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Advice for a Mac user switching to Linux?
(sh.itjust.works)
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this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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For a start you would have a bootable pen drive, just to take a look around. If a certain distro doesn't suit you, don't install it. After installation, the hurdles get bigger, just as you say.
The two mentioned distros are already tailored towards easy use, but there are many ways to skin the cat. The distributions work with different desktop managers, each with different philosophies. On some distro you can choose or change the desktop manager afterwards (and potentially break your system).
Take the popular cachyOS. Its most useable desktop manager is KDE Plasma, but it has support for a several others (17). Some better, some worse.
Here a tier list of desktop environments showing some desktop manager und Debian 13.
EDIT: Keep in mind, that you can further customize and tailor desktop environments to your needs.