Are you thinking about switching from Windows to Linux? More people are making the switch every year. Before 2020, Linux was running on about 1.6% of desktops. As of August 2024, that number has jumped to 4.55%. That’s still not a huge market share, but it’s a huge amount of growth in the past few years.
Source: StatCounter Global Stats – OS Market Share
I wrote previously about my journey toward increasing my digital privacy. Installing Linux was a core part of that. In this article, I want to help you understand why you should (or should not) make the switch, which distribution to choose, and how to install Linux.
7 REASONS TO SWITCH TO LINUX
1. BETTER PRIVACY: Microsoft collects a ton of data on the users of all its products. I’ve seen quite a few people try to refute this inconvenient truth, but Microsoft admits it in their Privacy Statement:
Microsoft uses the data we collect to… Advertise and market to you, which includes sending promotional communications, targeting advertising, and presenting you with relevant offers… We share your personal data… with Microsoft-controlled affiliates and subsidiaries; with vendors working on our behalf… “sharing” also relates to providing personal data to third parties for personalized advertising purposes. (MS Privacy Statement, accessed Sept. 1, 2024)
Several years ago, I realized just how much Microsoft was listening when I started receiving emails from local companies about products that my wife and I had been discussing. Our phones were off but my Windows laptop was on and nearby.
2. SAVE MONEY: Somewhere around 40% of computers can’t upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware incompatibilities. So, when Windows 10 updates end in October 2025, millions of people will have three choices:
(a) Continue using a Win10 PC that doesn’t get security updates (the dangerous option!)
(b) Buy a new computer (the expensive option)
(c) Switch to Linux (the smart option!)
3. SECURITY: The open source community is dedicated to keeping their Linux distros safe and secure. While there are occasional security threats for Linux-based systems, they’re rare. They tend to be newsworthy on tech sites because they’re so unusual. Also, you won’t stop getting security updates for Linux in the year 2025.
4. TONS OF FREE SOFTWARE: There’s a lot of free software for both Windows and Linux, but the Linux world has a way of vetting the software by distributing it through special repositories (like Snaps and FlatHub). There’s a free alternative for most applications that the average person needs on a daily basis.
5. HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE: Linux desktops tend to be easy to customize and there are plenty of themes and guides online to help you do that.
6. LOTS OF SUPPORT: If you go with the most popular distribution, Ubuntu, there are a ton of websites in which you’re likely to find an answer to just about every question. Other popular distros like Mint and Zorin have forums with helpful, friendly people. Just be careful about AI suggestions.
7. LESS BLOATWARE = FASTER: Most Linux distros run much faster than Windows 10 or 11. It’s amazing how snappy a desktop feels and how long a laptop battery can last with Linux vs. Windows.
THREE REASONS YOU MAY NOT WANT TO SWITCH
While I want as many people to move to Linux as possible, I recognize this can’t be done for some people. Here are reasons you may not want to (or be able to) switch:
1. IT’S NOT YOUR LAPTOP: If you use a corporate laptop that has a specialized set of programs or security measures on it, you may not be able to switch.
2. PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE: If you work for a company (or do freelance work) that requires the use of resource-intensive proprietary software (like the Adobe Creative Suite), then you’re better off sticking with macOS or Windows. At least for work. You could always have a separate Linux computer for personal use. If your proprietary software is not resource-intensive, you may find success running Windows in a virtual machine (e.g., VirtualBox) within Linux. I do that for Microsoft Office and a few other programs.
3. NO TECH KNOWLEDGE: If you have absolutely no tech knowledge (e.g., you can hardly even turn a computer on and off), then the process of installing Linux might be a bit overwhelming. Anyone who uses Windows can easily use Linux. But installing Linux does take a small amount of effort. Perhaps a tech-savvy friend can help you.
BEFORE MAKING THE SWITCH
1. BACK UP YOUR DATA! Make sure all of your data that you need is in a cloud service that you know how to access from a web browser or on an external hard drive. Write down any passwords saved in your browser and export your bookmarks as an html file and save that too! Recently, Brave’s sync service messed up when I installed a new Linux distro. I couldn’t get my bookmarks to sync. If I hadn’t exported them as an html file, they would have been gone forever.
2. CHOOSE A LINUX DISTRO: Below I list my top three choices.
3. GET A FLASH DRIVE READY: You’ll need a USB flash drive that is either empty or can have its contents completely erased. You will lose all data on this flash drive, so be sure to back up any important files.
THE BEST TWO DISTROS FOR BEGINNERS
There are thousands of choices, and as a newbie, most of them are not worth your time. Additionally, most distributions of Linux tweak both the appearance and things “under the hood.” How the computer looks when you’re using it is called its “desktop environment.” Windows has basically one desktop environment that can be tweaked by power users. But with Linux, there are numerous desktops.
I’ve used nearly a dozen Linux distros, and when I started this article, I had reviews written for seven of them. However, I decided to focus on the top two that are easiest for Windows users to learn. Both of them are based on Ubuntu, which is the most popular Linux distribution. However, because Ubuntu isn’t the easiest for beginners, I would recommend Zorin or Mint.
