Linux is a free, open-source operating system that powers most servers and a growing number of desktops. It is packaged into distributions, or distros, which bundle the Linux kernel with a desktop, apps and update tools.
Three good first choices
- Ubuntu: the most popular desktop distro, with huge community support and long-term support (LTS) releases that get updates for years.
- Linux Mint: based on Ubuntu, with a familiar Windows-like desktop. A great pick if you are switching from Windows.
- Fedora: modern and polished, with newer software versions. Popular with developers.
Try before you install
- Download the distro’s ISO file from its official website.
- Write it to a USB stick with a tool such as balenaEtcher or Rufus.
- Restart your computer and boot from the USB stick.
- Choose the option to try the system without installing, and test Wi-Fi, sound and your display.
Things to check first
- Back up your files before installing anything.
- If you play games or edit video, check support for your graphics card.
- Look up whether the apps you rely on run on Linux, or have good alternatives.
Dual boot or replace?
Installers can set up Linux next to Windows, so you choose at startup. That is a safe way to learn while keeping your old system available. Make sure the installer shows you which disk and partition it will use before you confirm, and leave Linux at least 50 GB of space.
What is a desktop environment?
One thing that surprises newcomers is that the look and feel of Linux isn’t fixed. The desktop, meaning the taskbar, menus, windows and settings app, is a separate piece of software called a desktop environment. GNOME is the default on Ubuntu and Fedora and has a clean, modern style with a dock and an activities overview. Cinnamon, the default on Linux Mint, has a start menu and a taskbar at the bottom, so it feels familiar to Windows users. KDE Plasma is highly customizable. Most distros offer editions with different desktops, so if you like a distro but not its look, you can pick another edition.
Installing apps
Forget downloading installers from random websites. Linux distros come with an app store, often called Software or Software Manager, that installs and updates programs from trusted repositories. Many popular apps are also packaged as Flatpaks, available from the Flathub store, which work across distros. Common Windows programs often have good Linux alternatives: LibreOffice for office documents, GIMP or Krita for images, and browsers such as Firefox and Chrome run natively. Steam’s Proton compatibility layer lets a large share of Windows games run on Linux too.
Updates and support
Updates arrive through the same software tool and usually don’t force a restart in the middle of your work. Long-term support releases, such as Ubuntu LTS versions, get security updates for five years, which suits people who want a stable system. Fedora releases a new version roughly every six months and supports each one for about thirteen months, so you upgrade more often in exchange for newer software.
What we think
If you are coming from Windows and just want things to work, start with Linux Mint. If you want the largest community and the most online tutorials, pick Ubuntu LTS. If you are a developer who likes up-to-date tools, try Fedora Workstation. Whichever you choose, run it from the USB stick for an evening first; you will learn more in an hour of clicking around than from any comparison chart.