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this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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I can't believe no one mentioned this yet. I hope OP reads this comment. The first step is to make sure this new computer you want to buy is compatible with Linux. Otherwise your experience will be very frustrating, no matter what distro you choose. That is, if you can install any distros at all. Ask the vendor if this machine is compatible with Linux.
What? Compatible with Linux? How would it not be? Linux runs on so much more than windows.
There is some obscure/proprietary hardware that doesn't play nicely with linux. Fingerprint readers may not work on laptops, for example. I've had trouble with a trackpad in the past.
Agree to that, especially for video cards and Wi-Fi. These two can be hard to deal with... If your laptop is Wi-Fi only and you don't have a USB/Ethernet adaptor you may not be able to connect to the net at all