As a Linux enthusiast, there’s something deeply satisfying about the moment when someone complains about Windows, and your first reaction is “I told you so.” I’ve been recommending people switch to Linux for years now. No bloatware, telemetry tracking, forced updates, and invasive software tracking everything you do.
I ditched Linux for Windows after years of juggling two operating systems. “Just use Linux” isn’t helpful advice anymore, and it’s certainly not the kind of blanket advice you can hand out to anyone facing problems with Windows and macOS.
Too many distros, too little clarity
Endless choice makes Linux harder to recommend
One of Linux’s greatest strengths is also one of its biggest weaknesses for newcomers. You’ve got dozens of distributions, desktop environments, package managers, and configurations. This amount of customization is great if you know what you’re doing, but if you’re a total beginner to Linux and deciding on your first distro, it can be paralyzing.
If you’re coming from Windows, there’s a decent number of beginner-friendly Linux distros such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, and more. Depending on who you ask and what you intend to do with your computer, everyone’s recommendation is going to be different.
You can’t quite go wrong with any of these, but the user experience you have will differ vastly from one distribution to another. They also use different desktop environments and package managers, which further complicates the choice.
On Windows, you’re either using it, or not. There are versions available, but they’re essentially the same OS with more advanced features. This lack of options makes choosing easy. It might be frustrating for an advanced user who knows what they want from their OS, but for a newcomer who’s just looking to get work done, spending time installing and trying different OSes can be a big task.
The application gap isn’t closing fast enough
The software you need isn’t always there
Another major problem with Linux is the application gap. If you’re someone who uses proprietary software like Adobe’s suite of creative programs, you’re going to find an alternative. To make matters worse, there’s a good chance you’ll also have to abandon old workflows and projects when switching over.
There are tools like Wine or WinBoat that can help you run Windows programs on Linux, but there are significant performance and configuration challenges. WinBoat has potential and is still in beta, but it’s not as good as everyone says it is at the moment.
Thankfully, the Linux ecosystem in 2025 offers mature alternatives for just about every Windows or macOS-exclusive program. The challenge is finding tools that work for you, then adapting to a new workflow and interface. These tools have feature parity with their Windows/macOS alternatives in most cases, but you may have to spend time learning the ropes.
Gaming is another challenge. Yes, Steam’s Proton compatibility layer has made Linux a significantly better platform for gaming compared to what it once was, but there are caveats you need to be aware of. For example, if your game requires kernel-level anti-cheats programs like BattlEye and Easy Anti-Cheat, you’ll not be able to play it at all. Picking a Linux gaming distro can help resolve these issues to some extent.
Hardware support can be a gamble
Drivers, quirks, and the unpredictable nature of Linux compatibility
Another surprise that caught me off guard when I switched to Linux was hardware support. Linux isn’t the OS for you if you’re into proprietary software; nothing will be hit harder by this than your RGB peripherals.
Your RGB peripherals will still work, but you’ll lose the ability to control them or create program-specific lighting profiles. At least, this is the case initially. Thanks to the open-source community, several third-party programs can restore this functionality.
You can use programs like Piper for Logitech gaming mice. Razer users can try out OpenRazer with Polychromatic to configure their peripherals. OpenRGB is also a worthy option with support for hundreds of peripherals from various manufacturers. However, these programs only restore a limited amount of control, and you’ll still be missing some features you paid money for simply because the manufacturer doesn’t have software for Linux.
This used to be a much bigger issue previously, but Linux’s hardware support has improved massively over the last decade. Issues like Wi-Fi, sound, or display drivers not working out of the box used to be common, but they can still bug you depending on which distro you choose to install.
OEMs rarely pre-install Linux on consumer machines, meaning most people encounter Windows or macOS first and never think there’s an alternative. The burden falls entirely on the user to install, configure, and troubleshoot the OS—something the average person doesn’t enjoy.
Support and community expectations
Windows and macOS users often have access to friends, family, or tech support when things break. Linux users, on the other hand, have to troubleshoot independently, learn to search forums, interpret cryptic terminal error messages, and even compile software from source code at times. It’s one of the reasons why open source software isn’t always the better pick and that’s OK.
Don’t get me wrong. Most, if not all, open-source communities are incredible. I’m glad they exist, because it’s how I learned a lot about the various software that I use every day. But they’re not obligated to solve your specific problem on your timeline.
You will find plenty of resources, including video or text tutorials, community posts, documentation, manuals, and more, to help you. AI chatbots also do way more than just searching the web, and can help you get out of a rut. However, if you’re dealing with a particularly niche piece of software, you might end up asking a question no one previously asked.
Linux might work for many—but it isn’t for everyone
“Just use Linux” ignores very real user needs
Linux is genuinely excellent in a lot of ways. Developers, system admins, cybersecurity professionals, and just about any technical user have a ton of legitimate reasons to choose it—and the tools they need are abundant. Casual users who just need a browser and office suite can’t go wrong with distros like Linux Mint or Ubuntu. Even gamers can have a great time on Linux thanks to Proton and Steam.
However, instead of “just use Linux,” we need more nuanced conversations. Ask people about their actual workflow, what programs they rely on, what hardware they are using, and how comfortable they are about troubleshooting their own issues. You’ll quickly realize that for many, Linux introduces more problems than it solves, and that’s okay. There’s no shame in choosing an OS that works for you.
Linux is phenomenal, but it’s not the universal solution we sometimes pretend it is. The community benefits from being realistic about its limitations rather than waving them away. Real advocacy means helping people make informed choices, not overselling a platform to people whose actual needs it doesn’t serve.