Linux

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

It depends on how often you play games with aggressive anti cheat, or games on non-steam platforms. Games like Valorant and Fortnite probably won't work at all. But I do a ton of non-competative multiplayer (and single player) gaming that is not inhibited at all.

Heroic launcher is your best bet for non-steam platforms (GoG, Epic, Amazon), and lutris/bottles should probably be your 3rd option (I've used both for battle.net). But steam games running through proton should "just work".

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

The actual modding should be arguably more accessible. You technically have control over the entire kernel, so nothing is going to stop you from doing whatever you want. The only problem you may run into is if you're dependent on modding tools that were only made for windows. Some of those tools are basically spyware anyway (ex. Curse), and often times the open source community has made its own alternative you should be using instead.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

YMMV. Valve has done a lot of heavy lifting to get proton to be a one-stop-shop for running windows games on Linux but you can add a program as a non-steam game, launch it through steam, and it often just works.

Wine is your other option. Sometimes the community has gotten windows apps running reliably in wine or proton, other times no one has ever tried it or it's too much of a headache to get working. protondb.com has user reports for how various games run.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

The short version is yes. The long version is the same as the previous answer.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

Most distros come with some form of package manager that works similarly to an app store on your phone (an app store is basically a package manager with purchases). Ideally, everything you want to run can be installed through the distro's package manager, and then you use the package manager to update everything. But sometimes the software doesn't exist in the package manager, and you have to download, run, update, and sometimes even build from source, your own programs. Those programs usually have a guide on the best way to run it on popular distros.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

It is actually more secure due to being open source. Source code can be audited by anyone rather than relying on "security by obscurity". There are antivirus programs, but I don't know much about them. Generally, don't run programs from shady sources, don't expose your machine to the open internet, and don't run everything as root and you should be fine.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

Yes, though historically AMD has better support for the newer features asked for by Linux compositors (namely Wayland). Nvidia's drivers are still not fully open source, but otherwise work fine. Driver bugs are rare in my experience.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

To the same extent that windows can, yes. But if your concern is YOU misconfiguring something to cause Linux to do that, you shouldn't have to worry about it. It is unlikely you will be interfacing directly with the kernel at all. Most distros configure the kernel in some specific way they want and you never worry about it. And still, a proper kernel-level driver should ensure that it will never send commands that could damage something, even if the config vars are incorrect.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

First off, install Ventoy to a USB drive. Then take advantage of Linux's ability to "live boot" by downloading several .iso's for several different distros onto the USB. Then boot off the USB, and you should be presented with a handy menu of ISOs to pick from. This will make trying out a bunch of different options really easy, without actually installing anything to your hard drive.

I'd say try grabbing mint, fedora, Pop!Os, and opensuse to start. Maybe also try Zorin. These are all geared toward new Linux users.

First off, welcome to the light side.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

It will be affected, but not significantly. Almost every Windows game works well on Linux. The notable exceptions are games that use anticheat software. They can detect that they are running in Linux and generally disallow it.

Many games perform better in Linux. A few perform worse. The vast majority perform exactly the same.

If you run games through Steam, everything should just work. You might need to enable the option “Enable Steam Play for all titles” in the settings. Honestly, if a game has a Linux version, I usually set the compatibility option in Steam to use Proton instead, because it just works, really well.

If you run other games, I recommend using Heroic Launcher for the game stores it supports, and Lutris for anything else. (Oh, and Prism Launcher if you play Minecraft.)

Something to note is that Windows games run through a compatibility layer called Proton, which is based on Wine. You can kind of use the terms Proton and Wine interchangeably, because Proton is just Wine + some enhancements for games. To the game’s perspective, it’s just running in Windows and making Windows system calls. Proton translates those calls to Linux system calls. It doesn’t emulate anything though, it just provides a Windows compatible API.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

Maybe. Probably. If it’s running in Proton, then mods should work fine. You may need to add some launch parameters in Steam to load the mods first. You’ll also need to figure out the “Wine prefix” of the game to install the mod. The prefix is just the directory that Proton presents to the game as the C: drive, so it’s like having a specific drive for each game.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

This depends. Most programs will run through Wine. You can use Lutris to install them. I do this to run WinSCP on Linux. Some programs (notably, Adobe Creative Suite) don’t work with Wine. It’s usually better to find a Linux native alternative instead, but this isn’t always an option, so it’s nice to have some Wine once in a while. ;)

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

Yes. Steam, Heroic, and Lutris will automatically install them for you.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

OS upgrades are a lot easier in Linux. There’s one program that updates all your system software and apps at once. On Gnome, it’s Gnome Software, and on KDE, it’s Discover. This is also where you go to install apps. Don’t ever download anything from a website to install it (with the exception of Windows installers that you will be installing with Wine), just find it in these apps. It’s safer.

