hey guys I wanna make the switch over to Linux but I don't really want to commit to it fully just yet. Is there any way I can maybe do a sort of trial run?
You can run Linux off a USB thumb drive and it won't stuff up your crappy windows system
Hugz & xXx
But also, an old computer from a thrift store is a perfectly valid way to try #Linux.
It will be faster on newer hardware, obviously, but it should run nonetheless.
Fun fact: when I was a kid, I lived dangerously, and nuked my only PC's Windows 95 install and installed #Debian on it instead, having never used Linux before in my life. Ended up going back because I couldn't play games or use ICQ, but still, it was fun!
@argv_minus_one @MelissaBearTrix @Axolotl1
I also recommend a used computer. Sometimes you can even find them for free. Perhaps a friend or relative has one they don't use anymore and don't want to just throw away.
Running from a USB stick is a decent way to ensure a distribution will work with your hardware, though.
You can also run Linux in a VM. For Windows, I suggest VirtualBox from Oracle. It's free to use and generally the easiest for newbies.