No one can deny the fact that Windows is the most widely used operating system for computers in general. However, some may feel curious at times to try out other operating systems available, especially Linux systems. You may have heard a lot about their features and how some people who have started learning Linux systems and using them have been impressed by the experience. This may prompt you to install and try out a Linux distribution if you are interested in exploring other systems or even using a Linux environment integrated with Windows 10 initially.
But after using Windows for a long period of time, some of the things you do regularly may become a habit, and you may try to use Linux systems in the same way. However, things do not work the same way in both systems, which may lead you to reject the idea of change shortly after and stick to using Windows only. To avoid this, if you are thinking of transitioning to Linux or even trying it alongside Windows, we will outline in this article the top 5 habits you need to get rid of when transitioning from a Windows user to Linux systems.
No matter what your level of computer usage is, you will probably have installed a program on Windows at some point. The process is well known: search for the program online, download the installation file compatible with your operating system, usually in the “exe” format, and then start installing the program through the familiar “Next” steps.
It should be noted that installing programs in this way in Windows is due to the fact that each program requires a set of files and libraries (“dll”) to run properly. Therefore, you need to obtain the installation file for each program to extract all the files it needs to work without any problems on the system. The program relies on its own files to work on the system, except for some games and programs that may require additional components like the famous “DirectX” package for games, for example.
However, let me tell you that the process is entirely different in Linux systems. Installing programs on the system is done through what is called a “Package Manager,” which varies from distribution to distribution. It can simply be compared to app stores on mobile systems which install applications with just a click of “Install,” and the store handles choosing the compatible version of the application with your operating system and installs it on behalf of the user without needing to do anything.
Similarly, the package manager in Linux takes care of installing, updating, and even removing programs from the system either through its own interface in the system or via the command line terminal. Therefore, you do not need to install programs in the usual way in Windows, which may seem possible in Linux, but is not preferred because each Linux distribution has its own nature. Therefore, getting improper programs for the distribution will likely cause system issues. So always leave that task to the package manager.
Also, instead of updating each program individually as in Windows, the package manager can handle updates. This allows you to update all installed programs on the system to the latest version with just one command through the terminal in Linux.
Relying on System Updates Automatically
Windows updates have become significantly important lately, with some updates being automatically installed by the system, as it searches for the latest updates and installs them immediately on the system. You may only notice this when a message appears asking you to restart the system to install those updates, which can be annoying at times. This led Microsoft to enable the “Active Hours” option to prevent you from having to restart the system while performing important tasks on the computer.
It can be said that this has become mandatory due to the frequent updates from Windows, as it is the most targeted system by virus developers, malware, and hackers. Therefore, the option to not download updates is not available to users in order to secure the system and close vulnerabilities as much as possible.
However, because Linux is relatively more secure than Windows, this process is not mandatory. The system can only inform you about the availability of new updates for installation. The update process is entirely done by the user. Moreover, updates are categorized and divided into system components, giving the user the control to allow updates for one part without the other. For example, you can update software packages separately from updating the system kernel, and you can control downloading one and preventing the other. Overall, if you decide to use Linux systems, you will need to perform updates by yourself.
Avoiding the Use of the Command Line Terminal
Many Windows users go for years without ever using the Command Prompt (CMD) or the updated PowerShell because they find the command-line interface too difficult, even though the command-line environment is always more effective and faster than program interfaces. Therefore, you will often find that most Windows troubleshooting is done through the Command Prompt.
However, if you are that person and want to try Linux, you must change that habit. One of the strengths of Linux systems is the command-line terminal, so you must use it, try to learn Linux commands, and do not worry about the difficulty, especially with many tutorials, videos, and detailed articles about Terminal commands available online, which will make the process easier and make you realize the power and effectiveness of this feature.
Manually Installing Drivers
The most important thing to do after installing Windows is to search for hardware drivers for your computer so you can configure and use them in the system. Because some people sometimes fail to get the correct and suitable driver for their hardware components, downloading drivers has become a burden on users. This has led hardware manufacturers to provide Windows drivers on their official websites if available, as well as providing many driver download and update programs to facilitate the task for novice users.
However, let me tell you that this is the last thing you will think about when installing a Linux distribution. The system can recognize and configure the hardware components appropriately, so after installing the system, you will likely not face any issues with any of the computer components, including the graphics card, which needs to be configured on Windows. Furthermore, you will find through system updates any new drivers available for the current components. Therefore, when browsing the website of a hardware manufacturer, you will rarely find Linux driver packages because the system takes care of that, and I can personally attest that I have installed several distributions on multiple computers without any issue, as the hardware is recognized directly each time.
Settling for the Default Interface
Most Windows users settle for the default system interface without making any modifications, except in simple cases such as enabling dark mode or changing the desktop wallpaper and icon size. Rarely do users change the interface entirely because Windows does not offer many options in this regard, requiring users to download external programs to change the interface.
However, if you use a Linux system, you must abandon that habit. Linux systems allow almost everything to be customized, starting from system backgrounds to icon size and system menus, even to font choices for each interface element. Therefore, you will miss out on the experience’s enjoyment if you do not make modifications to the system interface. Moreover, each Linux distribution provides more than one desktop environment, such as “Mate,” “KDE,” and “Gnome,” so you will find a lot of beauty and differences between each environment, despite both being part of the same system.
Finally, it should be noted that this article does not aim to favor one system over the other or highlight the flaws of one system and the advantages of the other. However, changing the operating system is not an easy task, and since you have already decided to change your operating system and move away from the traditional one, it is important to clarify all the issues that may hinder and affect that experience.
