12 reasons to give up Windows and switch to Linux

Have you ever felt uncomfortable using Windows? No update of Windows is error free at all. You’ve heard of Linux and want to switch to Linux but haven’t tried it yet.

Don’t worry, to help you make an informed decision, today I will introduce you to 12 reasons to give up Windows and switch to Linux. You can also wait when Windows 11 is out and try it out and decide later. Here are 12 reasons you should give up Windows and switch to Linux.

12 reasons to give up Windows and switch to Linux

1. No update required

One of the common reasons why users are annoyed with Windows is forcing updates when a new release is available. This greatly affects the user experience and annoying new bugs will be fixed with the next updates.

These updates keep you safe. However, safety is nowhere to be seen, but new errors are more and more common. And what if an update causes major problems for you? Not to mention it also affects daily work.

On the other hand, if you switch to Linux, you will be in complete control of your device. Updating Linux is always optional and also rollback possible. For example, if a new kernel causes any problems, you can always roll back to the previous kernel or install another kernel.

2. Free Linux

Most Linux distributions are free for users. Unlike Windows licenses, Linux licenses allow free distribution, so you can legally download, copy, and share Linux licenses without paying a dime.

Of course, most Linux developers will appreciate your contribution to keep the project going. They are sacrificing hours of their free time to make Linux even better. Switching to Linux and using their distro is also a huge motivator for developers.

3. Linux can meet your daily needs

You can switch to Linux and use it safely for most of your day-to-day needs. Includes web browsing, email, streaming and more.

Some popular software on Windows is not available on Linux such as Adobe and Office suites, but on Linux there are still professional software that have the same effect. The average user rarely needs to use such software, but if you do, you can still choose from a lot of different software.

Eg: if you need Microsoft Word, you can still use Microsoft Word Online on Linux or use other software that can open, edit and save DOC/DOCX files like LibreOffice.

4. Linux is more secure

No operating system is completely immune to security threats, and Linux is no exception. However, when you switch to Linux, your attacks are rare because most malware targets Linux servers instead of desktop computers.

The reality is still Windows is still a bigger and more profitable target for malware simply because Windows has so many users.

In addition, Linux has a certain advantage in terms of modularity and customizability, malware can depend on certain system factors that the user for some reason may have disabled or removed. they. This combined with other advanced security features makes Linux a difficult target for hackers.

5. Linux for better privacy

When you use Windows, Microsoft generates an advertising ID for you and uses your activity data for advertisers. This feature will be enabled by default until you change it.

But when you switch to Linux, you get much more respect for your privacy. Linux does not record your usage data and pass it on to advertisers. There is also no voice command feature to collect your voice.

Some distributions will ask you if you want to contribute to the development by sending anonymous data to the developers so they can see what features you use. In the end, you are completely free to decide and not obligated.

6. No built-in ads

Tired of Windows displaying Microsoft products? Remember how Microsoft Edge made Bing the default search engine by itself? Microsoft is also famous for inserting banner ads into Windows games like Minesweeper and Solitaire.

Then switch to Linux because Linux never does the same thing. The Linux developers are completely voluntary, so they have no reason to make money based on advertising. They simply want to contribute to the Linux user community.

7. Linux is open source

The Linux kernel and most of the accompanying software are open source. That means the source code is publicly available to developers, security professionals and anyone who wants to see it, thus ensuring the transparency of the application.

With Windows, the source code is mostly proprietary and not publicly available, you never really know what’s going on inside Windows. You are forced to put your complete trust in a private company and assume that the company is benefiting you. Then why not switch to Linux, when Linux has a much clearer source code than Windows.

8. Gaming on Linux is better

I know most of you don’t switch to Linux because the gaming experience on Linux is so bad. Game developers often don’t prioritize Linux support and instead focus on Windows and sometimes macOS.

However, in terms of capabilities, Linux is increasingly on par with Windows. For example, the Steam platform has made great strides in porting Windows games to Linux through their Proton utility. Other projects like Lutris, are taking the pain out of configuring Wine and other emulation tools.

9. Linux works great on old PCs

Windows has always had problems other than price: slow to start or inevitably slow down over time. Before long, your hardware will inevitably be too old for the resource-hungry Windows operations.

At that point, you only have a few options: upgrade your hardware, change your device, or replace Windows with Linux.

Good compatibility with old PCs is one of the best features of Linux. The Linux kernel generally manages RAM and other resources more efficiently than Windows. Plus, Linux never installs bloatware for you. Switching to Linux instead of upgrading helps you save and take advantage of outdated hardware.

10. Large organizations and governments have adopted Linux

Several organizations, both private and public, use Linux in cutting-edge technology or everyday workstations.

For example, NASA’s historic helicopter, “Ingenuity,” navigated Mars rovers using Linux in its built-in computer. SpaceX also uses Linux to control rockets in space.

The French Royal Gendarmerie uses a custom Linux distribution called GendBuntu. They completely switched to Linux Ubuntu in 2014 when Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP.

Similarly, Google employees use a Debian-based distribution on their workstations called gLinux. They switched to Linux because to optimize costs and avoid depending on private companies.

11. Linux is highly customizable

While you can customize the look and feel of Windows, your creative freedom is limited.

However, when switching to Linux, the only limits to customization are often your own skill and creativity. Depending on your desktop environment, you can create your own taskbars and widgets, modify the appearance of windows and animations, add new icons and fonts, and more.

12. Linux has a strong community

One of the benefits of Windows that you might be missing out on is 24/7 customer support and support from third-party computer services.

When you need help with Linux, your best option is to ask the Linux community. Every distribution has its own community, usually Discord, Telegram group, forum, or all of that. The members of the Linux community are very enthusiastic, so don’t worry.

If you are not a Linux expert, you can use distributions like Linux Mint, Zorin OS or Manjaro, these distributions are always friendly and accessible to new users.

Above are 12 reasons you should switch to Linux. What is the reason you gave up Windows and switched to Linux? Comment to let everyone know.