All I know is Windows and I want to switch to a Linux OS

[soulcity]

Obviously I'm not very technical when it comes to computers.

So I need to be able to run all my windows programs and stuff and it needs to be easy to install.

Is there a version of Linux for people like me?

[ill88eagle]

What are the windows programs you need to run?

A lot of standard software like vlc and firefox (or chrome) is cross platform so no worries there.

In most cases it would be more viable for you to find alternatives (Libre Office instead of MS Office etc). But you can run a lot of windows software through 'wine'. You will have to get acquainted with terminal command execution in order to make that work.

For a new to linux user I'd recommend any ubuntu flavor (I'm using xubuntu and am quite happy with it). They are all retard level easy to install. The user interface is molded over classic windows style with start menu etc.

[hyp]

Unbuntu is probably the easiest OS that is in line with your needs. It is one of the most popular distributions meaning there are a lot of people developing software for it be it in the form of drivers, or even applications. It is very user friendly though the default GNOME desktop environment is aids. I'd reccomend Cinnamon, my personal favorite, which is very similar to windows, or KDE. Kubuntu desktop is also quite similar. Canonical (creater of unbuntu) has done some shady windows-esque shit in the past like force updates/selling your private data, though if you are privacy concerned know that it is not nearly to the level microsoft does and if they do try it in the future people will catch on quick. Another great option if you want to stay away from the debian tree is Fedora. I use fedora 32 with the cinnamon desktop and love it, however if you don't use Unbuntu expect to have to do some scripting (Fedora package manager is a big yikes, I only use the terminal to install applications).

In terms of keeping windows, you can either dual boot your machine (When you restart you have the option to choose between linux and windows), or you can use a windows virtual machine. I wouldn't recommend using a linux VM in windows if you're privacy focused because then windows can see everything you do stil. If you use a windows VM, the windows virtual machine can't see the outside operating system at all. There are upsides and downsides to both

Windows VM on Linux:
-Easy to use. You don't have to restart your computer (which can take quite a long time if you don't use an SSD) to use windows
-You can use both operating systems concurrently
However
-Not all windows-exclusive applications will work in a VM. A good example of this is anti-cheating software in video games. These absolutely will not work in a VM.
-You will most likely have to move all your files from your windows installation to the virtual machine, which isn't hard per se, but can be time consuming and if you forget something once you wipe your system clean and install linux there is no guarantee that even professionals can get your data back.

Dual Booting Windows and Linux:
-Each operating system is isolated, meaning that if you have a virus on one it doesn't affect the other (Viruses are very rare in linux though, so this point isn't the most important)
-You will be able to run any windows-exclusive software on your windows partition
-You will not have to move all of your data and files to a virtual machine, you'll just have to resize your disk to use the free space on it for your linux installation
However
-In order to switch between them you must restart your computer, which can be very time consuming if you are using a hard drive or  even an old ssd
-Resizing your disk and making the bios load the linux bootloader (which lets you choose which OS to boot into) instead of the windows bootloader (forces you to boot into windows) can be a bit tricky for the inexperienced (Though if you follow guided installation or look up a video online it won't be that difficult).

Or, if all of your applications are available in linux which, for the everyday user they are, you can just say fuck it and make it all linux. Before you switch:
-Download VM software on windows (i'd recommend VirtualBox, a free and open source VM), and practice installing an operating system onto the virtual machine. Once you've got that down, run through the distros you are interested in (For you i'd recommend unbuntu, linux mint, or fedora) in the virtual machine so you can get a feel for what they are like.
-Compile a list of all of the programs you need. Make it exhaustive. Anything you may need needs to be accounted for before you switch. Then, check online if they work in your distribution, or alternatively, you can try installing them in your virtual machine. Remember that even if something isn't available in the package manager (fancy word for app store), you can probably find some way to install it via terminal. Hell, I saw a reddit post recently of someone who got photoshop, which is notorious for only working in windows, working in linux. So even if you can't find the official app in the package manager, there is still probably someone who was able to get it to work. The forums are your friend.

