I recommend people use these apps when moving from Windows to Linux

I recently moved over from Windows to Linux by dual-booting my PC. I've had a ton of fun with my Fedora KDE Plasma installation, to the point where I'm forgetting I even have Windows installed. However, I'd be lying if I claimed that the migration was as simple as installing Linux, booting into it, and using it like I would my Windows PC. There was a lot of learning about how Linux works and what could and couldn't be transferred from Windows, but I managed to make it in the end.

Part of my exploration and settlement onto Linux was made a ton easier thanks to a few apps. So, here are some apps that I recommend you check out if you're also considering moving from Windows to Linux.

Ventoy

A crucial tool in my distro hopping

So, part of my adventures into exploring Linux involved what's called "distro hopping." It's when you jump between different iterations of Linux to find the one you can call home. Linux distros come in different forms, some of which are drastically different from one another. As such, it's a good idea to poke around at different distros to find the one you like the most.

Fortunately, Linux distros usually have a demo version you can try; just chuck it on a USB, boot off of it, and you can give it a spin without any commitment. If you dislike it, you can delete it from your USB and return to normal; otherwise, you can install it on your PC via the demo itself.

The thing is, swapping out those installation media can be a little annoying. Fortunately, there's the Ventoy app. This turns a USB into a special operating system launching device; all you need to do is load the image file of your system of choice, plug it in, and boot off of it. Ventoy handles the rest. It was a huge help to me when finding my favorite Linux distro.

KDE Plasma

Bringing the Windows vibe to your operating system

Linux has these cool things called "desktop environments." They completely revamp how your computer looks and feels without changing the core that runs everything. If you've ever used an app that completely revamps the look of Windows, it's similar, albeit Linux officially supports it and doesn't require you to take a crowbar to your operating system.

My favorite desktop environment is called KDE Plasma. The "KDE" stands for "K Desktop Environment," and it's pretty similar to Windows. In fact, I believe it does certain things better than Windows. You can either download a distro that comes with KDE Plasma bundled in, or you can install it yourself. Either way, you'll find that KDE Plasma is very similar to Windows, except you can actually customize it. Shocking, I know!

WinBoat

Trying to bridge the gap as much as possible

These days, Linux is pretty good in terms of adapting to the apps you've gotten used to on Windows. For instance, apps like Google Chrome, Bitwarden, and Discord work just fine on Linux. Some apps don't have an official Linux version, but there are alternatives; for example, while ShareX is Windows-only, the default Fedora KDE Plasma screenshotting tool took over its job just fine for me.

However, there will be some apps that don't run on Linux and don't have a suitable replacement, especially niche apps. For these, you'll want to give WinBoat a try. WinBoat allows you to run a Windows virtual machine, through which you can install the apps you need and boot them up when you need them. It may not be a perfect solution, but it's a good way to tide yourself over while you figure stuff out.

We have a guide on how to use WinBoat for you if that sounds like something you want. However, as our editor Joao discovered, it's not exactly perfect, so don't expect too many miracles.

There's no need to go into Linux alone

While these tools won't magically make Linux as simple to use as Windows, it does alleviate some of the roadblocks that keep people from getting comfortable with a distro. If you ask me, the ideal way to migrate is to grab a distro that comes with KDE Plasma pre-installed, slap it on a USB drive with Ventoy, install it, then use WinBoat to grab the apps you can't be without. However, the cool thing about Linux is that there's no "right path" for finding the distro you'll gel with, so feel free to stray from these apps if they don't resonate with you.