I bought a laptop yesterday, it came pre-installed with Windows 11. I hate win 11 so I switched it down to Windows 10, but then started considering using Linux for total control over the laptop, but here’s the thing: I keep seeing memes about how complicated or fucky wucky Linux is to install and run. I love the idea of open source software and an operating system without any of the bullshit that comes with Windows, but most of the open source stuff I have is on my android and fairly easy to install. Installing and using Linux just feels like it’ll be a whole different beast that’ll eat up most of my time and I’m kind of intimidated by it.
TL;DR Linux scawy, how does a barely computer literate scrub like me who’s used nothing but windows since the dawn of their life get started with Linux?
Hello and welcome to the club! It depends on your skill level. For some it can be very difficult to install any OS, Linux or not.
I’d recommend practicing on a VM first to verify your technical chops.
Step 1: Download virtualbox and create a new Linux virtual machine with 30 GB of disk space.
Step 2: Download a Linux ISO and mount it in the VM.
Step 3: Maximize the VM window and install Linux.
Step 4: Play around with your new Linux installation as though it were your real OS.
This will be the closest to bare metal install when compared to running it from USB. USB live tend to feel laggy, because of the bus, but in a VM, it’s just like bare metal (almost) minus the “going all our” part.
Try many different distros and DEs before you make your choice.
Try atomic distros too, they may or may not be your cup of tea.
Go crazy on a VM. If you don’t like it, nuke it, try again with something else.
The only problem is the insane amount of options, which is also what makes this so much fun.