Best Linux Distros for Windows Users: From Mint to Pop!_OS
When you are new to Linux it is tough to get your head around all the choices there are for users. If you’re a person migrating from Windows 10 or Windows 11 I would recommend Linux Mint Cinnamon. This is particularly true if you have a computer that has and i5 or Ryzen 5 or greater central processing unit and more than four gigabytes of RAM. The Cinnamon desktop looks very similar to a Windows desktop and that interface is going to look and feel very familiar.
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The LM button to the far left of the task bar is in the same spot as the start menu on Windows. The interface is overall intuitive and it’s easy to navigate. Add to LInux Mint has excellent documentation to support new users. The documentation explains how to download the iso file and create a bootable image and has a very complete installation guide.
However, you may be a person who purchased a lower powered computer that has less than four gigabytes of RAM and an i3 or lesser processor. You should consider downloading and install Linux Mint XFCE. It’s got great documentation and user guide that is shared across all Linux Mint distributions and has a nearly identical interface that has a button at the bottom left of the display that is the launch menu for all the applications that are installed on your system.
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If Linux Mint is not what you had in mind for a Linux desktop experience you might consider Fedora KDE Plasma. It works best on an i5/Ryzen 5 or greater with at least four gigabytes of RAM. It’s easy to download and install. Use tools like Rufus (Windows) or Balena Etcher (Linux/macOS). Once you have a bootable USB drive installation will vary slightly depending on how your particular computer system allows you to boot from a USB drive. Fedora has excellent documenation for the KDE Plasma desktop. The Fedora KDE Plasma desktop uses a similar desktop metaphor that Windows users will be familiar with.
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If your computer has an older or lower powered processor and less than two gigabytes of RAM you should consider Fedora XFCE. You can download Fedora XFCE and create the installation media the same way that you would as described above. Fedora XFCE provides a similar desktop paradigm that Windows users are familar with and will ensure that you have a pleasant desktop experience.
If you have the power and are willing ot think a bit differently than the traditional Windows desktop paradigm then you owe it to yourself to try System76’s Pop!_OS which is derived from Ubuntu but unlike the former supports Flatpak out of the box. System76 has excellent documentation to support Pop!_OS users.
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GNU General Public License Pop!_OS is built for modern Intel/AMD processors with at least four gigabytes of RAM but recommends at least eight gigabytes. According to the the System76 website Pop!_OS is designed “to encourage discovery, Pop!_OS is designed for fast navigation, easy workspace organization, and fluid, convenient workflow.” It just gets out of your way. Pop!_OS is under continuous development by the System76 team. It is a customized Gnome desktop environment.
Pop!_OS offers seamless out-of-the-box compatibility with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards. It comes preconfigured with disk encryption for enhanced security, intuitive window and workspace controls, and efficient keyboard shortcuts for smooth navigation. Built-in power management profiles help optimize performance and battery life. Recent versions also include packages that simplify the setup of TensorFlow and CUDA, making it a strong choice for developers and AI enthusiasts.
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