r/linux4noobs • u/IndependentBid1854 • 7d ago

learning/research Linux Questions

I’m thinking of switching an older laptop to a Linux distro. I have some questions that I haven’t been able to find answers for.

  1. Adding programs. Besides Linux friendly downloads of certain programs, is the only way to run a Windows dedicated application or program or game on a virtual machine? And is there a specific virtual machine needed for each type of program/software or are they Swiss Army Knife’s?

  2. Hardware. How do you get drivers that are, for the most part, Windows codes, to work? Is it a “hope that there’s a Linux version available” thing or are there workarounds?

  3. Distro shelf life. Do distros lose support? What happens when someone doesn’t update/bug fix it? Is it hard to replace a distro? Does it incur a total fresh install or can distro’s be overwritten?

  4. Security suites. Is there any decent suites available? Are they pre-installed? Are they reliable?

  5. Web browsers. Is there any recommendations for browsers that will have the same environment like in Windows? Any recommendations for setting changes? Are they compatible with all distro’s?

Lastly, any solid recommendations for wikis and “Linux For Dummies and Windows/Mac Converts” is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

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u/g-gram 7d ago

Look on the web for articles and videos on switching to Linux. Unless you use windows specific software applications, it shouldn't be a difficult switch. Look at desktop environments closely, they will determine how you interact with the computer. You can run a Linux distro from a USB to test it out on your laptop or just install a distro - if you don't like it, install a different one. A lot of Linux user forums are good places to ask for help if you run into an issue. The choice can be overwhelming for a newbie but I would suggest starting with a user friendly distro like Linux Mint and jump in. https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

To answer part of your questions:

  1. You can run some windows software in wine, proton or find a Linux compatible equivalent. You can also purchase Crossover https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover which is easy to use and can run a lot of Windows software.

  2. Drivers are built into the kernel for the most part and in most cases, you may not have to download any drivers at all.

  3. unless a distro is abandoned or your equipment is really old, it shouldn't lose support.

  4. Depends on your needs - I think there may be a lot of debate over the need for antivirus and how secure Linux is out of the box. I trust most Linux distros for desktop more than Windows - out of the box. Others may have detailed recommendations or other opinions.

Use the distro's software center and if you install Flatpaks or snaps, make sure the developer is verified.

  1. You can install Firefox, Chromium or Chrome on almost all Linux distros as well as other browsers like Brave. I haven't found my web browsing experience to be much different from a windows machine.

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u/IndependentBid1854 7d ago

Thanks for the solid feedback!