System software is installed through the package manager. Apps can be installed through Flatpak to make it easier.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Security is generally better than Windows. Most Linux users don’t bother with antivirus for two reasons, viruses are really uncommon in Linux, and software isn’t installed from random websites, but package managers instead. A lot of things in Linux, like Flatpaks, are run in a sandbox too, so access controls are granular and permission based.

That being said, if you’re installing Windows software with Wine, then you’re at risk of installing a Windows virus on your Linux machine. Just like most Windows programs work well in Linux through Wine, most Windows viruses work well in Linux through Wine.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

Very. If you’re using an Nvidia GPU, install the Nvidia driver through your package manager. If you’re using anything else, they’re already installed.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

Probably not. Technically, yes, but it’s extremely unlikely and isn’t something you should worry about. Windows can too, btw.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

Fedora, Mint, or Pop OS should be your starting points. Steer clear of Ubuntu. Ubuntu used to be very user friendly, but lately it’s been atrocious. Fedora has always been awesome, and it’s very user friendly. Same with Mint.

More importantly, what desktop environment should you use. Fedora Workstation offers both Gnome and KDE, the two big ones. Either one will work great for you, but KDE is more similar to a Windows layout by default. Mint uses Cinnamon, which is very user friendly and similar to a Windows layout. Pop OS uses Cosmic, which is new, and in development. It’s promising though.

Some final thoughts I want to share with you:

Linux uses a Unix like file structure, so you don’t have drive letters. Instead, you have a root file system, and other file systems are mounted within it. Your root file system is just a slash /. It’s like your C: drive. Directories are separated by forward slashes, not backslashes. Not something you should worry about, just something to know.

Linux is a diverse field of operating systems, and some work very differently than others. They range from super easy and approachable, to wildly difficult to learn. Some are specialized for gaming, like Bazzite, while others are general purpose, like the ones I mentioned above. Technically, “Linux” is just the kernel, like “NT” on Windows, but most people mean a complete operating system when they say Linux.

You should learn about the difference between Wayland and X11. Just some basic overview of them. You don’t really need to know, but it might be worth it. Basically, Wayland is new and more secure, X11 is old and less secure. Wayland can run X11 apps just fine, so it really shouldn’t matter to you. Wayland is also the default nowadays.

You probably won’t need to use the terminal, but if you do, don’t be scared of it. It’s just a way to launch programs that generally don’t have a UI.

Lastly, Linux is free and easy to install, so don’t be afraid to try out a bunch of different distros and desktop environments and see which works best for you. Once you find one you like, you can always switch to something else in the future if it stops working for what you need. Also, backup early and often. I use Pika Backup. It’ll help if you forget to grab something before you reformat your drive.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

That will depend on the games you play, and what platform you use. If you are using Steam, you can enable the proton layer have more access to games, but if the game in question uses any type of kernel level anti cheat chances are it's not going to work.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

Depends on what you are used to, if you are using mod managers and which ones.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

A lot of work has been done with WINE, games on Linux, and Proton. You'll need to do a little bit of reading to see if it can work on Linux, but the community can often be awesome and already have found a solution. There are also a lot of great alternatives to Windows/Mac only software you can try.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

Depends on your distro but most can install .net, you'll need to do a bit of reading.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a “Linux Update” program like what Windows has?

Yes, there are package managers that you can use to install and update software, some distro's even have a shop like interface.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

I've only ever had to use a virus scanner twice in my Linux journey and both of those times it was on a server. Because Linux is open source everybody can see what is going on in the code and this way bugs or security issues can be found and patched quicker.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

Depends, if you are using AMD you should be fine, Nvidia has functioning drivers as well, I can't speak for Intel ARC support because I've never used it..

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

I've never broken my hardware, but I've broken my system a few times by ignoring the warnings the system gave me, always got it to work again.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

Linux Mint might be a good one, the Cinnamon is great for beginners, but there are many flavors you can choose from. Start with a live system which will not require you to install anything just yet, but you'll get a feeling for how everything works. After trying it out live you can decide if you would like to install it. But remember that when trying it live you are limited in what you can do.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

Package managers. Linux had this before Windows. Granted, Linux needed package managers, because of the myriad and complex dependency trees that software can have. I prefer to install software through a package manager because it not only takes care of dependencies for me, it will take care of updates, too. I will only install something downloaded from a website as an absolute last resort. (And then, of course, making sure it's a trustworthy source.)

How does digital security work on Linux?

It's rather complex, but you probably won't have to deal with it unless you have to do some kind of systems administration. On a day-to-day basis, the OS might ask you to enter your password to install software or make an update, and that's the extent of it.

