I do not intend to go into great detail here about the best way to switch from Windows to Linux.
Since I only deal with Debian GNU Linux in my private life, and have recently also been using LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition 6), as well as running Ubuntu Touch on my smartphone alongside it, I could now start a guide on how to install Debian.
However, that is not what this article is currently about.
What concerns me here is the current discussion on why one should switch from Windows to Linux.
Of course, there are many reasons in favor of finally moving away from Microsoft. Not only because of the end of support for Windows 10 later this year, or the numerous security vulnerabilities and privacy-critical incidents.
But there are also quite a few arguments that speak clearly against it.
As for me, I have been using Linux for many years. Of course, in private use, where it is not a big problem if one, like me, surfs the internet, organizes their music, and occasionally edits files, browses the web, maintains and constantly updates this website, streams movies and series, or even plays a game here and there (LS22, ETS2, WoW, Minecraft, etc.), Linux offers a good alternative to the data-hog Windows.
Why does the switch make sense?
Support for Windows 10 ends later this year. Everyone has more or less noticed that. That means there are no longer any free updates for this version of Windows. No updates also means that computers are no longer protected from attacks by hackers, and viruses, trojans, malware, etc., can spread unhindered on the system and infect further computers, as security vulnerabilities are not closed.
Some people get nothing out of it, while others get even more.
Windows 11 is allegedly supposed to run on every computer. Even though there are already guides on how to get Windows 11 running on an »older« computer anyway, that does not necessarily mean it runs smoothly.
My now 10-year-old laptop could use Windows 11 without any problems, but I do not want to. And let’s say it is only because my data on this device would not be lost in the cloud of a US corporation where I do not know what happens with them further on.
That MS is not particularly known for protecting its customers’ data well, and that customer data is often misused for advertising purposes, is well-known.
Just that alone can already be enough reason to switch from Windows to Linux.
But what about the software I use under Windows?
To start with; Linux comes with over 64,000 software packages out of the box.
Standard applications such as email, office suite, and a few browsers are not a problem. Everything is available, also in the familiar manner. Plus one or another browser, everything will be installed during setup. You receive a usable basic system just like you know it from Windows.
But what about specialized software? That will be interesting for many companies. Especially in our logistics industry, the switch alone becomes a problem because there is currently no special software available for Linux. Namely, the software with which logistics companies must read out driver cards of the driving personnel and digital tachographs of vehicles.
The market leader GloboFleet currently offers its software only for Windows and MacOS. I asked a few years ago if a Linux version was planned. However, this was denied to me due to the low adoption rate.
Well, Linux has a share of around 4 % in the desktop area. That is not much and is not enough to now convince all software foundries to bring their software for Linux to market. Even though I know a professional driver who uses Linux on his notebooks.
Gamers are also complaining that one cannot use Linux because no games run on it. Well, that is only partially true. Of course, not every game runs, but many do. Thanks to Steam and ProtonDB.
And yes, in the server area, things look different with Linux. But exactly that is not what this switch is about.
Companies that use an ERP system like SAP already have a better chance of switching to Linux. Because for SAP, there is, among others, an open-source alternative called Odoo .
We also have a company here in the Hochsauerlandkreis district that specifically deals with helping companies switch to open-source products and assisting them during the migration.
The Discussion
On social networks, the switch from Windows to Linux is currently being discussed. Many are convinced that due to the political situation with and through the USA, it is now time to break away from previous US companies and switch to Linux. One of Trump’s latest achievements is wanting to review European laws . The Digital Services Act is particularly a thorn in the eye of his new buddies (Zuckerberg, Musk, etc.).
As before, where the software is available, whether it is 100% identical or as an alternative, the whole thing is not a problem.
The switch from Windows to Linux makes sense where possible. Simply because the costs for all software licenses disappear, which one has to pay for Windows alone. For users, there should be hardly any difference whether they use Windows or Linux.
If necessary, the desktop environment can also be designed as if you are sitting in front of a Windows desktop.
Sure, the transition alone will incur costs for companies. In the long run, however, this leads to greater scalability and also reduces costs. Moreover, thanks to open source, you can adapt the software to your own needs, provided you have the manpower for it.
For me, I would also like to be able to completely do without Windows. However, as mentioned above, the company GloboFleet sees no reason to offer its software for Linux either. Therefore, only because of this one program, I currently run Windows in a VM so that I can read and evaluate my driver card.
And for everyone else, approach the topic with a bit more foresight. It’s not always just IT that prevents the transition; it’s also partly due to potentially missing software, and not every company has the money to have this developed while running on two tracks at the same time.
After all, few people can use Linux because there is no suitable software. The suitable software doesn’t exist either because A) the money is missing, or B) it’s not being developed due to low adoption in the desktop sector.
Those who can should switch to Linux, just for the sake of their data. However, if you rely on one or two special pieces of software that don’t exist for Linux, running them in a virtual machine might be an idea. If that doesn’t help, too bad.
