Ready To Ditch Windows 10? I Debunked 7 Linux Myths So You Can Switch With Confidence

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Linux has suffered from a litany of myths complete nan years.
• If you're connected nan 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 nan original Jurassic Park movie was released, and it seems each twelvemonth I person to group immoderate group consecutive connected nan truth astir nan open-source operating system. Since nan early days, location person been myths astir Linux that dispersed for illustration a microorganism and frighten to forestall users of each types from adopting nan operating system.

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

Also: The easiest measurement to effort retired Ubuntu Linux

Let maine spot if I tin extremity you complete to nan greener pastures known arsenic Linux.

1. Linux isn't a gaming level

Once upon a time, this was very true. Even though I was capable to get nan original Diablo moving nether Linux (back successful nan early 2000s), it was rather a challenge. Thanks to nan likes of Steam, Proton, and different platforms, gaming connected Linux has travel a very agelong way. According to GamingOnLinux, nan Steam marketplace stock for nan open-source operating strategy has been (with conscionable a fewer exceptions) steadily climbing since 2018, and nan 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 nan past 3 years. Thanks to Steam, you nary longer person to spell done nan steps of installing Wine and different pieces of analyzable package to tally your favourite games. I've installed Steam connected galore a Linux PC and recovered it useful perfectly good (and is incredibly simple). Don't fto nan myths astir gaming connected Linux bust you.

2. The Linux desktop is excessively different

I'll admit location are immoderate Linux desktop environments that are vastly different from what you're utilized to. Just return a look astatine GNOME, i3, Enlightenment, OpenBox, Xfce, aliases AfterStep and you'll spot what I mean. Not 1 of those desktops looks aliases behaves for illustration what you're utilized to. However, location are Linux desktops that look and consciousness almost identical to what you're utilized to. Consider KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, MATE, Pantheon, aliases Budgie, and you'll find desktops that look and consciousness very overmuch for illustration what you're utilized to. 

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

There are immoderate desktop distributions created to look specifically for illustration Windows 10 aliases 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 different that nan migration will beryllium moreover remotely challenging.

3. Linux is excessively different from Windows

How do you interact pinch Windows? Most likely, you usage a rodent and click connected things. Guess what? The aforesaid point holds existent for Linux. You tin single-click, double-click, and right-click your measurement done nan time pinch ease. Linux has each of nan devices you'll find successful Windows, specified arsenic record managers, task managers, clickable icons, desktop menus, panels, strategy trays, personification guidance 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 because aged habits dice hard

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

4. Linux isn't unchangeable

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

Also: 5 of nan 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 nan problem without rebooting. The point is, that seldom happens. There's an app connected Linux called uptime, and it tells you really agelong since your machine's past reboot. I've seen reports of Linux machines moving for complete 2,000 days without needing a reboot. Try doing that pinch Windows aliases MacOS and spot really acold you get. Linux is very, very stable.

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

Yes, Linux brings pinch it a batch of choices. There are a batch of distributions, kernels, desktop environments, browsers, terminal apps, email clients, package managers... nan 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 personification who feels location are excessively galore options to cognize wherever to start, I constituent them to nan awesome distributions (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora) and show them to effort 1 of those and instrumentality pinch nan defaults. Those distributions person done a awesome occupation of making a batch of choices for nan users (which desktop environment, package manager, browser, etc.) to alleviate this concern. Sure, location are a batch of things to take from, but that doesn't mean you person to interest that you must make each choice. Linux isn't an a la carte menu, wherever you person to portion everything together. Pick a distribution and usage it. Simple.

6. Linux is only for servers and developers

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

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

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

7. Linux is ugly

This is astir arsenic acold from nan truth arsenic it gets. There are Linux distributions that vessel pinch gorgeous desktops, immoderate of which make MacOS and Windows look for illustration 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 beautiful arsenic they are user-friendly. 

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

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

Modern Linux is acold much beautiful than either MacOS aliases Windows.