+1 to Mint. It is a very easy transition & you will not have ragerts.

Pros:

1. prettier than windows while having a similar interface

2. more responsive than windows

3. more stable than windows

4. zero spyware/bloatware

5. basically the same level of software compatibility as windows

Only things that take some research ahead of time or getting used to imo:

1. deciding how you want to partition your drives during installation (you can let it automatically do this, but there are reasons to create a different partition structure across drives/have different sized partitions),

2. mounting drives. There are GUI tools for this (file explorer for mounting, gparted for formatting), so it really isn't a big deal, but it is a little more difficult than with Windows and you may need to reformat your drives depending what file format they're currently in.

3. make sure your motherboard/video card/cpu all work well with linux. They should, but just check first.

4. note that games requiring kernel level anticheat (aka spyware) won't work. So if that's a deal breaker, then dual boot or don't switch.

Mint or Pop

Linux Mint. It's boring but easy and stable.

Linux Mint

Maybe Fedora but it has a bigger learning curve. You also could try Fedora KDE.

If all you do is use a browser and game then bazzite is solid.

If you do more stuff then fedora might be the way to go.

I started with popos but since its more on a stable ideology updates to stuff take much longer which is why I started looking around to try all the lingo I've heard about on Lemmy like KDE Wayland immutable atomic etc etc

I switched 10 years ago, started on Ubuntu and hated it, switched to ZorinOS and gained understanding, then switched to Mint and found a home. I now recommend Mint to all windows refugees, it's layed out similar enough to be intuitive and let's you learn Linux at a comfortable pace.

Tl;Dr - switch to Linux Mint when leaving windows.

That question is like asking which superhero is the strongest in a comic shop. There is an answer, but some people have made their own opinion part of their identity, and are extremely passionate emotional about it.

It's Linux Mint, by far. Others like Fedora and Pop are solid choices, and things like Arch, Bazzite, or CachyOS have their merits, but Mint offers by far the most uncomplicated, entry-level experience.

Some time ago I answered this question on a post that seems have been deleted but got some good feedback:

The most important decision as a new Linux user is the desktop environment, the most similar desktop environment to the Windows desktop are KDE Plasma and Cinnamon. This means your best options are:

• Linux Mint (Cinnamon): They are the creators of the Cinnamon desktop environment and will be the default on installation.
• Kubuntu (KDE Plasma): This is Ubuntu's official KDE Plasma flavour, it comes with everything as usual just different desktop.
• Fedora (KDE Edition): Same story as Ubuntu here, only that with Fedora's own packages and environment.

First I would check if the hardware is compatible (99% of the time is). Then I would check what software you need and/or want and check if it is available at these distros, and get familiar on how to install the software packages (either with their respective app stores or in the command line).

There is a lot to learn but with these distros you can just install, forget and simply keep using them for eternity.

The last and more important tip I have is to not to worry about the sea of options out there, you will not be missing anything huge by picking one or the other. Which is how most of new users feel (I did in my time).

Hope you have a great Linux journey mate!

I've used Ubuntu and multiple flavors of mint. I like bazzite the best. Literally zero problems since I switched.

If you want something that barely ever changes and works today as its gonna work 5 years from now, then Mint. If you want constant compatibility with the shiniest new stuff, then an atomic fedora distro (Bazzite for gaming, aurora/bluefin for general purpose).

Fedora with KDE

I feel like I'm probably the sole one who's happy with Kubuntu. It's just Ubuntu with KDE on it.

Do you want to game much?

Gentoo

Kubuntu

Pop! OS