The best way to start up using Linux

Posted by 5nwmn@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 12 comments

I'm not a young person with zero knowledge. I started using computers long before the internet. I've used Windows for most of my life.

I'm not a computer specialist, nor am I educated in the field. I do not get nervous by doing stuff on my PC, I can work in a command line with very basic stuff (like some PowerShell stuff and finding versions of software). Om quite familiar with the rest of the GUI on Windows.

My singular most used app is Excel, not a pro user there either but know the boundaries and with some nudging by asking an AI I can write the formulas I want, even make basic scrapers and use som VBA.

What would be the most safe and easy way for me to get started on a Linux platform? What OS and hardware should a user like me migrate to from Windows to Linux?

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Titdirt69420@reddit

First off, everyone will ask what do you use your computer for? You mentioned excel, unless you run it via web browser (that has limited functionality like no macros) I don't think it's going to run in Linux. You could however use Libre office, librecalc specifically.

Otherwise we really need to know what you do on your pc.

Unless you're doing something odd, I'll recommend Linux mint with cinnamon. Runner up is Fedora with kde/plasma spin.

If you're interested in learning more about Linux, I'd recommend the following:

learn Linux tv- look for his videos or playlists for beginners. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxQKHvKbmSzGMvUrVtJYnUA
https://labex.io/linuxjourney

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5nwmn@reddit (OP)

Thanks. I don't use it for much oddities, but I have tables for all work related follow-up lists (like personell lists and such), and i use the some Queries and Power functions (specifically for getting data from web pages). I also plan to get some API access from external sources and put that data into Excel and compare with data from our own databases.

Finding a proper software for handling datasets and just do Excel things is my main concern. My other needs are quite basic, and I'm no gamer nor have I any need for image/video making on my computer.

Have you tried Librecalc? Is it working satisfactory?

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RursusSiderspector@reddit

Back up all your files on an external medium, but not OneDrive, you must have credentials.
Get all your credentials to the email you use (or like me, only use the web interfaces for email) and write them down, get all your passwords on Internet, and write everything down.
Install one of the mainstream Linuxes: Ubuntu or LinuxMint Ubuntu based, or similar.
Set up an email client program (usually Thunderbird) for your email.
Restore your files to some file folder.
Enter the file manager and right click to see how to what programs your files are associated to, run with these in the future.

In particular You will use LibreOffice Calc instead of Excel.

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neoneat@reddit

We dont need excel here lmao

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Head-Mud_683@reddit

I would recommend you to give a try with a live USB of Ubuntu or Mint. They are super easy to use and really fun. If you like them then you can install and dual boot. Please back up your documents and files before installing, OK?

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IEVTAM@reddit

Hey,

saw your user name, what do you call an old snowman, ..... water.

I second the Learn Linux channel and also the linux experiment

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durbich@reddit

If you have x86-64 PC, try boot a live image or Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora or any other popular distro and try to do something. See if everything works and you like the desktop look. After turning the PC off, you can go back to windows like nothing happed since live images don't write data to the disk nor the pendrive. After you feel comfortable enough, you can try to install Linux on a PC alongside Windows (create empty disk D or E, and point Linux installer there). After installing you can try installing more apps, games and etc.
If you want to try a bunch of distros at once, probably you would, check out Ventoy. It makes multi-boot pendrives

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MattReedly@reddit

its a bit like Lego: the more you use it the more your knowledge increases.
Because you are not afraid of the command line and are already comfortable with the structure of a major GUI like Windows, you are in a much better spot than most of people who try to switch to Linux.

You don't need to "learn Linux"; you need to learn a different flavor of operating system. You are transitioning from a powerful proprietary ecosystem (Windows) to a diverse, open, and flexible ecosystem (Linux).

I'd recommend Linux Mint or Ubuntu: Mint looks kind of similar to windows and both have great communities for support.

You dont need any specific hardware - just get something mid range for experimenting and learning with.

Hope this helps.

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10leej@reddit

Hardware unless you're super super exotic should just work. The only gotcha is Nvidia which isn't the big deal it used to be.
Outside of that, just install a distro. Go mainline if you can. Ubuntu/Debian, Arch, Fedora, openSUSE it ultimately doesn't matter because of what I'm gonna say next.

Don't be afraid to hop around and just have fun learning. Linux is not windows so yes there will be things you have to learn and you will find things you don't like.

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ipsirc@reddit

Boot it.

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RubyHaruko@reddit

r/linux4noobs