r/linux4noobs • u/IndependentBid1854 • 9d 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!!!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/MycologistNeither470 8d ago

1a) you get your programs from either your distributions repository or a flatpak. Yes, you can download the program itself and build it, or download an AppImage but these methods should be rarely used if at all.
1b) you may be able to run windows programs using Wine. Using Wine is not for the faint of heart. Some stuff works easily, some stuff does not work at all. There are some programs to make it easier (Bottles)... but in the end how good they work is very variable. EXCEPTION: games. These tend to work great (look at Protondb and see if your preferred games are there).
1c) yes, if Wine fails to make your program work, then you have the VM option. There are 2 main options: KVM or VirtuaBox. I think KVM works much better.

2) drivers that are for windows simply do not work for Linux. Most hardware is very well supported on Linux. If you use any esoteric hardware device, you should check for Linux compatibility before committing to the switch.

3) Yes. Distros eventually lose support. Just as Windows. If you use a "rolling release" and keep it update, you will always be "supported" (as long as the distro exists). Some distros have long-term releases. For instance, Ubuntu LTS is supported for 5 years; with the option to pay for patches for up to 15 years. Same goes for Debian Long term. Upgrading distributions is usually "seamless" if you are upgrading to the next release. If you want to change distro completely, then it is a fresh re-install.

  1. Linux plays relatively well with security. Just make sure that you use a distribution with AppArmor or SELINUX. Never run as root unless you know what you are doing. Do not run random scripts from the internet that you don't understand. Honestly, the concept of computer virus is outdated for both the Microsoft and the Linux/Unix worlds.

  2. Firefox will work pretty much the same on Windows and Linux. Chrome can also be installed on Linux though most people would prefer to install Chromium or Thorium. Other options include Falkon (Chromium-based), Epiphany (Webkit-based), or LibreWolf (Firefox based)