Just make sure to check if your essential applications have Linux versions. In terms of gaming, most Steam games work on Linux now, especially if you check compatibility on ProtonDB. Linux Mint and Pop!_OS are great for starters because of their community support and ease of use. Plus, with Steam Deck’s compatibility features, many games run surprisingly well on Linux these days!
First things first, make sure to address your laptop's issues before switching operating systems. If it’s dying, even the best Linux distro won’t save it. You might want to repair it or consider getting another one. If you’re set on transitioning, Linux Mint is a solid choice for beginners, and it generally supports most software you use. It's user-friendly and has a lot of documentation to help you out. The same goes for Pop!_OS if you're into gaming a bit more.
Totally agree! Also, consider checking eBay for refurbished laptops. I found a good deal on mine for just $75! Just look for ones that have been wiped and refurbished.
You should definitely try out Linux Mint. Download the ISO from their site, use a tool like Ventoy to create a bootable USB, and test your system. This way, you can check if your applications run smoothly without fully committing right away. FreeCAD and KiCad both work natively on Linux, so you’re covered there. Just a heads up, Visual Studio itself won’t work on Linux, but many users switch to VSCode instead, which has a lot of plugins.
For anyone confused about Ventoy, it's a USB installer like Rufus but offers more flexibility with multiple ISOs. Super handy!
Definitely try Prism Launcher for modded Minecraft; it works like a charm with Linux!