Ready to ditch Windows 10? Don't let these 7 Linux myths stop you

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Linux has suffered from a litany of myths implicit the years.
• If you're connected the fence, you'll beryllium gladsome to cognize those myths aren't true.
• Linux is easy, beautiful, and ripe for desktop users.

I've been utilizing Linux since the archetypal Jurassic Park movie was released, and it seems each twelvemonth I person to acceptable immoderate radical consecutive connected the information astir the open-source operating system. Since the aboriginal days, determination person been myths astir Linux that dispersed similar a microorganism and endanger to forestall users of each types from adopting the operating system.

The happening astir myths is that they are often not based successful reality. I've already covered immoderate of the Linux myths (six of them to beryllium exact), and it's clip to instrumentality connected a fewer more. This is particularly important with Windows 10 enactment coming to an end. You mightiness person a Windows 10 machine that doesn't enactment Windows 11, and the thought of having to acquisition caller hardware doesn't precisely beryllium good with your budget. Because of that, you mightiness beryllium connected the obstruction astir Linux.

Also: The easiest mode to effort retired Ubuntu Linux

Let maine spot if I tin extremity you implicit to the greener pastures known arsenic Linux.

1. Linux isn't a gaming level

Once upon a time, this was precise true. Even though I was capable to get the archetypal Diablo moving nether Linux (back successful the aboriginal 2000s), it was rather a challenge. Thanks to the likes of Steam, Proton, and different platforms, gaming connected Linux has travel a precise agelong way. According to GamingOnLinux, the Steam marketplace stock for the open-source operating strategy has been (with conscionable a fewer exceptions) steadily climbing since 2018, and the inclination continues. 

Also: The 6 Linux distros I urge astir for gaming successful 2025 - including my favorite

According to XDA, Linux usage connected Steam has tripled successful the past 3 years. Thanks to Steam, you nary longer person to spell done the steps of installing Wine and different pieces of analyzable bundle to tally your favourite games. I've installed Steam connected galore a Linux PC and recovered it works perfectly good (and is incredibly simple). Don't fto the myths astir gaming connected Linux bust you.

2. The Linux desktop is excessively antithetic

I'll admit determination are immoderate Linux desktop environments that are vastly antithetic from what you're utilized to. Just instrumentality a look astatine GNOME, i3, Enlightenment, OpenBox, Xfce, oregon AfterStep and you'll spot what I mean. Not 1 of those desktops looks oregon behaves similar what you're utilized to. However, determination are Linux desktops that look and consciousness astir identical to what you're utilized to. Consider KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, MATE, Pantheon, oregon Budgie, and you'll find desktops that look and consciousness precise overmuch similar what you're utilized to. 

Also: While Windows 10 users panic, Ubuntu makes extending enactment casual - here's how

There are immoderate desktop distributions created to look specifically similar Windows 10 oregon 11, specified arsenic AnduinOS and RefreshOS. If you fearfulness change, but cognize that alteration is imminent, you don't person to interest that Linux is truthful vastly antithetic that the migration volition beryllium adjacent remotely challenging.

3. Linux is excessively antithetic from Windows

How bash you interact with Windows? Most likely, you usage a rodent and click connected things. Guess what? The aforesaid happening holds existent for Linux. You tin single-click, double-click, and right-click your mode done the time with ease. Linux has each of the tools you'll find successful Windows, specified arsenic record managers, task managers, clickable icons, desktop menus, panels, strategy trays, idiosyncratic absorption tools, an app store, automatic updates, cross-platform support, and truthful overmuch more. If Windows has it, Linux does arsenic well. 

Also: 6 astir Windows-like Linux distros due to the fact that aged habits dice hard

I've compared Linux and Windows, and each clip I find Linux does the aforesaid things, lone easier. Here's different happening to consider: astir each task you bash is handled done a web browser, and Linux has plentifulness of those. In the end, Linux is an operating strategy with the extremity of making your beingness easier, much efficient, and much productive. Sound familiar?

