There’s no single Linux distribution that suits every Windows user. For a familiar desktop, compare Linux Mint and Zorin OS; for gaming, consider Bazzite; and for a customizable, development-focused desktop, look at Pop!_OS. Your must-use apps, devices, and games should guide the choice.
Five Linux distributions with different priorities
MakeUseOf’s comparison describes these five options in terms of different desktop and gaming priorities. The table summarizes those distinctions; it doesn’t make any one distribution a fit for every PC or workload.
| Distribution | What it emphasizes |
| Linux Mint | Control over when updates are applied, a software manager, and a small default set of apps |
| Zorin OS | Windows-familiar desktop layouts and customization |
| Pop!_OS | The COSMIC desktop, with automatic window tiling and stacking, plus Flatpak sandboxing and VPN controls in network settings |
| Kubuntu | A familiar taskbar and Start-menu arrangement, centralized settings, and KDE apps such as KDE Connect, Kdenlive, and Kate |
| Bazzite | Gaming-focused desktop, handheld, and HTPC versions; Proton and Lutris, with Nvidia support in the desktop version |
If update timing and a compact set of preinstalled apps appeal to you, Linux Mint is worth a look. Zorin OS puts more emphasis on a Windows-like layout. Pop!_OS offers automatic tiling and stacking, which can help organize open windows, while Kubuntu pairs a familiar desktop arrangement with KDE applications. Those choices reflect different ways of working, not a standardized performance ranking.
Bazzite is the clearest gaming-focused pick in this group, but a gaming focus does not guarantee that every title will run. The comparison flags kernel-level anti-cheat, VR, and some newer games as potential compatibility problems. Linux Mint may also have trouble with games that rely on kernel-level anti-cheat.
Check the apps, devices, and games you rely on
A Windows installer ending in .exe or .msi does not guarantee that its program will work on Linux. Zorin OS may use Wine, a compatibility layer for some Windows programs, or suggest an alternative. Neither route promises support for every app.
Games and peripherals need the same kind of scrutiny. Proton and Lutris are among Bazzite’s gaming tools, but title-specific anti-cheat, VR, or newer-game compatibility can still be a deciding factor. Before switching, make a short list of the exact games, work apps, and device utilities you depend on.
In its Zorin OS review, Switch and Click described several practical snags: software for a password-protected SanDisk SSD, a docked laptop that suspended when its lid was closed, and proprietary apps such as Notion that needed a workaround or a web-app version. The review’s observations belong to that reviewer’s experience, not to every Zorin OS setup. The English-language video is sponsored by Boot.dev.
Try Ubuntu before installing it
Canonical’s Ubuntu guide offers a “Try Ubuntu” live session that previews Ubuntu and lets you test hardware without changing the PC. This gives you a way to check the desktop and your hardware before installing Ubuntu; it is an Ubuntu-specific option, not a procedure to assume for every distribution. Canonical’s Ubuntu installation guide
Before installing Ubuntu, back up your data. Canonical says BitLocker prevents a safe installation alongside Windows unless you disable BitLocker or install Ubuntu on a separate, unencrypted disk.
