Linux

If you want something that looks and behaves much like the Windows desktop environment, use Linux Mint. If you want something closer to the macOS environment, use Pop OS.

To break from the trend (because I recommend Mint as well),

Check out the options on distrowatch.com, test out any live distros you can. When you have some understanding of GRUB then dual boot, and then triple.

Inevitably, you're going to end up using Arch because it's so easily managed and you get to choose each component. But it's better if you have experience with the different components first. I completely missed out on learning RPM (package manager), I went from Mint (apt) to Arch (pacman). I did resurrect a lot of old laptops and desktops with various different distros though, and I learned Gnome and xfce, LXDE, MATE, and i3, xmonad..

There's a lot to learn but it's all fun, and it's all different. When you go to a tiling window manager, you'll understand why Windows adopted (albeit shittily) tiling in it's latest version.

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Know that you'll probably hate what you try first. Personally I say you shouldn't use Pop_OS!, but its better than being scared of making a wrong choice. "distrohopping" is a great way to learn.

tldr: just do it

Get Ubuntu, Mint, or PopOS don't bother with the others at first as it will be more difficult to find help on forums with lesser known versions of Linux. If you have an Nvidia as your main graphics card you might have a better time with PopOS as it comes pre configured with the right drivers and everything.

If you game, and especially if you use nvidiva, I'd recommend Pop!_OS or Nobara.

Fedora is neat

update: currently testing mini cinnamon on a VM at the moment

Looks pretty good, tho I haven't really gotten in the setup yet (really close tho!)

https://files.catbox.moe/twr0yl.png (image link dw)

Get a cheap 1-2 tb drive and start dual-booting with whatever system you're running now. This way you can play around with different distros while retaining your current settup to fall back on!

1. Switch over the software you use to stuff that also works on Linux. alternativeto.net
2. Get an external SSD case if you are on a laptop, or just a second one and install it there
3. Extract your Windows License key!
4. Fedora kinoite from ublue.it

I approached Fedora workstation with little knowledge of Linux, as a former windows and Mac user. My workflows involved graphic, print, UX design, DFP, front end web dev, and some light 3D modelling. Getting acquainted with alternatives to certain apps (namely adobe suite) took some getting used to, but it's wonderful to no longer feel as if your industrial skill set is beholden to a massive, shitty company.

It was surprisingly easy to get along with. I feel like your experience in will mostly depend on your desktop environment rather than the distro itself, bear in mind that you can use any DE with any distro.

You don't really need to touch the command line anymore to get going, though I got familiar with it as I found it faster for certain tasks.

KDE plasma is probably more familiar for Windows users. I use the GNOME desktop with some plugins.

As a bonus, Fedora 39 is more performant for me in AAA gaming than windows 10/11.

Start off with Gentoo to get the hang of the basics. Switch to Arch because compile times and heat burns. Try Linux from Scratch for a laugh, giggle and move on, but with a new found respect for distro maintainers.

What's your use case? If it involves AAA games then that will narrow things a bit but if you simply want a bit of docs n that and, internet browsing and a spot of email and realtime sound and CAD then we'll need a broader chat.

Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, OpenSuSE, Mint - those would be my starters for 10 in no particular order. Pick yours and your hip angle. I personally run Arch (actually) and Gentoo. I don't recommend them as a dip your toe in the water job 8)

Feel free to dive in, the water is lovely.