Most consumers can, with a little effort, name two desktop and laptop operating systems: Microsoft's Windows and Apple's macOS. Few have ever considered any of the open-source alternatives found under the umbrella of GNU/Linux, though some may have done so without even knowing it—for instance, Google's Chrome OS uses the Linux kernel. To be honest, aside from the Chrome OS platform, GNU/Linux systems are typically not best for people who rely on big-name software or don't like dabbling with a customizable, hands-on interface. However, if you're looking for a change of pace, don't want to pay for your software, and don't mind rolling up your sleeves, switching to GNU/Linux may not only be worthwhile, but could also make you a convert for life. This guide for nontechnical home users can help you get started. Note that using a GNU/Linux system to run a server is an entirely different use case and one not covered here.
What Are UNIX, Linux, and GNU?
Before diving headfirst into the wonky world of GNU/Linux systems, it's important to understand how they came about and some of the terms you may encounter while researching and using them. I'll start with a brief history of the big three: UNIX, Linux, and GNU.
UNIX is a proprietary, command-line-based operating system originally developed by Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson (among others) at AT&T's Bell Labs in the late 1960s and early 1970s. UNIX is coded almost entirely in the C programming language (also invented by Ritchie) and was originally intended to be used as a portable and convenient OS for programmers and researchers. As a result of a long and complicated legal history involving AT&T, Bell Labs, and the federal government, UNIX and UNIX-like operating systems grew in popularity, as did Thompson's influential philosophy of a modular, minimalist approach to software design.
During this period, Richard Stallman launched the GNU Project with the goal of creating "an operating system that is free software." GNU, confusingly, stands for "GNU's Not UNIX." This project is responsible for the UNIX-like GNU OS. Stallman also launched the related Free Software Foundation (FSF) on the principle that "any user can study the source code, modify it, and share the program" for any participating software.
I'll go deeper into what makes up an operating system in a minute, but the plot thickened when, essentially, the GNU's development of a very important low-level component called the kernel (GNU Hurd) did not fully materialize. This is where Linux, a kernel developed by Linus Torvalds (among others), entered the picture. According to GNU: "Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system."
GNU purists argue that references to Linux as the complete operating system that exists today should instead be written as GNU/Linux, in acknowledgment of the pair's symbiotic relationship. Others tend to focus on the fact that Linux (with no prefix) has become a more mainstream term and the logic behind the GNU/Linux nomenclature could expand ad nauseam to GNU/Linux/Windowing System Name/Desktop Environment Name/Etc. The same argument can be applied to the idea of GNU as an OS, since it can not be considered a complete OS without a kernel (Linux in this case). For the purpose of this guide, I'll use GNU/Linux. Other UNIX-like operating systems exist, too. For instance, FreeBSD uses its own kernel and software.
The histories of these projects could fill many books (the Linux kernel has been around for 30 years now after all), but this brief summation should be enough to contextualize some terms you may come across.
What Is a Distro?
The modern operating systems we use every day, such as Windows and macOS, are made of many, many different (and very technical) components, including kernels that help software communicate with hardware and the graphical user interface (GUI) elements you see on screen. A detailed explanation of how all the modules work is beyond the scope of this article.
Try thinking about, for example, how moving the mouse translates to the cursor moving across the screen or how a file is stored on your solid-state drive. Seemingly simple tasks are actually immensely complex when you understand all the components in play and how quickly modern computers can perform these actions. Windows and macOS are designed to operate with as little friction as possible, as users simply don't need to understand how things work behind the scenes. In other words, everything beneath the graphical user interface (GUI) is functionally irrelevant to most users.
Now, let's move to GNU/Linux distros. A distro (short for distribution) is best thought of as a neatly wrapped package of the core software components that make up a GNU/Linux operating system. Consider distros like Fedora, Elemntary OS, Linux Mint, Manjaro, Ubuntu as roughly the functional equivalent of Windows and macOS.
