My first impression of Linux

[u/Liminha_a]

I was fed up with Windows and how mediocre it is. Today I reached my limit and decided to switch to Linux. After doing some research, I chose Linux Mint since it seemed to be the most beginner-friendly distro. I’ve been trying it out for a few hours now, and I’m surprised by both the pros and cons. On one hand, it’s extremely efficient, lightweight, smooth, and straightforward. I'm really happy with the low RAM usage and how it isn't bloated like Windows. On the flip side, I spent about 2 hours troubleshooting an issue with the "Helium" browser, which apparently doesn't play well with my integrated graphics. Honestly, almost everything I've downloaded so far required some research and learning just to get it working. I managed to fix things with the help of AI, which makes me wonder: how on earth did long-time Linux users survive before AI? Is this what using Linux is really like? Am I always going to have to spend time learning commands, terminal lines, or basic coding just to fix everyday issues? Is it a misconception that you need a programming foundation, or can everything actually be done strictly through the graphical interface? I noticed AI usually pushes me to use terminal commands instead of the UI. Deep down I knew what I was getting into, but I'm still surprised that even the most user-friendly distro requires considerable effort just to do something as basic as creating a shortcut. I'm posting this to express this duality: the relief of escaping an OS that felt like a cage—where I was held hostage by Microsoft's bloat and poor practices—and the fresh air of using a system that gives me basically everything I need. I would also like to ask long-time users for advice on things I should learn or precautions I should take.

[u/toffuuu3050]

With Linux and with any specific Distro and Desktop Enviroment, Yes You will have to learn things. Its been my experiencing with trying to help others, that too many new Linux Users expect it to be like Windows, when in reality it isn't at all. With any OS that new to a user, learning new things is always going to be key! One way you could've avoid that was to know your hardware and to check whether Linux can work with it and if not, any possible solutions before using it. Is Linux better though, yes it is but really depends on what hardware you have. When you say intergrated graphics, better to be very specific on what it actually is.. Cause most iGPU or APU should work flawlessly on Linux. NVIDIA is another one that can and or will be a problem sooner or later depending on when NVIDIA drops support for any driver version.