Linux for dummies

Or… “So, you're a Windows user?”

Pick a distro, any distro. I recommend Bazzite, but these are all fine. Here are some, in order of simplicity:

• Zorin OS (use the free Core version) - Windows like and beginner friendly.
• Linux Mint (use Cinnamon edition) - Popular for beginners, but not as good for gaming.
• Bazzite Best gaming option imo! Just works, rock solid, up to date and user friendly.
• Pika OS (use KDE in my humble opinion) - Well rounded for beginners AND gamers.
• Nobara (standard) - More up to date since it's Fedora

Make sure to download specifically for NVidia, if that's your graphics card.

What's a distro? Someone has made a distribution of Linux in a specific flavor. I.e. a distro.

• Buy a USB stick
• Download the installation thing
• Use Rufus to copy installation to the USB stick
• Restart computer into BIOS
  • How this is done differs. Usually you hold a key after hitting power up. It can be F2, DEL, F10…
  • Turn off Secure Boot
  • Change the boot order of the discs, so that the USB (or UEFI) is at the top
  • Save and exit, good luck
• What Partition option should I choose?
  • btrfs if you can, ext4 if you can't
  • If you want to Dual Boot, best to have two separate hard drives.
  • Don't encrypt your drive!
  • I really recommend All in, erase the disc and take the plunge!
• You need to choose a password at some point. Keep it simple on a home computer.
• If you encounter “KWallet”, set it up with empty password. Trust me.

Many things are different, some are the same. Key highlights:

• NVidia drivers and Codecs usually needs a separate installation. It's a license thing.

• Everything is installed through a tool, not from a webpage.

• All good distros include a type of Software center, though.

• A handful competitive games can't be run. The vast majority can.

• No Microsoft or Adobe suites. Really good free alternatives exists.

• No C: or D: drive. Everything is a “file” and starts and /.

• Your stuff lives in a Home-folder, referenced as ~.

• Stuff named with a leading period becomes hidden. Like a .config file.

• File extensions like .jpg are very much optional. Still used though.

• Every action on stuff outside the Home-folder needs your password.

• Yes, a lot can be done in a terminal. However, with good distros you won't need it!

• The Linux scene is diverse. So, SO many options!

Seriously, this will be one of your first cultural shocks! This is how I would do it if I were you. And yes, this is the one bit that the terminal is best at.

• Open a terminal.
• sudo apt install btop

• Cinnamon and KDE: CTRL+ALT+F4, log in. Run btop to see and kill the rogue process. CTRL+ALT+F2 to get back.
• Pika OS: Same, but start with CTRL+ALT+F2 and end with CTRL+ALT+F1. I think.

Basically the look and feel. How the windows behave and what tools you'll have. This is not specific to a distro, you can mix and match to some degree. I will high light four:

• KDE or K Desktop Environment. Pretty polished and up to date. Very Windows like, but also very configurable.
• Gnome. More of a tablet or iOS feel. Very polished but not so configurable.
• Cinnamon. Feels old, but still good. Windows like. Usually paired with Linux Mint. Can behave weird, the technology is old like WinXP.
• COSMIC. Up and comer. It needs to bake another year, but will probably become the no 1 in popularity.

Important note on KDE: It has this kwallet to store you passwords and stuff. Leave the kwallet password blank, trust me!

There are three great daddies of distributions. Four if you count Ubuntu. In order of stable to bleeding edge:

1. Debian (and it's stepchild Ubuntu)
2. Fedora
3. Arch

All other distributions are based on these three (four?) and that affects the available applications a bit. But not much. Their maintainers have different philosophies: Debian is all about slow updates and stability. Arch is more new new new! Fedora is a good middle ground.

Since all applications are installed through package managers, it's good to know that they are split along with the daddy distros.

Faster, less safe. Good for demanding stuff like Steam. Generally don't use unless you know what you're doing.

• Debian/Ubuntu: APT (advanced package tool)
• Fedora: DNF (Dandified YUM!? Right…)
• Arch: You're new. Don't use Arch btw.

Then there are some distribution agnostic package managers. Everything you need will be included. They are safer, larger and a bit slower. Recommended for you most of the time.

• Flatpak: Use these most of the time. You'll find these in the “software center” of choice.
• AppImage: Made to be downloaded from Internet. Avoid, but sometimes it's the only option.
• Snap: Like Flatpak, but worse. Specific to the company Canonical and their Ubuntu. Avoid!

Dont worry about it. Seriously.

You can do cool things with it. But with good distros you'll never have to use it.

Unless you need to do CTRL+ALT+DEL, unfortunatly. Since you can't do that, like in Windows.