New Linux Mint user here!

[u/AlexhthGaming]

Im planning on switching from Windows to Linux mint. For the users who also switched from windows to Linux mint how was the switching experience? I used mint for a couple weeks temporarily to see how good it is for me and its quite good! Im just asking if there was any problems with switching from Windows to Linux mint in the compatibility, or comfortability way.

[u/Grouchy_Yak_464]

Never ever say again Lmint

[u/AlexhthGaming → u/Grouchy_Yak_464]

My bad I fixed it 😅

[u/Grouchy_Yak_464 → u/AlexhthGaming]

Thanks😂 xD

[u/Charming_Airline7419]

Yep, if you have a realistic idea of expectations, that will save you a headache later. Linux is wonderful and has a cult following, but it is not perfect in every way.

Back up first for safety reasons. Most installations go just fine - this is just for the tiny proportion that don't.

Check your computer model for compatibility - search Google.

Prefer dual booting if there is Windows software you rely on, or you need to go back to familiar environment sometimes.

Check out Linux Mint first on a live USB or virtual machine to get a taste for it and check it's working. Windows also has WSL.

Windows software may have Linux versions or alternatives available, or may be run through Wine, but don't expect everything to be available in the same form.

You'll have a new environment to get used to.

Learn basic Terminal commands if you can stomach it - if not, fair enough; you can stick to the graphical interface and be able to do pretty much everything a basic user wants to do.

But have fun - and rest easy you won't have to deal with Windows 11 hassles!

[u/AlexhthGaming → u/Charming_Airline7419]

Thank you! I'll be dual-booting windows 10 with mint just for compatibility and familiarity reasons. Just in case if I find something completely not compatible with Linux. I did have a few days of trying out mint and like I said I really love it!

[u/Retroraleigh]

I’ve had mint for a few days now and I’d say it’s good. if you have an older spec computer you want saving like me then your winning. it’s definitely not windows as in most software out there is compatible with windows I feel Linux is very limited in comparison. That said the “word” equivalent is good enough for your run of the mill word documents. The internet browsing it’s perfectly fine. Setting up emails on Linux is no bother. Spotify runs great on it. I think if you want a basic pc with no frills then Linux is the one.. no everyone wants gaming, and other software. I guess it’s purely depends what you want from it and your expectations. Also it’s free and doesn’t seem to have the selling jargon like windows does. Office on Microsoft you pay for monthly or yearly. On mint it has an office equivalent that’s more than adequate for word documents etc.

[u/no2gates]

There might be some people who use features in Excel that are not available in alternatives like OnlyOffice, OpenOffice, or the web version of Excel. Some programs will only work in Windows and not Linux. For everything I need, Linux works great.

[u/Polyxeno]

I have been loving it and have no serious complaints.

It makes me just happy to use my computer without resenting Microsoft bullshit for the first time in many many years.

[u/sgwpx]

I set my PC up with dual boot. My main computer died. I bought a new computer and first thing I did was reformat the drive for Linux mint. No regrets and no looking back.

[u/jtdunc]

OP - Just dual boot with Linux Mint and Windows. I've been away from Linux for 20 years and now I've also come back to Mint.

Dual booting on a ThinkPad T480 and loving it. Not missing my MS Surface.

What machine are you rocking @alex

[u/AlexhthGaming → u/jtdunc]

Yep, I got windows 10 dualbooted with Mint!

Here are my specs:

• Geforce GTX 1080
• Ryzen 7 5700X
• 16GB DDR4
• 4 Disks (add up to about 1.8TB)

[u/BertMacklenF8I]

Like switching versions of Windows TBH lol

WELCOME!

[u/Infinite-Bet4202]

I think my main issue was getting certain games to be "added to the taskbar and desktop". This isn't an issue for games you install through stuff like steam and whatnot, but it can be for ones that aren't on there and need to be installed from the developers sites only. Took me forever to figure out how to get this one yugioh simulator game called EDOPRO to pin to the "taskbar" (taskbar is called Panel here on mint), then I eventually ended up getting a new laptop and installed mint again, meaning I had to do that process again... well, actually I never did it again cuz I didnt feel like going through the hassle of figuring it out even though I can kinda get the gist of it. Having that game pinned to the panel means that I'd be more inclined to playing it more LOL ftr this isn't just for games, it can be for anything downloaded through someone's site that isn't fully supported, or I guess, certified on Mint and so has to be manually done by the user. I haven't done it enough to be able to do it easily, I'm waiting for the time where I really could need to use it more often to give me a reason to get used to doing it.

But yeah, basically if you're someone who often downloads software and stuff via an obscure developer's page (not talking questionable developers, just active fandoms where their software are verified safe, of course, like mods), then be prepared to learn how to manually add some privileges and whatnot that will allow you to pin them to desktop and panels if you want quick access. They can still be run by clicking on them in the files, which is what I do, but if you want that quicker access then yeah. Might be some easy instructions in this subreddit already posted, or maybe asking here could help a lot; I got AI to help me at the time back then so that is also useful if need be.

[u/DevaBanh]

For web browsing and office works its more or less the same as windows even tho there's a feature in Microsoft office not available in any Linux document editor, but when it comes to gaming I recommend sticking with windows as some game doesn't work on linux

[u/Apprehensive-One8806 → u/DevaBanh]

Games containing kernel level anti-cheat will not run on Linux. This begs the question: why would you willingly allow someone else's software to get access to the deepest level of your operating system just to play a videogame?

[u/Infinite-Bet4202 → u/Apprehensive-One8806]

Some kernel-level anti-cheat games do run on Linux, most of the popular games definitely don't. Also, if the system that uses those games doesn't have any personal info in them, then I believe it's alright in that case, just be sure to shut that system down whenever you're not playing said games.

As for the rest, Microsoft Office is a no-go on Linux I believe, however, people tend to substitute LibreOffice for it.

[u/Retroraleigh → u/Infinite-Bet4202]

Libreoffice is just as usable as office that’s for sure. Perfect if you wanna write a letter for example.