Why I decided to switch from Windows to Linux — My Experience.

Overview

I have always been a hardcore Windows user, I have used Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and Windows 10. As you can clearly see I have used a lot of Windows desktops and laptops. On my current machine with decent specs, I have used Windows 10 for 1.5 years and honestly, my experience was not good. My laptop kept lagging and getting extremely hot with just browsing the Internet and watching media.

This year in March 2020 out of frustration I decided to look for alternative Operating systems and I discovered Linux. So, I decided to give it a try as it was free. I backed up my data and decided to dual boot my laptop. I installed Ubuntu and hands down it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

At first, the Ubuntu terminal and the user experience were a little intimidating but with time I kept falling in love with Ubuntu again and again for many reasons. It’s been more than 6 months now I have not booted my laptop in Windows 10.

Linux Basics

We all must have heard Linux at least once in our lives. Just like Windows, Android, IOS, and Mac OS, Linux is an open-source operating system. Surprisingly one of the most popular operating systems on the planet. An Operating System is a software that manages all of the hardware resources like CPU, memory, and storage associated with your desktop or laptop.

fact- Android is powered by the Linux operating system.

In layman terms, the Operating system manages the communication between the hardware and the software. Imagine your OS like a car engine. An engine can run on its own, but it becomes a functional car when it is connected with a transmission, axles, and wheels. Without the engine running properly, the rest of the car won’t work.

Why is Linux better than Windows?

1. Windows 10 is slow on Older Hardware- We all Indians may be familiar with using laptops with older hardware and lower specifications. Windows 10 is a heavy operating system and it also requires a lot of storage space.
2. Linux is More Secure than Windows 10- If we talk about windows security then I should tell you that the Windows Operating system is defenseless to various types of attacks or hacks. Although, Linux is best in its security. All your files and data will be safe and secure. Linux is more secure than Windows because of the way it’s designed and handles user permissions. This is one reason why most of the web runs on Linux.
3. Linux is Open Source- Linux is Open Source and you can build your own Operating system by tweaking the code according to your need. Arch Linux lets you build your own OS.
4. Perfect for Programmers and Developers- You can do many different types of programming like C/C++, Python, Ruby, etc. Linux supports almost all the programming languages. Kali Linux is widely used for Ethical Hacking all around the globe.
5. Free to Use- If you want to use Windows 10, you have to pay somewhere around 3k–5k. But, Linux is available free of cost.
6. Variety of Linux Distributions- A huge variety of Linux Distros are available to fulfill everyone's needs like Ubuntu, Kali Linux, Mint, Arch Linux, etc.
7. Support- Microsoft has a lot of documentations but when you get stuck with real problems you have to search their forums. Honestly, their support is good but not great. Linux support is easier to find, there are dozens of forums, hundreds of chat rooms, and even more websites dedicated to helping people learn and understand Linux.
8. Updates- This was one of my main reasons to switch to windows. Windows updates suck! Imagine you are in a meeting and you have a presentation. You open your laptop and see the following message: “Installing Update 1 of 13”. Another downside is that you need to reboot Windows after installing updates.

Which are the best Linux Distributions of 2020–21

The following chart explains in-depth which Linux OS should you go for.

1. Best distro for Beginners: Mint Linux is one of the fastest growing Linux distros around. Mint Linux is the perfect alternative to Windows OS because of its easy to use User interface. Mint Linux is lightweight and it has a large and supportive community with access to the ubuntu software repository.

2. Best distro for Programmers and Power Users: Ubuntu needs no Introduction in the world of Open Source. I started my Linux journey with Ubuntu. For Powerful PC’s and laptops, the flagship Ubuntu running GNOME desktop is perfect. Ubuntu has lots of Software, a Vast community and supportive forums, User-friendly and powerful, etc.

3. Best distro for Ethical Hacking: Kali Linux comes with hundreds of useful tools like vulnerability analyses, wireless attacks, web applications, exploitation tools, stress testing, forensic tools, etc. Kali is best for learning ethical hacking because of the vast variety of tools, solid Debian base, and regular updates.

4. Best distro for old hardware laptops or PC’s: Ubuntu MATE is the most lightweight Linux distribution. It requires just 512 Mb of storage. It is also available in 32-bit ISO. It is better than other light distros because it supports the Ubuntu software repository access, Active user community, and tons of layout options. Also, it looks really good :)

I hope this article helps you in deciding if switching to Linux worth it. This is my first article on medium so please feel free to share your feedback.

Happy Reading :)