I'm a long-time Windows user (from XP to 10), and with Windows 10 support ending soon, I'm looking to switch to Linux instead of upgrading to Windows 11. My friend, who uses Arch, claims Linux is hard, but I want to find a user-friendly Linux distribution that's easy to learn and can run games. My PC can handle Windows 11 specs but isn't great, so I plan to install Linux on my SATA SSD. Here are my specifications: Ryzen 5 5625u, Vega 7 graphics, 16 GB 3200MHz DDR4, 512 NVMe + 512 SATA. Any advice on distributions that resemble Windows and tips for the transition?
5 Answers
For beginners, I highly recommend Linux Mint. It’s user-friendly and offers a familiar interface for people coming from Windows. If you do want to tease your friend, you can suggest trying Gentoo, but that’s definitely not for beginners!
I just switched to Linux lately and have been using Mint and Zorin on my devices. I wish I had made the switch sooner! Mint and Zorin are both beginner-friendly. I’m also exploring Fedora right now, so you might want to look into that as well!
What about the desktop environments? What are the benefits of each?
Your friend’s just being a gatekeeper! Linux can be straightforward—try using a tool like Ventoy to boot Linux from a USB stick to see how you like it before committing. Linux Mint or Ubuntu should work great for your needs.
Totally! I'm trying Zorin too. What’s the difference between Gnome and Xfce?
Starting on a virtual machine is a great idea! I’d suggest Linux Mint because it’s user-friendly and works well for gaming with Steam. If you find you enjoy it, then you can dive into other distros later. Also, don’t stress about what your friend says—choose what feels right for you!
I’m just going to test with a USB for now. Great suggestion!
Linux Mint is a solid choice for a newcomer. It's stable, secure, and has a friendly user community. You might also want to check out Ubuntu or Fedora—they're well-supported and have good gaming capabilities. For gaming, look into ProtonDB to see how your favorite games run on Linux.
Good to know! I'll look at Mint first. Thanks for the tip!
What about using Wine? Do I have to install it separately?
Gentoo isn't really a beginner's choice either... stick with Mint!