Other options for Windows?
Other options for Windows?
I think it hinges on how you view the "Linux community." From my perspective, forums like /r/Linux or most Linux subreddits tend to be exclusive and not welcoming to newcomers—definitely not beginner-friendly. I’d advise steering clear of them at all costs. However, sites such as Raspberry Pi discussions or even /r/Linux4noobs are much more accessible. At the very least, you’ll skip the endless debates about anti-Windows sentiment that often appear elsewhere. Regardless of your learning path, you’ll inevitably encounter Stack Overflow eventually. Leaving the Linux community behind is nearly unavoidable unless you rely solely on textbooks.
I can't really recommend Ubuntu either. I'd seriously go with ye ol' Debian and a nice KDE Plasma DE. It's super stable, lightweight and you can customise the shit out of it. Also Deb11:Bullseye looks gorgeous out of the box. Meanwhile, Linux isn't what it used to be and even the basic OS can be navigated entirely without opening the terminal. Although, trust me, once you start using Linux, you will want to learn how to use it, because it's super efficient and you'll feel like the most bad-ass hacker!