10 things I WISH I knew when switching to Linux

With the help of the YT and Twitter community, here's a list of 10 things I wish I knew when switching to Linux.

0:00 Intro
1:15 Pick a mainstream distro
2:08 Separate /home
2:47 Enable your firewall
3:35 Use a VPN (sponsor)
6:00 Backup, backup, backup
6:56 Centralize your software
7:51 Terminal is your friend
9:02 Leave it alone.
9:51 Setup compatible fonts
10:59 Don't, don't, don't.

#switchtolinux #linux
This video is sponsored by NordVPN

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[bmorrow]

8. LEAVE IT ALONE - so hard to do this but absolutely the best advice, after backups of course

[dappermuis]

Something I did naturally as I'm in a 3rd world country and couldn't afford all this subscription nonsense is, I began using open source software while still on Windows. By the time I did the switch over to Linux most of my programs were opensource, which meant I didn't have to try learn a whole bunch of new programs at the same times as trying to figure out a new operating system. I know how to put an OS on my computer and that is about as far as my knowledge goes.

By looking for alternatives to things not available on Linux, you will also see if you are ready to make the jump or find that you can't live without those programs. If nothing else if you decide not to jump, you will save yourself a few bucks on programs you had to pay for before.

Found Linux mint works best for new users, I'm still on it, it is very familiar and has a kind of XP/7 vibe. Which made the learning curve all that easier. Though there will still be a bit of headbanging involved, lol but it will be worth it in the end 🙂 There are tons of help for ubuntu based Linux operating systems. Uncle Google will become your best friend.

One of my biggest hurdles to starting with Linux was Nividia Graphics card, Linux mint has notes on what to do if it gives issues. But if you are looking to upgrade get AMD, it works out of the box, plug and play 🙂

The other was how to load things not found in the repository. And yes despite people saying you can find just about anything in there, if you are like me, I'm one of the ones that needs something that is not. So Learning about Flatpaks, appimages and .deb files will make life so much easier.

So if you get the basics of knowing alternatives of programs you already use and how to load things onto Linux, the rest will come a lot more easily. If someone like me that is slightly dyslexic can manage to stumble around and get the basics done, you can too, even at first you may feel like you struggle with it. Just remember it takes time to learn something new. But once you do you will not be sorry. The trick is doing it in bite size chunks. There is an old African saying - How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time.

[marcreininghaus]

An excellent video again. The only thing missing in my opinion is: Always keep your system up-to-date and use automatic updates. It doesn't get any easier than that.

[notjustforhackers]

Re-boot your system after updates and update your system before installing NVIDIA. Stay away from hardware not supported in the Kernel and don't even bother trying to get it to work outside of a distro's built in "driver manager".

[NibsNiven]

Certified whitebeard here (45+ years using *nix). Congratulations on the compatible font recommendation. I use Ansible to automate customising my new installs, so I'll add the fonts.

One point that needs mentioning: watch out about /home partitions. Changing distro families (deb <-> rpm) with the same user directory will likely result in problems, as they contain lots of hidden configuration files which have different formats and/or default settings. I've been burned in the past in subtle ways which took a while to track down.

The best way to reuse a /home dirtectory is to have a seperate archive partition and create soft links to it (Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, etc). I make a "/var/arc" mount point to another physical disk, or partition if necessary. It contains a live system backup and weekly system backups as well as any locally generated important data. The whole /var/arc is then automatically mirrored to another machine.

[iteclab]

As a new user myself, I would first warn you: 1) It’s a lot of work. If you like to tinker and play with the guts, you may enjoy it. 2) Ask yourself “Why? What do you expect it to do for you?” If the distro doesn’t promise it, it doesn’t do it. Even then, you may have to set it up for yourself. 3) Choose one of the top 5 popular distros. It wouldn’t be popular if it wasn’t a decent experience. I have tried more than 10 of them. 4) In spite of the promotion here, a VPN is a good idea BUT don’t expect to WiFi print with it on. It doesn’t. May require rebooting, then print wirelessly. 5) You will be introduced to the Terminal. Windows hasn’t required this kind of input since MS-DOS. I don’t know if it is lazy programmers or missing pieces that require using it. — I heard a quote recently, and I hope to get it right “If your time is valuable, use a Mac. If you have a lot of time to waste, choose Linux.”

