I switched to Linux back in 2016 when Windows XP was deprecated (or rather, all the browsers available for XP gave notifications that they were no longer supported). I decided it was the right time to jump to Linux, having played around with it for many years. I installed Ubuntu and have used that ever since, and have been very happy with the experience. I would recommend it to anyone. Most of my computers run Ubuntu, but I have one that runs Mint, which I think is clearly better than Ubuntu but I have sort of a nostalgic attachment to Ubuntu because it's really the oldest mainstream Linux distro that is still around, and is by far the largest one to this day. Both Ubuntu and Mint run well and do everything I need them to do, and I have never paid one shiny, glimmering penny for any of the software applications on any of my computers.

I’ve used both Ubuntu and Zorin and have enjoyed them both. The only problem I have with Linux (IMHO) is finding a distro I can settle with. But that’s more of a personal issue .

Can anyone point to a site to learn how to change to Linux?  I'd like to know what limitations/differences to expect.  For example:  If you have a computer for internet browsing (i.e. this site + "normal" sites like ebay or banking), can Linux handle that, or would you have to keep using Windows?  I'm a beginner in all this but I would like to learn.

Yes, Linux Mint is one of my favorites. I used to play with a lot of old computers and got some puppy linux distros that run well even on old hardware. I also like Zorin OS, specially for new users to Linux.

Oh yeah, I did that back in the day. This was probably in the 2000s decade. I used to play around with tiny distros on old computers. Puppy Linux. My favorite was (pardon the name) Damn Small Linux. It was designed to be the smallest distro with a graphical interface in existence, and it probably was. They fit it into 50 megabytes, and used to sell those business-card-sized mini-CDs, that had a capacity of only 50 MB, with Damn Small Linux on it. It was a live desktop, which meant you could simply pop that business-card CD into any CD drive and boot the computer to a usable desktop, with a web browser, office suite, and other programs. I used to carry that tiny, credit-card-sized CD in my wallet with my credit cards, etc. in case I ever had to boot up a computer that wasn't booting properly. Unfortunately that distro is now long defunct. Their website hasn't been updated in a decade, though it is still online.

Man, I miss the 2000s decade. Those were the best years of my life.

Here's the type of CD they burned it onto. You can see it is the same shape as a credit card. I haven't seen one of these in years:

I switched to Linux back in 2016 when Windows XP was deprecated (or rather, all the browsers available for XP gave notifications that they were no longer supported). I decided it was the right time to jump to Linux, having played around with it for many years. I installed Ubuntu and have used that ever since, and have been very happy with the experience. I would recommend it to anyone. Most of my computers run Ubuntu, but I have one that runs Mint, which I think is clearly better than Ubuntu but I have sort of a nostalgic attachment to Ubuntu because it's really the oldest mainstream Linux distro that is still around, and is by far the largest one to this day. Both Ubuntu and Mint run well and do everything I need them to do, and I have never paid one shiny, glimmering penny for any of the software applications on any of my computers.

I had a similar experience.

I was using Linux almost exclusively back in 2011. The last thing I was doing in Windows, in a Virtual Machine, was Stamps.com for my Chant CD business. But that moved to the web, and so then I was 100% Linux.

I am what you'd call a power user -- I need LOTS of software and I use my desktop PC for so much. I burn backup blu-ray DVDs, use video editing software, photo editing, programming IDEs, plus all the usual online stuff -- FTP program, web browsers (a variety of these), e-mail client, mass e-mailing plugin, etc. And then there's the office stuff -- Libreoffice provides a complete replacement for Microsoft Office. I only personally use the word processor and spreadsheet program, but still. Then there's ham radio software: Fldigi, WSJTX, GridTracker, programs to keep track of radio contacts so you can upload to Logbook of the World, etc.

And that's just scratching the surface of what Linux can do. You can download torrents, use Skype, Zoom, and almost every software program you can imagine. VirtualBox allows you to run all sorts of "virtual machines" inside Linux. Speaking of virtual machines, you can get emulators for just about any video game system, if that's your thing. And there ARE lots of games for Linux, depending on what you're looking for. My kids play SuperTuxKart which is much more advanced than Mario Kart 64, but it's free. If you must have the latest Call of Duty, I guess you're stuck with Windows. (But if you spend serious hours "hardcore gaming", and you're over 12, then you're a boy in a man's body and you really need to grow up, but I digress.)

My software is always up to date AND I don't spend money on software. It's great. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?

When Microsoft tried to "force" me into upgrading to Windows 7 and buying all new software for no valid reason -- I said "forget it. If I'm going to learn all new software either way, might as well go the Linux route and spend ZERO and have ZERO financial liability for software going forward!" One of the best decisions I made.

Occasional problems are usually solved with a Google search. You don't really have to be a Linux expert to use Linux. Not when you use the mainstream distributions, aimed at the common man. You installed on your PC, and everything *just works*.

My main PC is in 4K mode on a large TV set on my desk. That works in Linux too.

I had a similar experience.

I was using Linux almost exclusively back in 2011. The last thing I was doing in Windows, in a Virtual Machine, was Stamps.com for my Chant CD business. But that moved to the web, and so then I was 100% Linux.

I am what you'd call a power user -- I need LOTS of software and I use my desktop PC for so much. I burn backup blu-ray DVDs, use video editing software, photo editing, programming IDEs, plus all the usual online stuff -- FTP program, web browsers (a variety of these), e-mail client, mass e-mailing plugin, etc. And then there's the office stuff -- Libreoffice provides a complete replacement for Microsoft Office. I only personally use the word processor and spreadsheet program, but still. Then there's ham radio software: Fldigi, WSJTX, GridTracker, programs to keep track of radio contacts so you can upload to Logbook of the World, etc.

And that's just scratching the surface of what Linux can do. You can download torrents, use Skype, Zoom, and almost every software program you can imagine. VirtualBox allows you to run all sorts of "virtual machines" inside Linux. Speaking of virtual machines, you can get emulators for just about any video game system, if that's your thing. And there ARE lots of games for Linux, depending on what you're looking for. My kids play SuperTuxKart which is much more advanced than Mario Kart 64, but it's free. If you must have the latest Call of Duty, I guess you're stuck with Windows. (But if you spend serious hours "hardcore gaming", and you're over 12, then you're a boy in a man's body and you really need to grow up, but I digress.)

My software is always up to date AND I don't spend money on software. It's great. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?

When Microsoft tried to "force" me into upgrading to Windows 7 and buying all new software for no valid reason -- I said "forget it. If I'm going to learn all new software either way, might as well go the Linux route and spend ZERO and have ZERO financial liability for software going forward!" One of the best decisions I made.

Occasional problems are usually solved with a Google search. You don't really have to be a Linux expert to use Linux. Not when you use the mainstream distributions, aimed at the common man. You installed on your PC, and everything *just works*.

My main PC is in 4K mode on a large TV set on my desk. That works in Linux too.

The freedom that comes with Linux is unsurpassed IMHO. If one doesn’t depend upon programs that run strictly on Windows, then Linux needs to be given a try.

Just curious, unless I missed it, what is your distro of choice - if you care to mention.

I'm on Manjaro KDE, have been for the past two years.