I've wanted to go over to Linux for a long time but I have no idea how to go about it. I hear about incompatibility problems with hardware and all the different options for different Linux OS's and that's it, I forget about it for a while to avoid the headache.
So where do I start? I don't even know how to choose hardware or what to look for. The number of options with Linux makes things a little confusing.
And although others here have answered the question before, I'm unsure what I have to do to stay 'safe' on Linux. Are there extra steps or is it just the standard, don't open dodgy links and turn off Java script in the PDF viewer kind of thing? Does Linux come with a trustworthy firewall/antivirus/malware detection? Is there a chance of Linux e.g. sending my passwords, etc, to someone or just letting someone into my harddrive? I hear that 'open source' means people can check the code but how do I know if someone has checked the code—I wouldn't know what to look for myself.
I followed the Linux subreddit but the users the can be rather… enthusiastic, which is great, but I need something far more basic to get started lol.
Is there a good step-by-step guide somewhere? Or can anyone give me some pointers/tips/advice?
I mainly browse, type, and read pdfs and other text files. No gaming, although I wouldn't be opposed to it. No need to be mobile; laptops are terrible for my back so I always use an external monitor, anyway, so I won't be using it 'on the go'.
Edit: Thanks for all the advice. I got a machine up and running from a bootable USB.
Any others who read the comments here because they're interested in trying out Linux – if you have Windows installed and want to keep it on your HDD/SSD, partition your drive within Windows. Then boot from the USB. You can partition your drive (and keep Windows) from the bootable USB but it's a bit more complicated and it makes it harder to create a swap partition and a storage partition. I had to go back and forth a few times to figure this out.
Do you have an old laptop lying around? That's a great way to try out Linux without wiping out your main system. Most hardware, especially if it's a few years old, has excellent support in Linux.
There are antivirus programs for Linux, but I wouldn't recommend it. First of all malware targeting Linux is so much more rare than malware targeting Mac or Windows, but also Linux has some better security practices in general, like not requiring you to run everything as administrator. Most distros will come with a firewall installed that you can configure if you want.
Linux is one of the most reviewed pieces of software in the world. It's used by every major company, and in almost all of the Internet servers you visit. The chances that it's exfiltrating your passwords is extremely low. Linus has even discussed in an interview that the NSA proposed to put a backdoor in Linux, but he refused.
To get started, I would recommend just installing a beginner-friendly distro like Linux Mint on an old laptop or desktop you have lying around. It's actually super easy to jump in, and you'll learn a lot more by actually trying it out compared to reading some beginner guide.
Good luck! I've been using Linux as my daily driver for over 10 years now and I would never go back to Windows 😀
I think my most viable option is an all-in-1 machine that I might be able to get my hands on soon.
Otherwise, I'd be buying or building something if I could do it cheap enough to start with.
That's reassuring about the built-in security. I think that's what I needed to hear to jump in. So it's safe enough for internet shopping, email, that sort of thing?
Thanks.