Choose Linux as an alternative to Windows.
Choose Linux as an alternative to Windows.
Fedora has been functioning as the KDE version of Fedora for more than a year and possibly longer. It offers reliable package updates with major releases every six months. Overall, it's a great distribution. While installing Nvidia drivers requires manual setup, the available guides make the process straightforward. By default, it includes PipeWire for audio and video. I also appreciate that Fedora applies updates after a reboot instead of continuously updating, which prevents issues with services or binaries unless you restart the system.
For older systems, MX-Linux and Antix shine – actually Mepis and Antix combined to form MX-Linux. Recently updating to version 19.3 in VirtManager it seems to brand itself as Antix! The exciting part of MX-Linux is its Live Mode customisation, allowing you to save your setup once you explore it. On the flip side, tweaking the xfce panel can be tricky; it just shows a launcher icon without a name during editing. I belong to a City Linux User Group, and my coordinator suggested avoiding systemd-based setups because they act like a visible red arrow above your head or a barcode that anyone can read. Consider trying Arch-based distros instead. Personally, I’ve discovered a deep satisfaction in Devuan. The live version of Devuan 4.0 is now stable, replacing xfce with LXQt – it feels more polished, almost like a modern Win2k interface. Some processors struggle with Devuan, so test the live release first: https://mirror.leaseweb.com/devuan/devua...ktop-live/. There are both 64-bit and 32-bit options. If this mirror doesn’t fit, check the alternatives at https://www.devuan.org/get-devuan#https-mirrors.
I have several DEs installed – LXQt (Devuan default), Plasma (KDE), and Gnome Flashback – but I haven’t set up Cinnamon or MATE. Since Devuan 3.1.1 (Beowulf) supports Braille devices like Brailliant, it’s a good choice for accessibility.
For my Plasma Desktop with Sweet theme, if you’re used to Windows clipboard functionality, Plasma is ideal. I steer clear of flatpak and snapd due to bloatware concerns and security worries around App Images. My go-to tools are Synaptic Package Manager and the command line. For the past 18 years, I’ve managed tasks I once did on Windows using first FerenOS, then switched to Devuan – it’s become my preferred secure GNU/Linux option.
When I needed to connect remotely to servers via RDP, I had to enter credentials three times with Remmina Remote Desktop; with Linux, I only needed one entry! If you need compatibility with Microsoft Office or LibreOffice (which comes by default), note that it doesn’t look great on Windows – that’s not a flaw of LibreOffice but of Microsoft’s format sharing.
The best free alternative is FreeOffice from SoftMaker. Just before the lockdown, I secured a discounted 5-machine license for SoftMaker 2018 across Windows, Mac, GNU, and Linux. Later, I upgraded to SoftMaker Office 2021. My productivity improved significantly compared to MS Office, and the interface felt cleaner. However, it doesn’t support screen readers or image compression in documents – those tasks are better handled by LibreOffice.
On the Windows version of SoftMaker Office, MathType is included (an older version), but it’s not ideal. The best free solution remains FreeOffice.
For backup, I recommend RescueTime – a straightforward tool that was once a project but now offers a solid interface. It can back up systems effectively.
This guide covers the key points and alternatives to help you decide your next steps.
Two key points – install an SSD to boost performance and use the Linux Mint Cinnamon distribution. If someone who has spent years on Windows can switch back to Mint the following day (even after a system wipe), it should be straightforward. In fact, it’s simpler than expected. The notes above reference images/visuals; I’ve applied compression with pimagizer and enhanced quality using pThumb for better results. I’ve carried out roughly 30 setups for different users, totaling just over 50 across various groups.
For beginners, Ubuntu is the top choice. It offers strong support for common software and plenty of online discussions to help solve Linux issues. Just remember, if gaming matters most, Windows might be better suited. For other tasks—unless you deal heavily with office documents—Ubuntu still stands out as the best option.