LINUX IS EASY TO TRY
Okay, we’ve sold you. You’re ready to test-drive Linux. Fortunately, Linux is dead simple to try. You don’t even have to ditch Windows if you’re feeling hesitant.
Before you install a Linux distribution on your PC’s hard drive, we suggest giving your chosen operating system a whirl with a live drive or live DVD. With live drives, you install a bootable system of a Linux distribution to a DVD or flash drive, then configure your PC to boot from that rather than your hard drive. It takes minimal muss and fuss, lets you try several Linux operating systems quickly, and doesn’t touch the Windows installation on your primary storage drive.
Personally, we think Linux Mint provides the best experience for experimental Windows users, because it mixes Ubuntu’s flexible approach to closed-source software with a Windows-like interface.
Using Linux shouldn’t be too much of a hassle, especially if you opt for an OS with a Windows-like Start menu, but there are several core differences. Most major Linux distributions offer an online forum with dedicated help sections.
If you decide you like Linux, you can use the same live drive (or disc) to install your new operating system on your hard drive. You can keep Windows on your PC if you’d like, too. If you’re running an older PC with limited hardware or a dead OS or if you’re irked at some of Microsoft’s recent decisions around Windows 10, there’s no reason not to give Linux a try. You might just like what you find – especially if you spend most of your digital life in a browser and productivity suite.