Been a long time Windows user but with each Windows version, I hate it more. So bloated and locked in. I saw that mint is a good beginner distribution but its not supported by framework. Is Ubuntu really different from Windows with a higher learning curve?
Talk me out of wasting hours to get linux working when Windows works out-of-the-box
It didn’t really take me hours to install Ubuntu.
I don’t have a framework, but my experience with Linux is that for the majority of computing tasks the average user does, it’s more or less the same but it looks a little different.
My use: Web browsing, Email, Gaming (steam), Note-taking (OneNote), Photo editing (darktable), Managing files across multiple computer (synching)
For these tasks, I generally found there was an equivalent flatpack or snap that met my needs. For editing, I’ll admit Adobe Lightroom is a much more visually polished product than darktable, but I can accomplish all the same tasks. Likewise, P3X for oneNote (or a browser window) is a bit of a cludge and less elegant, but it works. I’ve also found Linux gaming to be mostly fine, but I’m basing that on my steam deck more than ubuntu.
If i were you, I would try out a distro that seems good and dual boot windows if you have to for programs that don’t work natively or don’t have a substitute in GNU-land. Don’t be afraid to hop to a new distro if you find something you don’t like about the first one.
Does OneNote and related Microsoft Office apps behave on Linux? Also, how do you find dual boot? Would a Windows VM work better than dual boot or is it better to have dual boot?
If you do a lot of heavy lifting in Excel, VBA, PowerPoint, Visio, or anything Adobe then you’ll need a Windows partition or VM.
If you can get by on Google Workspace, Office365, or LibreOffice then you won’t need Windows.