I requested How-To Geek’s writers which Linux distros satisfied them to stop Windows, and I used to be shocked by among the solutions
One of the issues I like essentially the most about being a Linux consumer is the big variety of views and experiences individuals have on the OS. Earlier this yr, I misplaced an necessary work machine to a misbegotten Windows update. So I dedicated to utilizing Linux Mint and Debian 13 for my daily work tasks. I’d already been utilizing Linux for private stuff, however that botched replace actually made me go all in on Linux. Several HTG writers have finished one thing related. So I requested them what prompted them to make the change (and what they switched to).
Mint, Zorin OS, and Debian
A easy accident introduced me to the OS
I got here to the globe of Linux by means of Red Hat a really very long time in the past. I labored a job that used it extensively. Later, I bought into Raspberry Pis and Ubuntu, and ultimately Mint. Later, I bought into Debian and have been loving it ever since.
Mint is the distro that basically made me say, “I’m ditching Windows for good” as a result of it simply works effectively and is perfect for beginners and superior customers alike.
Jorge A. Aguilar additionally ditched Windows for Mint. Mint is fairly user-friendly and simple to put in. He was involved about bricking his laptop computer, so he needed to start out small. That makes excellent sense. After making an attempt to determine a solution to squeeze extra life out of previous Windows PCs, Rich Hein determined to change to Linux. He was very near deciding on Mint as his main distro, however ultimately determined he preferred Zorin OS higher.
I’ve but to strive Zorin OS, but it surely is on my checklist of distros to check out within the subsequent few months.
Kubuntu
A plasma desktop and KDE suite make a distinction
Kubuntu turned out to be essentially the most talked about subsequent to Ubuntu. While I’ve finished some work with Ubuntu prior to now (circa 2014), I’ve by no means truly tried Kubuntu. After speaking with my fellow writers, I feel I need to give it a go.
Nick Lewis advised me he dual-booted Linux for a very long time, however after he tried Kubuntu, he switched to it for good. He preferred it as a result of it had mixture of all of the issues that make Ubuntu and Debian nice. Plenty of that got here right down to how effectively the Plasma desktop works and the truth that it “performs effectively with the KDE suite.”
That’s the same sentiment to the response I acquired from Senior Author Dibakar Ghosh (who writes rather a lot about Linux for the location). While he makes use of Kubuntu now, he is gone by means of a number of distros, together with Fedora and Garuda.
Before that, he began utilizing Ubuntu in 2016, however spent a while “distro hopping” and ended up liking Manjaro and Pop! OS. A number of years later, round 2019-ish, he made the change to Linux as a each day driver (largely as a result of he cherished KDE Activities and the customizable nature of the OS). The huge cause he switched to Linux got here right down to customization and a safer working system.
He’s positively put in the work on testing Linux-related issues out, and it is attention-grabbing to see Kubuntu sitting on the heart of that.
Fedora Silverblue
The distro with Android-like options
Fedora, surprisingly, did not come up fairly often. I like Fedora fairly a bit, however I’ve solely used it for particular tasks. It’s a powerhouse OS, so I used to be intrigued to listen to that it is my fellow author (and fellow Samsung Z Fold 5 fan!), Bertel King’s go-to distro.
After messing with Xubuntu a bit, he ended up leaving Windows solely for Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex.
Of course, as he places it, “That was clearly a very long time in the past.” Fair sufficient.
Bertel does a variety of his work with Android, however he spent a while with Linux earlier than shifting to his present workflow. Nowadays, he makes use of Fedora Silverblue on a PC, however solely when he must, largely as a result of putting in apps feels extra like a telephone (and plenty of other reasons).
None in any respect
A number of of our writers aren’t Linux followers
As somebody who may be very a lot entrenched within the Linux ecosystem, it is typically simple to overlook that some individuals choose different working techniques. And these working techniques aren’t at all times Windows.
One of our writers, Patrick Campanale, does a variety of attention-grabbing tasks. He has a ton of nice strategies for homelab tasks and covers a good quantity of 3D printing stuff. Lately, we have been discussing Raspberry Pis. Reading about his tasks, I had at all times simply figured he used Linux in some capability.
But it seems, he is a Mac man who makes use of Windows for gaming. I can respect that.
My favourite response, although, was one author who advised me they would not use Linux ever. Again, I respect that call, but it surely did shock me a bit.
But my huge takeaway is that Linux protection is not a small a part of what we do. And I sort of prefer it that method.
Linux is my favourite OS, however there’s extra to it than that
And there you’ve got it: a roundup of the reason why HTG’s writers ditched Windows for Linux. Plenty of it comes right down to customization and having the ability to do what we would like with our working techniques. We cowl a variety of various things at HTG. It’s good to know that I’m working with some very educated individuals. And, hey, we’ll preserve writing about it as a result of we like it simply as a lot as our readers do.