1. ZORIN:
Zorin looks and feels much like Ubuntu, however, they focused on making Ubuntu more user-friendly for people switching over from Windows. One of their many changes is presetting familiar Windows keyboard shortcuts into their OS. When I went all-in with Linux, I began with Zorin. I have visited their forum frequently and been helped many times.
Zorin has a handsome desktop environment called Gnome. It’s the best looking desktop environment (IMO), and it shares similarities to Win10 and Win11. It has easily accessible buttons that toggle things like bluetooth, wifi, and airplane mode on and off. However, Gnome can be a little slow on older machines.
2. MINT:
I first used Mint in 2009 or 2010. They’ve come a long way since then.
There are two versions of Mint: one based on Ubuntu and the other based on Debian. Both use the Cinnamon desktop environment, which is more streamlined and faster, especially on older systems. My Mint desktop built in 2009 runs almost as fast as my Ubuntu gaming laptop built in 2020. While Ubuntu/Zorin’s Gnome feels a bit more like Win10 or Win11, Mint’s Cinnamon has more of a classic (i.e., Windows 7) feel. If you have an older computer, or you just like your pc to run as fast as it can, then I would recommend Mint.
Like Zorin, the main version of Mint is based on Ubuntu. However, they’ve removed what some would consider system “bloat” by installing packages and dependencies only when those things are needed. But you’ll want a fast, unmetered internet connection since it has frequent, hefty updates. My main complaints about Mint are that the Cinnamon desktop isn’t as pretty as Gnome, and there are issues with its Night Light (Redshift) feature.
SUMMARY OF DISTROS
If you’re overwhelmed with all the distros to choose from, my first recommendation is Mint. I’ve found it to be less buggy and faster than Ubuntu and Zorin. However, if you want Ubuntu repackaged in a way that is easier for Windows users and has the Gnome desktop, you may consider Zorin. Ubuntu is fun once you learn Linux and can easily run commands in the Terminal.
My first Linux distro was called Mandrake; I installed that in 2003 or 2004. Around 2010, I tried Mint. My experiments into Linux always ended abruptly when I encountered bugs or challenges that I didn’t know how to overcome on my own. In mid-2023, however, I was determined to make this work. I realized the forums are full of friendly people who want to help, and asking for help was a game-changer for me. I haven’t looked back at Windows since that time.
HOW TO INSTALL
As mentioned above, Linux is installed in a few steps. While you should be able to follow the directions below to install Linux, you’ll want to refer to your distro’s help section if you have any questions.
1. Download the Linux iso file
Ubuntu | Zorin | Mint
2. Burn the ISO onto your USB
If you’re using Windows, try something like Rufus.
3. Boot into BIOS
Look up your computer brand or model online to see how to do that. It varies with every manufacturer, but often involves restarting and repeatedly pressing F1, F2, F9, F12 or ESC.
4. Boot from the flash drive
5. Install
And that’s it, you’re done!
6. VARIOUS INSTALLATION NOTES
ENCRYPTION: I like to have my Home folder (or hard drive) encrypted. If my laptop is ever stolen, no one can easily get into my files. For me, that’s important because my laptop has tax returns, church records, private communications from parishioners, and other similar sensitive data.
DUAL INSTALL: Some people will keep their old Windows OS on one partition of the hard drive and install Linux beside it on another partition. It’s not my favorite solution because I’ve seen too many issues occur when either Windows or Linux has a major system update. You’ll have more space for your files and the best experience if you just go all the way with Linux. But, at least the choice is there.
7. GOING BACK TO WINDOWS
If you try Linux and decide you don’t like it, you can easily go back. The instructions above are similar for installing Windows as well. However, you’ll need to download a Windows ISO from Microsoft and flash that to your USB drive. Further instructions from Microsoft can be found here.
WHAT ABOUT APPLE & macOS?
Apple is certainly the lesser of evils when compared to Microsoft and Google. However, nearly every big tech company is inching (or leaping) toward data mining because there’s billions of dollars to be made in it. Geek friends of mine have told me that network traffic has been closely scrutinized on Apple machines, and there’s no doubt Apple is collecting data and “phoning home” with it. Much like Microsoft.
I strongly considered going the Apple route but was cured of this idea when I purchased an older Apple iMac to begin experimenting with. The system was ridiculously slow (when compared to a Windows or Linux system of the same age and similar specs) and there was hardly any software available for it from Apple. That experience taught me Apple, if I buy one of their computers, will leave me high and dry after about five years.
Unfortunately, Apple’s strategy seems to be “planned obsolescence,” which means they aim to make any device you purchase obsolete (and sometimes unsupported) after 5-7 years. I don’t have enough money to keep up with a scheme like that. Plus, their systems are “closed source,” meaning nobody except a handful of their employees can see the code. They tell you they respect your privacy, but do they? Unlike with “open source” software, there’s no way to audit Apple or verify they’re telling the truth. You just have to trust them. And after 2020, I’m having a hard time trusting any Big Tech company.
Next Up
Before you make your final decision about which Linux distro to use, I would recommend my article on things I wish I knew about Linux before getting started. It will reveal how to make your transition go smoothly.
End Notes:
I’ve left out several good Linux distros because I don’t want to overwhelm people with options – choice overload is a real thing.
If you’re running Linux, what’s your favorite distro and why?