Many of us have been there: we're finally done with Windows 11 and ready to make the switch to Linux, only to try one of the popular recommendations and come away extremely disappointed, swearing to never try it again. I certainly felt that way a few years ago when I first tried Ubuntu.

But just because ou hate your first experience with Linux, it doesn't mean you have to hate the whole platform. The world of Linux is far more varied than you might think, so it might be a good idea to try again.

Linux is far more varied than Windows

It's not an operating system, after all

Let me start by being a little pedantic here, because it's an important distinction to make. While you often see the word Linux put up against Windows as a direct comparison, Linux isn't an operating system like Windows is. It's just the kernel, a low-level piece of software that interacts with hardware on a fundamental level.

What that means for you as a user is that there's actually a wide range of Linux-based operating systems, usually called distributions ("distros"), which can offer a wide variety of experiences. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, KDE Neon, Pop! OS, Arch — all of these are very distinct operating systems that have different features and set different expectations for their users.

So just because you tried Ubuntu and hated it, that doesn't mean you're not going to like any of the other Linux-based options out there. It comes down to the reasons you didn't like it. If it's mostly about the UI and how you interface with its basic features, there's a good chance a different distro might fix everything for you.

That's not even getting into the fact that the desktop is also a separate entity from the operating system itself. On Windows, you're probably accustomed to the desktop looking the same on every PC by default, but Linux lets you install a wide range of desktops even if you use the same operating system. Popular operating systems like Ubuntu even have officially-endorsed derivatives like Kubuntu that use the same underlying system with a different desktop environment.

Internet help only goes so far

Ultimately, your tastes matter

I spend a good bit of time on Reddit, and one of the communities I often browser is r/linux4noobs. Now, I don't mean to disparage anyone who's coming into Linux not knowing much about it. I was that person a year ago, so I'm not trying to say that having basic questions is a bad thing. But it is almost humorous to see some of the extremely vague requests for help choosing a first distro to try.

From asking for a good Linux distro for "mixed use", to just asking for recommendations for distros with no extra information, or simply wanting a distro that's "compatible with everything", it's obvious that new users have a hard time knowing what they're even looking for. And again, that's fine, but when you ask questions in such vague terms, the answers you're going to get are going to vary wildly, and they're also coming from people who don't have the same perspective you do.

One of the most popular distros in the world has usually been Ubuntu, thanks in part to the financial backing of its owner, Canonical. This is a big company that can afford to make all kinds of tools and experiences that make Linux more accessible overall. On paper, Ubuntu is probably the best option for mixed use, but personally, I find its default desktop and UI to be off-putting and unintuitive, so it made me dislike Linux for a long time. What's popular with others may not be right for you.

Realistically, any distro can handle "mixed use" or be compatible with everything you'd want to do on a computer in one way or another. That won't be the only factor when it comes to choosing a distro you'll actually enjoy, so it's ultimately up to you to decide what feels right. If you're thinking about switching to Linux, I'd recommend having two or three distros at hand with different desktops so you have a fallback if you don't like your first experience.

Where should you actually start?

Looking inward is important

If you truly want the transition to be as smooth and effective as possible, instead of posting vague questions on the internet, you have to seriously consider every app and tool that you rely on when using your PC on Windows. Do you only use the web browser? If so, any distro can do the job. If you're into gaming, distros like Bazzite offer the most straightforward "it just works" experience, though an option like CachyOS may unlock more performance if you're willing to put in a little more work setting things up. Go through your commonly used apps and then check if they have Linux versions or are known to run well on Linux through Wine or Proton.

Otherwise, if you're switching to Linux, I believe it's better to start with something that feels more familiar to your usual experience. So, instead of Ubuntu, maybe try KDE Neon, which uses the KDE Plasma desktop, much more similar to Windows in terms of the general layout of things. Or maybe Linux Mint, which is also reminiscent of Windows in many ways, and runs better on older hardware. These distros also offer easy-to-use update tools and app platforms so you don't need to spend much time in the terminal if you don't want to.

Importantly, you should also keep an open mind when it comes to using Linux. Even when we're dealing with options that have more similar design paradigms to those of Windows, there are going to be some differences, so you have to give yourself some time to acclimate to the way things operate on your distro of choice.

Linux is great for (almost) everyone

A large portion of the people using Windows 11 today would almost certainly be fine using Linux instead. Not every app is available, that's true, but web browsers are, and that alone comprises most of the use cases a typical user might have. Plus, almost every other app you can think of either has a Linux version or a very capable Linux alternative. It's going to take some adjustment, but your first Linux experience shouldn't make you swear off the platform forever.