A typical GNU/Linux distribution includes the Linux kernel; GNU tools and libraries; a windowing system for displaying windows on screen and interacting with input devices; a desktop environment for performing actions with OS programs; and additional parts. Even the preceding description is a vast simplification. Some of the most common desktop environments are GNU's GNOME, KDE's Plasma, MATE, and XFCE. Different flavors of distros use different desktop environments—fancier or leaner, more or less like Microsoft Windows, or whatever—but the core components of the OS are the same.
A software firm or organization typically packages all these parts and creates an ISO file (technically, the compressed image of an installation CD-ROM or DVD), which users can download and install on their computers. For example, Canonical is the company that manages the release of the popular distro Ubuntu; Microsoft and Apple function in a similar role when releasing new versions of Windows or macOS. If you're skilled enough, you can cherry-pick components and package a distro of your own, but we won't get into that here.
As mentioned, Apple's and Microsoft's platforms are just as complex, but I'll present a similarly simplified overview of their core components. The core of macOS is a UNIX-like OS called Darwin built on a UNIX-like hybrid kernel called XNU (X is not UNIX). The Aqua and Finder GUI elements are just some of the additional components that comprise the full macOS system. Chrome OS is based on Chromium OS and the Linux kernel. Windows 10 is a member of the Windows NT family and uses a hybrid kernel and the Windows Shell. On a side note, Microsoft continues to built out functionality for its Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which added the full Linux kernel to Windows 10. One of the latest major advancements is support for running Linux GUIs.
The takeaway here is that even though you may think of Windows and macOS as monolithic, they have just as many moving parts. The difference is that you'll rarely if ever encounter their complexities, while even the most user-friendly Linux distros are not as seamless.
You might also come across the terms upstream and downstream when reading about the relationship of one distro to another. Sticking with Ubuntu as an example, that distro is downstream from another popular distro called Debian. Quoting Ubuntu's website, it "builds on the Debian architecture and infrastructure and collaborates widely with Debian developers." In other words, Canonical makes fixes and changes to Debian's packages based on its own software philosophy and deploys those to its users (sometimes sending changes back upstream to Debian).
Some Popular Desktop Distros
There are tons of different GNU/Linux distros, and it would be difficult to catalog all of them. Some are designed for usability, others for privacy, and still others for programmers or for speedy performance on minimal or obsolete hardware. Some serve narrower purposes, such as Raspberry Pi's Raspbian and LibreELEC, designed to be just enough OS for running the home multimedia platform Kodi.
Here's a quick list of some popular desktop distros:
Are there systems for handheld and other non-desktop devices that use the Linux kernel? Absolutely. LineageOS, /e/, Plasma Mobile, PureOS, LibremOS, and Ubuntu Touch (now run by the UBports community) are just a few examples. We cover all those OSes in our story on alternative mobile OSes.
Advantages and Disadvantages of GNU/Linux Systems
I would be remiss not to state that running a GNU/Linux system is not like running macOS or Windows, especially for regular users. Simple tasks don't always work as you'd expect. For instance, installing programs is not always straightforward even if you use a distro's built-in app store, which might not have the latest versions of various programs. For such tasks, you need to be willing to at least learn the basics of the terminal or typed command-line interface.
Scanners, multifunction printers, and other peripherals present challenges, too, as driver installations are not as easy to troubleshoot. Be prepared to spend a lot of time relearning how to do basic tasks in new ways and to search for solutions in various forums scattered across the web. If you get frustrated easily with technology, GNU/Linux systems are not the best fit.
Ultimately, whether an open-source OS is the correct choice for you depends on how you use your computer. If you're a programmer, you may prefer a stable, stripped-back design. If you have a spare or older PC lying around the house, a lightweight GNU/Linux distro might give it new life.
One major reason you might consider using a GNU/Linux distro is that many are technically free, although you should certainly contribute what you can to the community that maintains your distro of choice. Although the price of the operating system isn't something you typically consider when buying a PC, it might be a factor if you are building your own desktop. You can buy a Windows 10 Home license, but that will run you at least $139. You can't even get macOS unless you pay for Apple hardware.
