From Windows or Mac to Linux: why and how to start
Windows sends telemetry to Microsoft. Mac is tied to Apple. Linux is the alternative that gives you back control — and it is easier than you think.
From Windows or Mac to Linux: why and how to start
You do not need to be a programmer to use Linux. Modern distributions look professional, run on virtually any hardware, and are used daily by ordinary people — in offices, at home and on the go.
The question is not whether you can use Linux. The question is whether you want to know what is happening on your computer.
What Windows and macOS actually do
Windows 11 sends diagnostic data, location data, browsing history and advertising IDs to Microsoft by default. Even when you adjust privacy settings, some telemetry remains active — it is baked deep into the system and cannot be fully disabled.
macOS does better, but is not a free system. Apple controls which software you can run (Gatekeeper, notarisation), which hardware is compatible, and for iCloud users there is a continuous data stream to Apple’s servers.
Both systems share one characteristic: you depend on what the company allows. Updates are pushed when Microsoft or Apple decide. Features disappear or change without your consent. The source code is closed — nobody knows exactly what is happening.
Why Linux is different
Linux is not a product of one company. It is an operating system whose source code is public, readable, verifiable and improvable by anyone.
That means:
- No hidden telemetry you cannot disable
- No forced updates that disrupt your workflow
- Software works as long as you want, not as long as the manufacturer allows
- Community, not customer service
Linux runs on servers, on most supercomputers, on Android phones, in cars, on the ISS — and on your laptop.
Is the switch difficult?
That depends on what you expect.
If you expect everything to work exactly like Windows or macOS: it takes some adjustment. Some programs do not exist (AutoCAD, Adobe suite, certain games). Some things work differently.
If you are willing to invest a few hours: it is quite manageable. Popular distributions have graphical installers, automatic drivers, and a complete office software package included by default.
Most people who make the switch can do these things within a week:
- Read and write email
- Browse, watch videos, listen to music
- Documents, spreadsheets, presentations (LibreOffice)
- Video calls (Jitsi, Zoom for Linux, Teams for Linux)
Where people sometimes struggle: older printers, specific business software, and Windows-only games (though Steam/Proton has improved this significantly).
Which distributions are easy to start with?
Linux Mint — for Windows users
Linux Mint is the most recommended switch for Windows users. The interface resembles Windows 7/10: a taskbar at the bottom, a start menu, a system tray. You recognise the structure immediately.
It runs on Ubuntu as a base, which means virtually all Ubuntu software also works on Mint. The Mint team deliberately chooses stability over freshness — drivers are tested before they are rolled out.
Good for: people who just want to get work done without configuring much.
Ubuntu — the most well-known
Ubuntu is the distribution that most documentation is written for. If you have a problem, you will find the answer quickly online. The installer is clean, hardware recognition is excellent.
The GNOME desktop that Ubuntu ships by default is modern and clean — closer to macOS in feel than Windows.
Good for: people who want the big name and a large community behind them.
Pop!_OS — for people with a modern laptop
Pop!_OS from System76 is built on Ubuntu but with extra attention for recent hardware: NVIDIA cards, AMD chips, appropriate power management. The optional tiling window manager makes working with multiple windows much more efficient.
Good for: people with a gaming laptop or workstation who also want productivity.
Fedora — modern without being unstable
Fedora is the distribution that Red Hat uses as a testing ground for RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux — the system that large companies and data centres run). That sounds technical, but for daily use it means: you get newer software earlier than Ubuntu, but it is carefully selected.
Wayland, PipeWire, new kernel versions — Fedora introduces them first in a stable context. If something works in Fedora, it goes to the rest of the ecosystem afterwards.
Good for: people who want to keep up with what is happening in the Linux world without breaking things every week.
From macOS to Linux
Switching from macOS is somewhat different from switching from Windows. macOS users are used to a clean design, good typography, and hardware that is perfectly matched to the system.
On the last point, be honest: on an Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3) Linux works, but with limitations — GPU acceleration, sleep mode and some peripherals do not always work. On Intel Macs the situation is better.
If you are switching from macOS to a non-Apple laptop: elementary OS has paid the most attention to aesthetics and feels closest to macOS in design.
For those who want a well-designed GNOME distro on a normal laptop: Fedora Workstation looks polished and works smoothly.
How do you start?
- Download the ISO from the distribution of your choice
- Put it on a USB drive (with Balena Etcher — free, for Windows/Mac)
- Boot your computer from the USB
- Use the “Live” environment to see how it feels — you are not installing anything yet
- If you are satisfied: install alongside Windows (dual-boot) or replace Windows entirely
Most installers walk you through the steps. You choose language, timezone, disk layout — and half an hour later you have a working system.
What if something does not work?
Every major problem you encounter has been experienced by someone before. The forums at Linux Mint, Ubuntu and Fedora are active and friendly to beginners.
The first time is the most learning. After that you understand how the system works — and that feeling of control is hard to give up.