Windows is the top dog in the operating systems for computers. Linux, on the other hand, has a hard time - it is usually free, open-source and functional. Two versions make the switch easy.

Penguin tux


Penguin Tux is the cuddly mascot of Linux - but the little animal has a hard time against Windows and its colorful windows. Photo: Tobias Kleinschmidt / DPA / DPA-tmn

Penguin Tux has a hard time. Linux's mascot can hardly compete with Microsoft's colorful windows. The market for operating systems on desktop PCs and laptops is still dominated by Windows.

Almost 80 percent of German computers use the Microsoft operating system, while Linux has been bobbing between 3 and 4 percent for years, as figures from the web analysis platform Statcounter show. One reason: Windows is often preinstalled on the devices and many users know this system.

With Linux, on the other hand, money can be saved when buying a PC. The programmers of the open-source project have also published various Linux distributions that are as user-friendly as market leader Windows.

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Unbeatably cheap and with good performance


Frank Termer, Head of Software at the Bitkom industry association, has long since had competitive computers with a Linux distribution: "Many small, chic netbooks are delivered ex-works with Linux, very performant and unbeatably cheap due to the simple absence of any license costs."

Both experts emphasize that there is no such thing as “Linux”, but rather a multitude of variants, some of which are suitable for beginners - and others less so. “Can't” man Thorsten Leemhuis initially recommends either Ubuntu Desktop or Linux Mint. Both are widespread, so those seeking help can quickly find advice online. A brief overview:

Ubuntu Desktop (current version: 18.04.3 LTS):


The Linux distribution Ubuntu is considered exemplary in terms of usability and flexibility - for example when integrating media content such as music or videos. Windows users will soon feel at home, Leemhuis suspects. A software center supplies the computer with suitable free programs for daily operation.


Ubuntu is Canonical, a software group that is responsible for further development. This is a horror for Linux enthusiasts, but it gives beginners security. The abbreviation LTS at the end of the version number stands for Long Term Support. Means: There are five years of security and software updates.

Linux Mint (current version: 19.2):


Linux Mint is also easy to use for beginners. It is based on Ubuntu, but here a community of users is working on the distribution, and not a software company. Multimedia of all kinds is no problem for the current version.

For Leemhuis, Mint is reminiscent of older versions of Windows, and he also praises the many setting options. On request, Mint also takes away many basic settings from the user and already has numerous programs on board, such as a multimedia player.


Plan time for the changeover


There are a number of other Linux distributions that are suitable for beginners. Since the programs are usually available free of charge, interested users have to bring one thing with them, Leemhuis advises: time to switch to the new system.

Good to know: Experienced Linux users should find out about Linux compatibility before buying hardware. This also applies to the computer itself, according to Leemhuis: some are specially configured for Linux distributions. Some manufacturers with direct sales offer the option to choose Linux as the operating system.

In addition to low costs, Linux distributions offer another advantage: criminals have little incentive to write malware. "So far, there is nothing relevant that is aimed at Linux desktop users," says Linux expert Leemhuis. One reason is the low distribution of Linux distributions compared to Windows.