Another temptation for some users is the customizability and flexibility of open-source GNU/Linux systems. As stated, many distros support different desktop environments, each of which can offer a fresh interface. Still another draw is long-term support and stability. Many distro developers maintain releases for years and don't require you to update if you don't want to. This helps maintain consistency and ensures fewer breakdowns. The move from Windows 7 to Windows 8 is surely a strong enough example of the perils of changing too many things too quickly.
You may also appreciate one of the philosophies that guide many GNU/Linux projects. You'll hear such terms as Libre (free as in freedom, not cost); FOSS (Free and Open Source); and FLOSS (Free/Libre and Open Source). GNU offers a more in-depth explanation of the different camps within the free software movement.
However, for students and home users with little or no technical expertise who simply don't want to be bothered with unforeseen complications, there's absolutely no shame in wanting a computer that makes your life easier. For these users, Windows and macOS are much more familiar and thus more intuitive, and troubleshooting most problems can be done without needing Command Prompt or Terminal respectively.
I haven't even mentioned another big consideration: whether the apps you use daily are available for Linux systems. Microsoft Office, for instance, is not, though the company did recently release a public preview of Microsoft Teams for GNU/Linux. Nor are Adobe's Creative Cloud apps, such as Illustrator, Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premier Pro. Of course, you can use alternatives such as LibreOffice for document creation; GIMP, Inkscape, and Krita for creative work; DarkTable or RawTherapee for photo editing; and Shotcut for video editing. In my experience, however, these apps are not quite as seamless or capable as their better-known rivals.
It's not all a lost cause, though. You can still get popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and the Tor Browser (Microsoft is bringing the new Edge to Linux, too); communication tools such as Signal and Slack; security software such as VPNs and password managers; and multimedia essentials such as VLC Player. Speaking of VPNs, the Linux kernel now supports the WireGuard VPN protocol. AV software for Linux is not common, but some options include Clam AV and Sophos.
Steam is available for Debian-based GNU/Linux OSes, though you may have luck with other distros if you are willing to ensure your OS meets the installation requirements. Alternatively, you can use Valve's gaming-centric SteamOS distro, which itself is based on Debian. Note that a growing number of games, including AAA titles, support GNU/Linux either natively or with help from Steam's Proton tool. Valve even announced that its latest VR game, Half-Life: Alyx will get a full release for Linux platforms. All of these efforts may be making a difference; the percentage of Linux gamers on Steam recently topped 1% for the first time in several years. There are still no native versions of Blizzard's Battle.Net, Epic's Game Store, and EA's Origin applications for GNU/Linux systems, but you may be able to get your favorite game launcher applications and non-Steam games running with Steam's Proton tool or emulator alternatives such as Lutris or Wine.
What Devices Can I Get With GNU/Linux?
While you can install GNU/Linux manually on many laptops and desktops, it can be a chore. Unfortunately, you probably can't walk into a brick-and-mortar store and find macOS and Windows alternatives other than Chromebooks. Probably the closest thing to a mainstream GNU/Linux device, the Raspberry Pi, starts at only $35 and targets enthusiasts and programmers who need a low-cost functioning computer for development.
If you're looking for something from a more familiar manufacturer, the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition (read our review of the Windows variant) is likely your best bet. It ships with Ubuntu 18.04 and is an impressive piece of hardware (the Windows version of the same laptop is a PCMag Editors' Choice). You can also find some Lenovo and HP business laptops with Mint Cinnamon installed. Many distros also offer a list of certified devices, so you can verify that an install works on a PC you already own. This is a more cost-effective route if you don't want to buy a new machine; an older or secondhand laptop will suit you just as well, since GNU/Linux systems aren't typically resource hogs.
Some Linux-friendly boutique manufacturers include Pine64 (PineBook), Purism (Librem laptops), StarLabs (laptops), System 76 (desktops and laptops), ThinkPenguin (desktops and laptops), and Tuxedo Computers (desktops and laptops). These devices tend to cost less than comparable Windows and macOS systems.
