Step 1: Software
The main barrier to switching to Linux is software availability, as many applications that are available on Windows/Mac are not available on Linux. The table below lists as much software as we could think of and its availability on Linux.
| Available On Linux with minimal restriction | Available with restrictions/ good alternatives available | Not available on Linux |
| Web browsers e.g Chrome, Firefox | Microsoft Office | Adobe Creative Suite |
| Email programs | Many cloud syncing services | AutoCAD, Solidworks and Catia |
| Libreoffice | Adobe acrobat | Many games |
| PDF viewers | Steam gaming software | Many other specialist softwares |
| Media players e.g VLC | 7-zip (usually preinstalled) | iTunes |
| Skype | ||
| Calculators | ||
| Weather apps | ||
| Dropbox | ||
| Audacity | ||
| GIMP photo editor | ||
| Kdenlive video editor | ||
| Torrent software e.g BitTorrent | ||
| Partition editors e.g GParted | ||
| VirtualBox and VMware | ||
| Spotify | ||
| Dropbox | ||
| Matlab |
Step 2: Ready for change?
Linux may be easier to use than ever, but that doesn’t mean it works the same as Windows/macOS- there will be a learning curve. If you’re not prepared to get to grips with doing things differently, you may want to stick with your current OS.
Step 3: Mission critical?
Sometimes, unforeseen issues can develop over time, so think carefully about using Linux on any computer that is used for essential or urgent work. Linux is ideal for use on a second computer if you have other computers available.
Step 4: Compatibility
Hopefully, all the software you need is listed under ‘Available on Linux’, but that does not mean you will not face compatibility issues of some sort. Even very worthy Linux-compatible alternatives such as LibreOffice may not open your files as you expect it to if you create them using Microsoft Office. Check that your files open correctly using Linux-compatible software (which is usually available on Windows) before taking the plunge, and always have a back-up plan if you are working on something important.
Step 5: Hardware gremlins
Your device may not take well to Linux, as hardware manufacturers do not prioritise Linux-compatible drivers. This may mean that a) getting features such as Wifi and Bluetooth working requires some fiddling b) they do not work at all or c) Linux is not well optimised for your device and runs slowly. Fortunately, you can check your hardware without modifying your Windows installation see “Creating a bootable USB stick” on How to Switch.
Step 6: Battery life
Are you heavily reliant on good battery life? Because hardware manufacturers usually do not offer Linux-compatible drivers, most drivers on Linux are developed independently without all the nifty features included in official drivers- which often reduces battery life.
Step 7: Netflix obsessed?
Netflix and other streaming services can be used on Linux, but image quality will be limited to a modest 720p. Some extra steps may be necessary, see using linux.
So, is Linux right for you?
I hope this has provided some food for thought. Most Linux beginner websites just assume that you want to switch to Linux, so this section was one of the main reasons for creating this site. Essentially, if all of the software you use is available on Linux, you should probably switch; if there are good alternatives to most of the software you use, you could probably switch if you want to; and if you use specialist software, try searching “[name of software] linux” and see if it is available, otherwise it is probably not worth switching.
What if I really want to switch?
There are workarounds. You can create a Windows virtual machine in Linux, which runs full-blown Windows in a window on your Linux desktop, but running both OSs at the same time reduces performance and you may have licensing issues.
There is also a piece of Linux software called WINE, which enables you to run applications on different OSs with minimal performance loss, but compatibility is limited and it is likely to have bugs. Crossover Linux from Codeweavers is a professionally developed version of WINE with better compatibility if you are prepared to pay for it.
Continue to How to Switch ->
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