I've used Linux for the better part of 19 years ... having first booted up Ubuntu 6.10 (code named "Edgy"). This was only possible after some generous community member shipped me a few live CDs since I was unable to get the ISO burned to a disc and booted on my system at just 16. Before that, I was always a Windows user and my side job through school was at a PC repair shop where we always dealt with Microsoft-powered hardware, be it prepping new builds or repairing used systems.

Once I finally got hold of a working Linux installation, there was no looking back. Nearly two decades later and I still enjoy booting up the open-source platform on as many devices as possible, but I understand there are still some problems that prevent others from making the switch.

The terminal is still required

Though it's much better than before

More Windows-to-Linux conversions are taking place these days, and one reason you'll find many state as to what they fear most moving to the open-source platform is having to learn and recall various commands. I remember a decade ago when it was difficult to go through an entire day without visiting the terminal in some fashion. This isn't a problem for anyone who's either used to entering Linux commands or prefers it over the GUI, but for beginners, it's still an issue prevalent today.

Thankfully, distro maintainers continue to work with desktop environment developers to make Linux as easy to use as possible for everyone. Gnome and KDE are both incredibly refined compared to prior versions, especially Gnome. One can install a copy of Ubuntu or Fedora and use it like they would Windows without needing to launch a terminal shell even once. Much like macOS and Windows, everything mostly works through the GUI. But what's great about Linux is the plethora of guides and helpful answers available.

Going from zero to hero is fairly easy. Take Arch Linux, for instance. This is widely regarded as one of the more difficult distros to set up and use for those who aren't familiar with the Linux underpinnings, but even Arch has an installer of sorts now that runs you through everything needed by the OS. And diving into the deep end is a great way to fully understand how Linux works and create an OS tailored to your needs. You'll also learn a command or two along the way.

It was borderline hilarious watching Linux users customize their systems to extreme ends in competition with Windows Vista, but it also resulted in some epic videos, like the one above. But for those who simply wish to use a GUI from start to finish, Linux is better than ever.

Lack of official app support

Still no Adobe on the horizon

Rely on Adobe Creative Cloud? You're out of luck when it comes to Linux. Microsoft has stated just how much the company "loves" Linux, but we're yet to see Excel, Outlook, and Word arrive on the platform. It's understandable since Linux still has such a small market share, but with more eyes looking to the free Penguin, Linux can't be ignored indefinitely. Like Windows Phone in the early to mid-2010s, the lack of official app support continues to harm Linux.

Thankfully, there are some excellent alternatives, such as GIMP and Darktable for handling photos and editing, and LibreOffice for a suite of productivity tools. Linux distros have access to various repositories for apps, and some even have GUI storefronts that resemble counterparts from macOS and Windows. This makes it easy to either download official apps like Discord, Chrome, Steam, Thunderbird, and Slack, or find alternatives to those not yet available.

Another related point on app availability is package manager and distributors. Linux has so many. We have flatpak, snap, dnf, app image, apt, pacman, and more. Although distros usually have a preferred method of installing and managing packages, Ubuntu supports snap and apt out-of-the-box. If this is the first time using Ubuntu (and Linux), which do you use and why? It would be good to settle on a single method to make it easier, but having healthy competition can lead to better results.

Gaming with dreaded anti-cheats

It (mostly) just doesn't work

Gaming on Linux has come a long way, but that's mostly thanks to a single company; Valve. Steam and Proton are a great match for Linux, allowing many Windows-only games to run on Linux distros with very little input from the user, which wasn't always the case with Wine. That said, anti-cheats still don't play well with Linux, so if you're more into competitive online play, you'll need to have a Windows installation at hand for those heated sessions.

And not every game works through Proton. It's a blessing when one of your favorites works natively on Linux, but if even Proton doesn't provide a viable solution, you'll need to resort to virtualization or dual-booting. That said, my desktop gaming PC runs Linux and all my favorite Steam games run fine on the OS with native support or some version of Proton. And when you're running a game through Proton, there's almost no difference with performance on a Windows PC. It's almost like magic.

On the fence? Give Linux a go.

Linux as an operating system is incredibly refined. It's why you'll find it running most of the world's server infrastructure. Network-attached storage (NAS) are more often than not powered by some form of Linux or Unix based software. That infotainment system inside your new vehicle? There's a good chance that's also running Linux. It's everywhere but on the desktop. Market share is increasing for the platform, but we're still looking at around 5%, which is almost nothing.

It's a shame because Linux is easier than ever to get up and running. With the drop of support for Windows 10, now's a great time to make the switch from Microsoft to a free distro, but these issues can put people off. If you happen to be one of these potential converts, I implore you to download an ISO for Ubuntu, Fedora, or Linux Mint, make a bootable USB, and load up the OS. You can run it without touching your Windows drive to see how you go.