this post was submitted on 15 May 2025
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I'm considering installing Linux on my laptop but I'm unsure if I should start with a virtual machine first. My main use cases are gaming and coding, so I want to make sure it's the right fit.

What are the pros and cons of using Linux for someone like me? Would starting with VirtualBox be a good idea before going all in?

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[โ€“] inzen@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago

Background: I used linux for work in a vm for 6 years, (coding). Most of my life I have been using windows at home, since Win 3.11. For the last year and a half I have been full time linux user, Gaming and all. It is hard to tell what the pros and cons will be for you personally. My reccomendation:

  • have some(a lot) spare time
  • make sure you don't need your laptop for anything critical while experimenting
  • make sure you have a way back to a known working config e.g. windows installer on usb
  • have your data backed up somewhere, not on the laptop.
  • Just install a more polular distro and try it, go in deep google/ai chat yourself trough the issues
  • then decide if you want to go back to windows