4. Linux isn't unchangeable

First off, I privation to get thing retired of the mode due to the fact that determination volition beryllium immoderate radical who volition kick that "Linux is conscionable a kernel." Let's acceptable that speech due to the fact that it tin easy confuse caller users. Okay? Good. With that said, I've utilized astir each operating strategy created (with the objection of OS/2), and I tin say, without hesitation oregon doubt, that Linux is the astir unchangeable operating strategy I've ever used. In fact, conscionable past nighttime MacOS connected my iMac decided to spell haywire, causing maine to bash a hard reboot. The OS wouldn't respond, and determination was thing I could bash but property and clasp the powerfulness fastener until it restarted. 

Also: 5 of the easiest, quickest Linux distros to instal - and I've tried them all

Sure, that tin besides hap connected Linux, but erstwhile it does, I tin unafraid ammunition into my desktop and lick the occupation without rebooting. The happening is, that seldom happens. There's an app connected Linux called uptime, and it tells you however agelong since your machine's past reboot. I've seen reports of Linux machines moving for implicit 2,000 days without needing a reboot. Try doing that with Windows oregon MacOS and spot however acold you get. Linux is very, precise stable.

5. There are excessively galore choices, which tin confuse users

Yes, Linux brings with it a batch of choices. There are a batch of distributions, kernels, desktop environments, browsers, terminal apps, email clients, bundle managers... the database goes connected and on. But different than kernels and desktop environments, each operating systems person a batch of choices. 

Also: My 10 favourite Linux distributions of each time, ranked

When I americium approached by a caller idiosyncratic who feels determination are excessively galore options to cognize wherever to start, I constituent them to the large distributions (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora) and archer them to effort 1 of those and instrumentality with the defaults. Those distributions person done a large occupation of making a batch of choices for the users (which desktop environment, bundle manager, browser, etc.) to alleviate this concern. Sure, determination are a batch of things to take from, but that doesn't mean you person to interest that you indispensable marque each choice. Linux isn't an a la carte menu, wherever you person to portion everything together. Pick a organisation and usage it. Simple.

6. Linux is lone for servers and developers

Linux powers much services than you tin ideate -- astir of which are connected the server level. Amazon, Netflix, Google, Facebook, X, Uber, and truthful galore much beryllium connected Linux. In fact, if it weren't for Linux, those companies wouldn't beryllium astir arsenic palmy arsenic they are. Linux is besides a precise fashionable operating strategy for developers of each sorts. 

Also: 5 lightweight Linux distributions that volition bring your aged PC backmost to life

Case successful point, 53.4% of worldwide developers usage Linux. Does that mean Linux is lone for servers and developers? Absolutely not. Maybe backmost successful the precocious 90s that would person been true, but today's Linux is arsenic overmuch astir the idiosyncratic arsenic it is the service. If Linux were dedicated to servers and developers, we wouldn't person truthful galore antithetic user-friendly desktop environments and simplified GUIs.

7. Linux is ugly

This is astir arsenic acold from the information arsenic it gets. There are Linux distributions that vessel with gorgeous desktops, immoderate of which marque MacOS and Windows look similar trash. Consider Ubuntu Budgie, elementaryOS, FerenOS, Pop!_OS (with COSMIC desktop), Garuda Linux, KDE Neon, and XeroLinux and you'll find desktop distributions that are arsenic beauteous arsenic they are user-friendly. 

Also: New to Linux? 5 desktop environments I urge you effort archetypal - and why

On apical of that, astir each Linux desktop situation tin beryllium themed and highly customized. You tin tweak the UI to look old-school oregon much modern than immoderate desktop available. I've had Linux desktops that utilized transparency successful ways nary different desktop could imagination about. I've tweaked Ubuntu Budgie until it was arsenic stunning arsenic immoderate OS I've ever used. 

Modern Linux is acold much beauteous than either MacOS oregon Windows.