Several of these providers also sell phones with the alternative mobile OSes I mentioned earlier. For example, Pine64 offers the PinePhone and Purism has the Librem 5. Customers in Europe can buy several refurbished phones with /e/ preinstalled. It's possible to load one of these operating systems onto an existing device, but it's an even geekier job than converting a laptop or desktop. Check the OS vendor's site to see if it is compatible. What about Ebook readers and smartwatches? Pine64 has you covered on that front, too.
How Do I Get Started?
Let's say GNU/Linux intrigues you and you want to try out a distro for yourself. For many of the below scenarios, you'll need to reformat a flash drive or burn a CD. It's also critical to back up any data on your PC before you change any drive partitions. Here are three potential perspectives and recommendations for how to proceed:
I just want to see what GNU/Linux is like:
Virtualization is your friend. You should install your distro of choice inside Oracle's free VM VirtualBox or Windows 10's included Hyper-V feature. This way, you can boot into your regular OS as normal and launch a GNU/Linux distro in a window or full screen, as long as you allocate sufficient RAM and storage to the sandboxed OS. Whichever distro you install will work in the VirtualBox as if it was a native installation and can be deleted at any time.
Alternatively, you can boot into some distros directly from a USB stick (or bootable CD) without actually installing them. This method doesn't require Oracle's VM VirtualBox or for you to make any changes to your hardware configuration, though, in most cases, you'll start from scratch each time you boot up. For instance, Ubuntu provides guides for creating bootable media for both Mac and Windows systems.
I want to use GNU/Linux regularly or semi-regularly alongside Windows or macOS:
Some people need to run both a GNU/Linux distro and one of the big two operating systems at the same time, whether for development work, support for enterprise applications, or external device compatibility. Or maybe you're simply testing whether you can make the switch from one to the other. If you're a Chromebook user seeking an alternative to Chrome OS, see our step-by-step guide on how to install Linux on a Chromebook.
Installing GNU/Linux in a dual-boot configuration alongside Windows or macOS is not too much more complicated than the first two methods, with the main difference being that you are actually installing the full OS on your system and will need to carve out a portion of your hard drive or SSD for it. Deleting a distro running via VirtualBox and reclaiming the virtual drive is an easier process than removing and cleaning up a disk partition with a full OS installed.
You may come across other annoyances, too. For example, once you install the secondary OS, you must deal with a bootloader or start menu (usually GRUB) at launch. Getting all your drivers to work properly can prove troublesome as well. That said, while transferring files between systems may not have been straightforward in the past, Windows is adding a File Explorer Integration for its WSL project.
The WSL project is yet another option for Windows users, even more so now that Microsoft announced future support for Linux IDEs and GUI apps.
GNU/Linux is superior to all other OSes:
If you're all set on using a GNU/Linux distro and nothing else, your easiest option is to buy a dedicated laptop or desktop from one of the hardware vendors mentioned above. This route is more straightforward than installing a distro in a dual-boot configuration, as you don't have to partition a hard drive for two operating systems.
You can also install GNU/Linux over an existing OS, wiping out the previous platform. The potential drawback is that you'll have to configure the operating system yourself. Drivers might not work out of the box. Support or help for the problems you encounter may be buried deep in online forum threads. On the bright side, you will likely very quickly (by necessity) learn a lot more about computing than from using any other OS and hardware combination.
Some people prefer, or even depend on, constancy. Indeed, one GNU/Linux benefit mentioned above is that you can get stable or long-term releases of many popular distros and not worry about regularly needing to install major updates. This characteristic makes GNU/Linux particularly suitable for entities that require the utmost stability, such as government agencies and research labs. The same quality makes GNU/Linux particularly suitable for servers (and possibly for hosting your website).
Choose Wisely
This guide is just a brief introduction to the world of GNU/Linux systems. Feel free to explore these systems on your own. GNU/Linux systems occupy an important place in the computing world and many more users could find they fit their needs better than Windows and macOS.
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