For years, Windows has been the mainstream operating system, and for good reason. However, in recent years, Windows has become filled with endless AI slop and advertisements. So, what do you do? Try Linux of course! Join me in this blog to learn about my Linux journey, the mistakes I made, and the things I discovered. Let’s dive in!
I had been using Windows basically for my whole life, I was content. However, over time I noticed little things that bothered me every day; forced Windows updates, constant back-up reminders, Copilot pop-ups. I was done. I couldn’t let Microsoft take over my laptop. So, I opened up my web browser and began researching for windows-like Linux distributions (commonly known as distros by the Linux community). I was surprised by what I saw.
My Options
By the end of my search I found two big contenders: Zorin OS and Linux Mint. Both of these options could have worked for me, but because I had experience with Zorin OS, I chose it. Before we continue, I just want to point out one key thing, almost any distro will work. I could have tried Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch if I was feeling hard-core. All Linux distributions can function as your day-to-day OS, Zorin and Mint just make that experience more windows-like. So if you want to try Linux as well, I would highly suggest Zorin OS.
By this point I rushed to download the ISO (the installer) for Zorin. If you’ve ever done a fresh Windows install, you should know the installation steps. But for those who’ve never installed and OS, or need a reminder, Zorin guide you through the steps.
Setting Up The Installer
To install Zorin OS, I headed over to their website and downloaded the ISO. Next, I downloaded a USB imager tool (I chose Rufus, but any other one will work too). I flashed the ISO to my USB drive. I was ready to boot into Zorin, I was so excited!
Note: I decided to install Zorin as a dual boot with Windows, this isn’t strictly necessary, but highly recommended! I will let you know why later on.
Booting Into Linux
When I booted into Zorin, I was greeted by a screen that gave me a few options, one of which was to Try Zorin OS. I had never seen this before; I could try an OS without committing to an installation. Microsoft, take note! Anyway, I clicked on the ‘try Zorin OS’ button, my device took a moment to load into the desktop environment (DE). It looked stunning.
Note: Always click the try option when you first try an OS. It can help you spot issues before you install!
Final Checks
Now that we’ve booted into the test environment, we can make sure key features, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are functioning as expected. You can also have a little look around, get familiar with the look and feel of your new OS.
If everything looks good, and you’re happy, you can move on to installing your chosen Linux distribution. Each install is a little different, so I recommend checking out an installation guide before you begin.
My Thoughts
I’ve been using Zorin OS for about a year, and I love it. However, there are a few things that bothered me. I noticed that a lot of my favourite games and applications don’t have a Linux version. Zorin tries to help with an app called Windows App Support, but this sadly doesn’t work with all applications. So, if you are dependent on specific Windows applications that aren’t natively supported on Linux, perhaps Linux isn’t for you.
Another thing that bothered me (at least in the beginning), was the Terminal (a.k.a. the command prompt). I had never really used this when I was on Windows. Linux forces you to put a few commands in once in a while. What if I break something? What if I nuke my OS? What if I just installed a virus? I was not comfortable. However, as time went on, I become more familiar with the terminal, and began preferring it over the built-in software store.
What Is ‘Distro Hopping’
When I was researching different Linux distributions I kept hearing the same thing over and over again—distro hopping. I dove deeper and here’s what I found. Distro hopping is a ‘phase’ that each Linux user goes through at least one point. Think of it as a journey to becoming an all-powerful Linux pro. Distro hoppers try many Linux distros and slowly make their way to the ‘final’ distro—Arch.
At first, I thought that I would never distro hop, but I was wrong. I’m now using Fedora Workstation as my main OS, and I am planning to try Ubuntu and Bazite in the near future.
Tips And Tricks
- Read the dedicated wiki. This can save you hours of wasted debugging.
- Give yourself time to fully try a distro.
- Learn how to use the basic terminal commands.
- Customise!
- Create system back-ups, this way you are safeguarded against mistakes or crashes.
I personally enjoy using Linux and I think it was the right choice for me, and I think it will be for the rest of you. Linux is a niche right now, but if more people use it, it can become better supported and improved!