[no-stresscat]

I made the leap from Windows to Linux Mint. I set it up exactly how I had things on Windows. Was super easy to change over.

One thing I do, is I keep a Linux Mint Tips text file for when I learn something new. It's a step-by-step instruction manual (like terminal commands, how to create network shortcuts, change file icons, how to set up games on WINE, create and remove shortcuts from the app menu, etc.). That way, I always have a reference back to how I did something before if I need to do it again.

[Coldfirebe]

I don't really agree with the firewall thing. For most new users it will just be confusing or might actually cause issues.
If you are running a server... SURE ! But if you are using linux on your desktop or laptop(at home) then your router is your firewall. Having multiple firewalls (on your network and desktop) is just gonna confuse people and make them scared and worried for no real reason.

"just turning it on because it's safer then not" really isn't a good reason.

[viktoras]

I disagree on the VPN section. Don't use one unless it's absolutely necessary. Your regular provider is usually well regulated on what they can and can't do with your data, especially in the EU, whereas, depending on the VPN provider location they might not be. Unless you're using it to get around geo blocks it does nothing for your pivacy. The main data points are collected based on your system (soft- and hardware) and your specific behaviour. Don't waste your money!

If you really need a VPN for some reason, rent a VPS for a couple of units of your currency and configure your own. Way faster, cheaper and more reliable.

[himankan]

Its important to learn how to remove broken packages and abort stuck downloads, each for snap, apt or flatpak whichever you use. They are common and they don’t sort themselves out with a restart and can leave you with an unusable software. Happened to me with copyq, vlc, audacity, bitwarden, firefox and snap store itself!

[roox]

This video should be a Linux induction video. Mandatory viewing.
Great video nailed it mate.

[timothybilotta]

Also be ready to spend money on Linux compatible hardware, especially peripherals. Keep it simple...no fancy USB headsets with windows only software etc.

[felixfourcolor]

On "centralizing your software", you didn't mention compiling your own packages. Sometimes you need the latest patches that haven't been released. I much prefer letting the distro's package manager handle everything, so I certainly agree with your first choice, but compiling your own is always an option and sometimes the only option to meet your needs (less likely if you use rolling release, more if you use a stable distro).

[Knightjp]

Thanks for the unexpected surprise at 9:08.. Didn't expect to get quoted on here.. LOL

[ekim]

Update and upgrade right after install. Sometimes it will ask you to do so, but do it regardless. It syncs the repositories, which is essential to installing programs

[MichaelDeBusk]

In addition to a separate /home partition, consider a separate /opt partition.

I keep in /opt the stuff I compile, java packages, appimages... pretty much anything my package manager doesn't touch. After a new install, all those things are still there and ready to go.

[ShaunakHub]

Great video as always!
In last 5/6 years the only time I had to install something not available on my distro / flatpak was when I had to install drivers for my RealTek Wifi. So, as you have correctly pointed out, I don't there is hardly any reason to move out of your distro / flatpak/ snap/ AppImage.

[ogrejd]

@1:40 - Telling people to set things to go with your muscle memory? Naughty, naughty! Didn't you know that there's no point in going with Linux if you're just going to make it look and feel like Windows? /s /s :P (it is sad just how often I see that exact sentiment posted on Reddit :/)

[sebtheanimal]

A firewall is enabled by default on modern distros. Forget the VPNs, not as secure, still logs, good for travel but not securely, it secures nothing.

[nailsdaysway]

Great advice. My practice has been since way back when windows XP used to crash and lose all my information was to install a second hard drive and put all my personal information on the second Drive and the operating system on the first drive. In addition to that I have another hard drive not attached to the computer that I back up personal stuff to as well. And finally I have some uploaded on the internet.
Before I chose a distribution, I tried several virtually. Finally I chose FerenOS and stuck with it. It had what I wanted, had lots of customization abilities and programs to choose from, flatpacks, the regular store, snaps plus a debian install manager to install debian packages. I like choices and it has come in handy to find what I want. Great support too.
I never had trouble with fonts as I have a large collection of my favorites in my personal files on drive 2. I just imported them all into FerenOS and never a problem with any program.

I have been given a couple of old laptops and I use these when I have time [if ever] to try other distros.