I wish you luck! Free and open source is the only moral way to code, and I am happy more people are embracing it!

[LZA]

OP - Are you running windows 10?

I'm on 8.1. Once this crashes, I'm going to Linux too (if I dont get a Macbook).

[RodneyYouPlonker]

Obviously I'm not very technical when it comes to computers.

So I need to be able to run all my windows programs and stuff and it needs to be easy to install.

Is there a version of Linux for people like me?

soulcity, I wouldn't bother, Linux is for programmers and sorts like that.  Somewhere for them to wave their willy around and brag about how they got it all for free.

As my mate says who is very much a veteran in the computer world as a network manager for well over 20 years.  His words were "you are doing something which is 20 times more complicated, things that can be done in Windows are 20 times more difficult in Linux and you spend all that time trying to do simple tasks which are completely over the top in skill".

All the best I hope my advice help you in the future.

[ill88eagle]

Nevermind the bollocks

Here's a decent and somewhat unbiased guide for Pop OS (ubuntu based) by a windows user who migrated:

[BigDadE]

i know virtualbox has been mentioned and it's great for trying different versions but it can be a little buggy and sometimes it's best to just spend like $16 for a u.s.b. and burn a few versions to different sticks that way it's portable and if you don't like it you can always rewrite over it with another distro.  if you want to test drive linux i would either download oracle's virtualbox and run it in there or buy a usb pendrive like SanDisk Cruzer flash drive 128 gig is under $20 and burn it to that using the rufus tool.  if you choose the usb method be sure to add a partition for persistent (easy with the rufus tool) that way it will save all your changes like settings, wallpaper, etc..  about 20 gigs will be fine for most.  both involve just downloading an iso version you wanna try and go from there.  google and youtube will walk you thru the steps and it only takes a few minutes you can also download the iso as a torrent but even browser downloads are pretty fast.  linux mint is probably the best for windows users and it's stable.  here's a couple links that may assist:

https://linuxmint.com/download.php

https://www.virtualbox.org/

https://rufus.ie/

https://www.fosslinux.com/274/how-to-cre...indows.htm

[soulcity]

What are the windows programs you need to run?

A lot of standard software like vlc and firefox (or chrome) is cross platform so no worries there.

In most cases it would be more viable for you to find alternatives (Libre Office instead of MS Office etc). But you can run a lot of windows software through 'wine'. You will have to get acquainted with terminal command execution in order to make that work.

For a new to linux user I'd recommend any ubuntu flavor (I'm using xubuntu and am quite happy with it). They are all retard level easy to install. The user interface is molded over classic windows style with start menu etc.

Sony Vegas Pro
Adobe Premier
Analog Projects
Fashion CAD
Virtual Fashion Pro

As a minimum I need to be able to run those.

OP - Are you running windows 10?

I'm on 8.1. Once this crashes, I'm going to Linux too (if I dont get a Macbook).

I never got as far as windows 10.

[ill88eagle]

Sony Vegas Pro
Adobe Premier
Analog Projects
Fashion CAD
Virtual Fashion Pro

Can't say I am well acquainted with any of those. I know adobe is a problem. And I wont promise any of it will run in linux with wine. In a VM maybe, or a dual boot as Hyp suggested.

But there is plenty decent video editing software for linux. I've used openshot and kdenlive a lot. And I am sure there are FOSS CAD programs that can do what you need. It's a matter of googling and asking around forums (like here), trying out stuff while keeping the programs you know on your windows partition.

[Fant0men]

But there is plenty decent video editing software for linux. I've used openshot and kdenlive a lot. And I am sure there are FOSS CAD programs that can do what you need. It's a matter of googling and asking around forums (like here), trying out stuff while keeping the programs you know on your windows partition.

I second kdenlive as being a good video editor for Linux. Openshot is absolute bug-ridden garbage. It used to be somewhat usable but it's been getting worse and worse, and it wasn't great to begin with.

However, there's a new open source video editor on the horizon. I haven't tried it yet, but it's supposed to be more like the commercial / professional video editors for Windows and Mac.

https://www.olivevideoeditor.org/