Ask the Outlaw: Can I REALLY Learn Linux?
Dear Outlaw,
I’ve been using Windows for as long as I can remember. I keep reading your articles about Linux, and I see all the success you’re having with it. You’ve got me curious, but I’ll admit I’m a little intimidated. I’m not a computer expert, and I don’t know anything about programming or those commands you Linux people are always typing.
So here’s my question. Can an ordinary Windows user like me REALLY learn Linux? Or am I going to end up staring at a black screen wondering what I’ve gotten myself into?
Sincerely,
Windows User Who’s Getting Curious
Dear Curious,
Well, first of all, WELCOME TO THE RANCH!
Pull up a chair, grab yourself a cup of coffee, and let me tell you something that might surprise you.
YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO USE LINUX!
Well, almost.
Can you turn on a computer? Can you click on an icon? Can you open a web browser? Can you type a letter, watch a YouTube video, or look at pictures of your grandkids?
Congratulations! You’re about 90% of the way there!
Now, before the Linux experts start throwing their keyboards at me, let me explain.
Somewhere along the way, Linux got a reputation for being this mysterious operating system that required a computer science degree, a pocket protector, and the ability to type commands that look like somebody fell asleep on the keyboard.
And years ago, there was some truth to that.
But folks, times have changed.
Today, you can install something like Ubuntu or Linux Mint, turn on your computer, and start using it. You’ve got a desktop, a mouse pointer, folders, applications, a web browser, and all those familiar things you’ve been using for years.
You don’t have to know how to program. You don’t have to memorize commands. And you certainly don’t have to grow a beard and start drinking energy drinks at three in the morning.
Although, apparently, some Linux folks consider that part of the initiation ceremony.
Now, is Linux exactly like Windows? Nope. And that’s actually a good thing.
There will be some differences. Installing software works a little differently. Some programs have different names. Settings might not be where you’re accustomed to finding them.
But think about this. Every time Microsoft releases a new version of Windows, don’t you have to learn where they moved everything anyway?
One day the settings are here. The next day they’re over there. And somewhere along the way, the Start menu has apparently gone on vacation.
If you can survive Windows changing its mind every few years, you can learn Linux.
And here’s something else I want you to understand.
You don’t have to give up Windows tomorrow.
In fact, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Start small. If you’ve got an old laptop sitting in a closet, that’s a perfect place to begin. You know, one of those computers Microsoft has decided isn’t good enough for Windows 11 anymore.
Dust it off. Give it a little love. Install Linux Mint or Ubuntu and see what happens.
You might be surprised.
I’ve taken computers that were headed for the recycling pile, installed Linux, and watched them come back to life. Computers that people thought were worthless suddenly became perfectly useful machines again.
And I didn’t have to buy a new computer or sign up for another subscription.
Imagine that!
Now, let’s talk about software.
“But Outlaw, what about Microsoft Word?”
Well, what about it?
For most everyday documents, LibreOffice Writer will do the job just fine. Need spreadsheets? LibreOffice Calc. Presentations? LibreOffice Impress.
Want to browse the internet? Firefox, Chrome, Brave, and other browsers are available.
Want to listen to music? Watch movies? Edit pictures? Manage files?
There’s software for all of that.
And a whole lot of it is FREE.
Now, I do need to be fair. Not every Windows program runs on Linux. Some specialized business applications, certain games, and particular hardware devices can be troublesome. If you depend on a specific program for work, check its compatibility before making the switch.
That’s not a reason to be afraid of Linux. It’s just a reason to do your homework.
And speaking of homework, here’s the best advice I can give you.
DON’T TRY TO LEARN EVERYTHING AT ONCE.
Just use the computer.
Open the browser. Check your email. Write a letter. Watch a video. Move some files around. Install an application from the software center.
Do the same things you normally do in Windows.
And when you run into something you don’t understand, look it up. Ask somebody. Search the internet. There are entire communities of Linux users who genuinely enjoy helping newcomers.
And yes, you can even ask the Outlaw!
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
“But what if I mess something up?”
Well, let me ask you a question.
Have you ever messed something up in Windows?
Of course you have!
We all have.
That’s how we learn.
The difference is that with Linux, you’re often given more freedom to decide how your computer works. And with that freedom comes a little responsibility.
But you don’t have to become a system administrator to enjoy it.
You just have to be willing to try.
And that brings me to our good friend Steve.
You know Steve. He’s the fellow with the Microsoft lanyard, the clipboard, and the coffee mug that says, “But the cloud includes…”
If you asked Steve whether you should try Linux, he’d probably tell you it’s too complicated, unsupported, and potentially dangerous.
Then he’d recommend a new Windows computer, a Microsoft 365 subscription, and possibly a three-hour meeting to discuss your technology roadmap.
SIT DOWN, STEVE!
We’re trying to help somebody learn something here!
Curious, here’s what I really want you to take away from this.
You don’t have to be a computer expert to use Linux.
You don’t have to understand everything about how an operating system works.
And you don’t have to abandon everything you’ve learned using Windows.
You just need a little curiosity, a little patience, and a willingness to try something different.
Will you occasionally get frustrated? Absolutely.
Will you have questions? You bet.
Will you sometimes wonder why something works differently than it did in Windows? Of course.
But one day, you’re going to turn on that Linux computer, open your browser, check your email, work on a document, and shut it down.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, something wonderful is going to happen.
YOU’LL FORGET YOU’RE USING LINUX.
Because you’ll just be using your computer.
And THAT, my friend, is the whole point.
Technology should make your life easier, not become your life.
So go find that old laptop. Give Linux a try. Take your time. Have some fun.
And remember, you don’t have to know everything before you begin.
You just have to begin.
HEY STEVE, WATCH THIS!
Until next time, keep those old computers running, keep asking questions, and never let somebody else decide when your perfectly good technology has reached the end of the trail.
YOU BET YOUR SWEET GRUB!
— The Open Source Outlaw