Whether or not it is bringing a lifeless PC to life or eliminating Home windows, there at the moment are extra causes than ever to change to Linux. Nevertheless, the change does include surprises that may catch you off guard, similar to they did for me.
5
Troubleshooting Points Is Vastly Completely different
In case you’re used to Home windows’ troubleshooter instruments and general point-and-click method to troubleshooting, fixing points in Linux will really feel a lot totally different. Maybe for the primary time, you will be compelled to learn via log recordsdata and command-line outputs to determine what is going on on.
When one thing breaks in Linux, the system logs (usually present in /var/log/) will often let you know precisely what went mistaken and the place. These error messages are additionally way more detailed than the complicated error codes that Home windows throws at your face.
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As a substitute of clicking via menus and Google error codes, I ended up studying instructions like journalctl, dmesg, and tail to look at system logs. Earlier than you notice it, the terminal will develop into a vital software for diagnosing points and rather more; it isn’t simply an optionally available power-user software.
This method to fixing issues will allow you to over time. As a substitute of randomly altering settings or operating automated troubleshooters that by no means appear to do something, you will be taught to observe logical diagnostic steps. You may test logs, confirm configurations, and check particular person elements. Within the course of, you achieve a significantly better understanding of the underlying methods that energy your OS.
The educational curve is steep, and the complete course of can appear overwhelming at first. That is particularly the case when you’re attempting to diagnose a easy process like getting your Wi-Fi to work or your printer to be acknowledged. Nevertheless, the technical experience you will achieve from the method is properly definitely worth the effort.
4
RGB Peripherals Will Be Troublesome to Customise
Linux is not the OS for you when you’re into proprietary software program; nothing can be hit more durable by this than your RGB peripherals. All my peripherals with their intricate RGB results grew to become a lot more durable to regulate in Linux, just because the proprietary software program required by producers like Corsair, Razer, and Logitech does not exist for Linux.
Your RGB peripherals will nonetheless work, however you will lose the power to regulate them or create program-specific lighting profiles. At the very least, that is the case initially. Because of the open-source neighborhood, a number of third-party packages can restore this performance.
OpenRGB is absolutely the hero of RGB management on Linux, with assist for a whole lot of peripherals from numerous producers. It will not change the manufacturer-provided program in your peripherals totally, however you do get primary colour and impact controls.
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You should use Piper for configuring Logitech gaming mice, together with dealing with DPI settings, button remapping, and lighting management. Razer customers can check out OpenRazer with Polychromatic to configure their peripherals. In case you personal a bit of RGB tech that does not fall into the classes above, I nonetheless advocate attempting these packages out as they will seemingly work together with your peripherals anyway.
One downside that is larger than RGB management is machine compatibility. These packages are sometimes a lot slower to offer assist for newer units in comparison with producer software program, so your flashy new RGB mouse won’t be configurable on Linux for some time.
A potential workaround to this concern is to create lighting profiles in your units on Home windows (maybe by way of dual-booting), then save them to the peripheral’s onboard reminiscence. This fashion, you’ll transfer your button assignments and RGB profiles over to Linux (and different methods) with out requiring any packages.
3
You’ll Want Various Applications
This is without doubt one of the commonest points when switching to Linux, however I did not notice simply what number of various packages I must search for. Adobe’s inventive suite, Microsoft Workplace, and that area of interest CAD program I exploit to make recordsdata for my 3D printer? All gone.
Fortunately, that is extra a matter of discovering worthy, and infrequently free, options that I by no means knew existed. A few of these options may even be higher than the packages you had been utilizing on Home windows. GIMP, for instance, can outperform Photoshop in a number of key areas.
Fortunately, the Linux ecosystem in 2025 affords mature options for almost each Home windows or macOS unique program. The problem is discovering instruments that be just right for you, then adapting to a brand new workflow and interface. These instruments have characteristic parity with their Home windows/macOS options usually, however you will have to spend time studying the ropes.
2
Gaming Turns into a Problem
Gaming is the largest hurdle in my makes an attempt to start out utilizing Linux solely, and sadly, I do not see myself getting over it anytime quickly. Sure, Steam’s Proton compatibility layer has made Linux a considerably higher platform for gaming in comparison with what it as soon as was, however there are caveats you want to concentrate on.
Most video games nonetheless will not run on Linux, interval. The largest troublemakers amongst these are video games that require kernel-level anti-cheats packages like BattlEye and Simple Anti-Cheat. Even when you can run a recreation on Linux, if the anti-cheat software program does not work, you will not be capable of play the sport on-line (or in some circumstances, even offline).
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Because of this, standard multiplayer video games like Valorant and Fortnite stay fully inaccessible on Linux. This has compelled me to retain a Home windows partition solely for gaming.
Choosing a Linux gaming distro may also help resolve these points to some extent. Nevertheless, until gaming is an enormous deal for you, I might advocate sticking to extra beginner-friendly Linux distros as you become familiar with the brand new platform.
Usually, although, gaming on Linux is now higher than ever. When video games work, they usually run properly—even near native efficiency on Home windows, relying in your {hardware}.
1
Get Comfy With the Terminal
There is a good likelihood you would possibly by no means have used a terminal when you’re a Home windows or macOS person switching to Linux. Even after the change, you are able to do nearly every little thing with no need to work with the Linux terminal. Nevertheless, I like to recommend getting comfy with the Linux terminal as quickly as potential.
The educational curve is steep, for positive. Studying primary instructions like ls, cd, cp, mv, grep, and lots of others will really feel ineffective at first, particularly when there are visible instruments for almost every little thing in trendy Linux distros.
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However Linux’s true energy lies within the terminal. Bundle administration, system configuration, file operations, and most of all, troubleshooting develop into way more environment friendly when you embrace the terminal. To not point out that almost all Linux tutorials for putting in or fixing one thing would require operating terminal instructions sooner or later.
When you perceive the underlying ideas, you will notice that the terminal is extraordinarily logical and constant. The flexibility to jot down bash scripts and use instruments like cron will supercharge your productiveness with system-wide automations. Studying all this with out visible cues will take time, particularly when you’ve by no means used the command line earlier than, however the system understanding you will achieve is properly definitely worth the effort.
Switching to Linux might be thrilling, particularly when you’re doing so to be taught extra about computer systems or carry a lifeless PC again to life. Simply be sure to’re ready for the transition, so you do not get caught off-guard by points concerned in making such an enormous transfer.
