24-03-2025, 06:22 PM
Linux Mint was always very good as a starting point but I think there have been issues with file sharing in some recent versions. I don't know if they were resolved as I stopped using it a few years ago when I discovered an unused windows key among my stuff.
I've always found it very good for basic tasks and actually easier and faster to install than windows in recent versions but it has always let me down sooner or later when I've tried to do more advanced things. For internet browsing, Email, and basic office tasks it does the job out of the box. Any software you can find and install using the included manager is easy (I forget what it's called now) but anything else might not be. Firefox is the default browser and chrome is easily installed.
One of my issues was Netflix and Disney plus. They both work fine in a browser but the resolution is reduced compared to the windows app (or it was, as I say it's been a couple years or more) Not terrible but I could notice it. Another issue in the past for me has been hardware acceleration in both firefox and chrome, it often doesn't work by default until you force it on (I forget how you'd have to google it) and if it's not working srcolling is an ugly choppy mess and video playback is glitchy.
Valve is apparently getting ready to make SteamOS publicly available and I'm very tempted to give it a try. It's a gaming focussed version of Linux developed for the steam deck with a lot of the tools for running windows games and software baked right in. I'll likely dual boot it if I do.
Here's how I personally like to create a dual boot windows / Linux system. This method leaves me with 2 disks that are bootable independently as well.
1. Install windows with only a single drive connected (or just use an existing version you already are using)
2. Disconnect that drive and install Linux on another drive
3. Reconnect the windows drive and set it as the main boot drive in the BIOS
4. Use EasyBCD to edit the windows boot manager and add a 2nd boot option which points at the Linux drive, set the default OS and the menu delay how you like it.
You can of course just install linux on a spare partition or drive without doing this and it will create a boot menu for you using grub but personally I find editing grub to be tedious and I don't like the default setup. Easy BCD is a simple windows app and the windows boot manager is a bit nicer to use IMHO. You can edit the boot options without EasyBCD, it's just my preferred method for simplicity.
I've always found it very good for basic tasks and actually easier and faster to install than windows in recent versions but it has always let me down sooner or later when I've tried to do more advanced things. For internet browsing, Email, and basic office tasks it does the job out of the box. Any software you can find and install using the included manager is easy (I forget what it's called now) but anything else might not be. Firefox is the default browser and chrome is easily installed.
One of my issues was Netflix and Disney plus. They both work fine in a browser but the resolution is reduced compared to the windows app (or it was, as I say it's been a couple years or more) Not terrible but I could notice it. Another issue in the past for me has been hardware acceleration in both firefox and chrome, it often doesn't work by default until you force it on (I forget how you'd have to google it) and if it's not working srcolling is an ugly choppy mess and video playback is glitchy.
Valve is apparently getting ready to make SteamOS publicly available and I'm very tempted to give it a try. It's a gaming focussed version of Linux developed for the steam deck with a lot of the tools for running windows games and software baked right in. I'll likely dual boot it if I do.
Here's how I personally like to create a dual boot windows / Linux system. This method leaves me with 2 disks that are bootable independently as well.
1. Install windows with only a single drive connected (or just use an existing version you already are using)
2. Disconnect that drive and install Linux on another drive
3. Reconnect the windows drive and set it as the main boot drive in the BIOS
4. Use EasyBCD to edit the windows boot manager and add a 2nd boot option which points at the Linux drive, set the default OS and the menu delay how you like it.
You can of course just install linux on a spare partition or drive without doing this and it will create a boot menu for you using grub but personally I find editing grub to be tedious and I don't like the default setup. Easy BCD is a simple windows app and the windows boot manager is a bit nicer to use IMHO. You can edit the boot options without EasyBCD, it's just my preferred method for simplicity.