So, the inner geek in me has re-awakened. I took the leap to using Linux! Specifically, Zorin. The difference is like night and day, the speed is amazing, and I am feeling more productive. My boot time went from 5 or 6 minutes, with a few items I have for startup apps (start with booting Windows), to at best less than 60 seconds with the same startup apps in Linux.
Now I am asking why I waited so long? Fear of something new, learning a different system, or fear that it won't work as I hoped for? Well, learning is always good, especially when it does not take away from what you already know. Zorin looks and feels like what I already know. There are a few distros that are made for the new guy, so don't be afraid to try. I have fussed at myself for not knowing a lot about command line controls, but I have dabbled in the Windows world, so what's the big difference?
The difference is that it just works. It's not reporting back to central command, it's not flooding me with ads (because it doesn't care), it's doing what I ask of it.
One of my biggest complaints when I was going out to help folks with their computers was "it's moving so slow!" Now I am beginning to understand why. Same hardware, two OS's on separate SSD's (I opted for dual boot). The difference is extremely noticeable from button push on, to actual functionality. I have not used Windows now in almost a month! Love it! An actual working computer!
Hi and Welcome.
Good to know you are having a positive experience.
About 10 years ago I built computers for family members and unfortunately the motherboard died, potentially caused by a drop of sweat from moi eating into the EC. Originally had put Windows 7 Pro OEM on it which in time went up to 10, then 11.
Had to search for a new Motherboard that still supported DDR4 RAM. Machine had 8 Gb Corsair Vengeance RAM and a 1 Tb WD Black HDD.
Had to buy a new OEM licence as forgot that OEM is tied to the motherboard, thankfully did not cost an arm and a leg to get a new one.
Backed all the Data to external device as well as the OS before updating to Win 11 25H2 v2 (Yes I have been through all the different shenanigans with each release to create a local account) and was surprised how slow things were compared to Linux Mint Debian Edition 7 on same size and brand of HDD:
So to solve the 7 minute boot time I purchased a 1 Tb SSD as I use Rescuezilla for cloning which can't clone to smaller drive. Then moved the User files to the HDD that had previously held Windows.
The other big issue for Windows 11 Home users is they can't remove the detritis that gets splattered on their machines. Only the Pro version has Group Policy Editor. The infuriating element to the brain is havibg to cope with reverse logic statements used for turning off co-pilot, using the word "allow" when you read it you will know what I mean. It feels a bit like "allow co-pilot to be on while turning it off" - it makes you think that changing the value in Group Policy Editor is the wrong move. It is little wonder that Windows has caused so much mental health issues! I disabled OneDrive and then removed it using Revo uninstaller.
And the boot time? Well I also purchased for them another 32 Gb Corsair Vengeance DDR4 so it is now down to approximately 2 minutes 30 seconds, the same time it takes to boot LMDE 7 on an HDD!
Indeed! I know a lot about windows nonsense! I have been around since W98, ME, 2000, 7, 8, 10, and 11. After all the stuff I found out about what 11 has started doing, instead of letting you just use the computer, taking your data, etc. I said enough is enough.
As I mentioned, not totally new at Linux, I used to have a disk with Ubuntu that I would use when somebody could not boot into Windows. I mean, I should have realized then that I was going to need to escape the clutches of the windows mentality/insanity.
There is a laptop I have stored somewhere that has 10 on it, and would not take 11. I can't get to it now, but I would be willing to believe Linux would revive it. The PC I am using is a standard store bought. I had a nice one I built, but sadly, it died before I could do any more with it.
The one I have is this:
System Details Report
Report details
- Date generated: 2026-08-06 12:55:09
Hardware Information:
- Hardware Model: HP HP Desktop M01-F0xxx
- Memory: 12.0 GiB
- Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 3400G with Radeon™ Vega Graphics × 8
- Graphics: AMD Radeon™ Vega 11 Graphics
- Disk Capacity: 496.1 GB
Software Information:
- Firmware Version: F.47
- OS Name: Zorin OS 18.1 Core
- OS Build: (null)
- OS Type: 64-bit
- Windowing System: Wayland
- Kernel Version: Linux 7.0.0-28-generic
Good enough for me. I don't do anything special any more, just light weight stuff nowadays, email, reading, answering this post (LoL)...oh, and learning to TS my PC with Linux.
My first Windows PC was a P120 with Windows 95. Considering what I paid for it it was a shabby build. Upgrading the hardware was risky, not because of compatibility issues but because once you removed the casing it was an easy task to split your finger or thumb on the metal framework! Certainly much more severe than a cardboard cut!
I updated the procesor with an Evergreen AMD 400 MHz processor which meant having to install a fix via floppy disk as Windows 95 could not run on such a fast processor. Basic S3 Trio card was upgraded to a Matrox Mystique 220 plus separate Matrox 3D graphics card, and later added the Rainbow Runner to the 220.
My introduction to GNU/Linux was achieved with grateful thanks to a 6th form student on placement in the School's IT Department where the IR I worked for was based. They gave me a CD with Knoppix 1.9 on it. Blew me away, and was advised to use Mandrake, which I did. The problem being with it, I was only on 56k dial-up modem, no fast broadband. So foolishly to get updates I would take CDs into work and burn updates during lunch break. Needless to say I broke my Mandrake doing this!
I have been with Zorin from 4 to 15. It was a fun ride, but now I have moved on to PCLOS Debian with KDE Plasma, no systemd and no pulseaudio.
Don't forget to download the Unofficial Manual for Zorin 18 Core here:
Hello,
It's never too late to come, see, use and share something from our gnus and penguins good friends !
I'm 46 old now and before 2009 i had almost no use of computers ; i did what i had to when i was student without taking part of it - actually, i hated sitting in front of these screens. But i couldn’t "resist" too long, i had to use one to "archive modern life". Then a friend built me a computer for free and show me how to install and use Ubuntu - 10.04 at that time ... Gnome 2, compiz, desktop cube and so. Well, this first computer couldn’t handle compiz but, later i could do that with brand new stuff like 1st i5 Intel generation and Nvidia card ... 
I used a lot of distro, learned a lot from communities ... Fedora, Debian and so.
I feel grateful to people who makes this great piece of technologie and philosophy, alive and i tried to help also others as i could until now - on internet and local groups (France). And this is the main point for me, to share and be part of the project with the possibility to knowledge the tools we use daily.
All the computers of the house runs GNU/Linux, even for gaming ...
It's not perfect, we encounters problems too and it's not a foolproof system because it needs us to use it with some consciousness. It's a tool made by us for us. 
So, welcome !!
Hello and welcome!
I'm happy to hear you also noticed the speed increase. Its been a huge reason I stayed myself when I switched over permanently in 2024.
Some useful resources that got me over the "fear of something new" was Learn Linux TV on youtube, these forums which I read daily, a few old discounted linux books, and web searches like "linux version of " or "foss version of ." Many of the regulars here write very high quality tutorials and instructions that got me through a few headaches. I cannot overstate how helpful and amazing these folks are.
I have the cube on my current OS, PCLOS Debian based on Debian 12:
And it worked on my old AMD Athlon rig with Zorin 5 Ultimate:
And much overlooked element of Compiz, Accessibility options:
I have to try again PC_os_Linux in a virtual machine !
No, it is PCLOS Debian, a fork of PCLOS by Upgreyed and others.