Basically, every file has 3 categories of permissions: user, group, and others, and each category has 3 permissions: read, write, and execute. This is transparently handled by the system for you, though, and I can't even remember the last time I had to change permissions on a file. It's a good thing to be aware of if you have to do troubleshooting, though.

Is it more vulnerable due to being open source?

Just the opposite. Vulnerabilities get spotted sooner because there's more eyes on the code, and they're often patched quicker because anybody can submit a patch to an open-source project.

Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

I've never heard of any distro shipping with antivirus software, but I've also never heard of a Linux virus. Of course, I'm sure they exist, but I've just never heard of one. I've been using Linux for over two decades, and I've never used an antivirus or gotten a virus in all that time, and I've never even heard of a Linux user getting a virus. Part of that is due to Linux being more secure and part of that is due to Linux being less popular. If you're writing a virus, you aren't going to try to jump through the insane hoops of Linux security when you could target Windows which is A) less secure and B) has a fuckton more users.

Obviously, use common sense, don't install from untrusted sources, etc. etc., but viruses aren't the omnipresent threat on Linux like they are on Windows.

Hello there 1- It really depends on your build, distro and drivers being used. Some benchmarks show Ray tracing causes performance drop compared to Windows.

2- There are mod managers here and there but, honestly I don't mod so I don't know anything about it.

3- If a program doesn't have Linux version, there might be Linux alternative. Those alternatives sometimes might not be on par with their counterparts though. Adobe products are one bit example.

4- Applications developed with .NET may be built on Linux through Mono framework, as long as they are developed as portable. For native Windows programs, there is a compatibility layer named WINE, but it won't guarantee that every program will work. It may support games as well, but for games Proton is more preferred. Proton is Valve's official tool anyway.

5- Distributions' package managers will manage updates, either application updates or system updates. Most distros will also notify users about updates, however installing them is up to user's decision. Universal package managers like Flatpak are responsible their own updates.

6- Linux is way more secure than Windows for being what it is. Being an open source does not inherently mean that it's secure. But open source softwares are generally peer reviewed by public and they are often recommended fixes thus if there is any vulnerability, it's fixed more quickly. Antiviruses are not needed, not because there is not Linux viruses though. There is ClamAV anti-virus, also there are proprietary AV applications, if you still need. AV's are mostly ineffective in today's technology.

7- AMD drivers, for example way more reliable than their Windows ones. Nvidia also made a lot of progress in recent years, so yes. There might be still some issues, lack of features.

8- No, it cannot.

9- For a beginner, Linux Mint is and always has been best choice for start, in my opinion.

On the gaming side, it depends a lot what games you play. Generally the rule is (at least for single player) that it will work through Proton or a native version, unless otherwise specified. Personally, pretty much all of my Steam library works perfectly on Linux, even some games on launch day (Persona 3 Reload was flawless day 1). For modding your mileage may vary but if the game runs there's a very high chance the associated modding tool will work too, although it might require some more tweaking than you are used to in order to get it to work properly as quite a few tools will assume you are running Windows. Multi player games are where there can be some trouble - for example Fortnite is a notorious example of a game that refuses to run on Linux because Epic Games does not allow its anti cheat to work on Linux. ProtonDB and a good old fashioned go on your favourite search engine should be able to tell you if what you play works, doesn't work, or needs tweaks to get working.

Running non-Linux apps is a mixed bag. Some things (most notably games through Proton) can work through compatibility layers perfectly fine, even if they need you to install .NET or some other dependencies. Others will be totally unusable, at least for now. Make sure you check all the applications you need to work on a regular basis work before jumping in, so search up their compatibility with tools like WINE (translation layer to let Windows apps run on Linux, also what Proton is based on).

For updates, you'll love it far more than Windows. Since almost every app you could ever need is installed through either a package manager or Flatpak (closest analogy I can give is like a phone app store, but allowing you to install pretty much anything, including system stuff), your updates will all come in one place. For example, on my Fedora KDE install, all I need to do for updates is go into the Discover app (KDE's package management software) and into its update section, download, and install. This not only updates system software (desktop, kernel, drivers, so on) but also your applications. This means updating your system and apps is a breeze that'll take far less time than the usual pain that is Windows Update.

For security, you'll have a lot less to worry about than Windows, and I have to admit part of it is because Linux has a fairly small user base. Few malware writers are going to care about a few Linux desktops compared to plenty of unpatched Windows systems out in the wild. However, the open source aspect also helps a lot - rather than showing vulnerabilities to hackers, it's been valuable more to show these vulnerabilities to people who can fix them since the software is on public display. There's more eyes on the code, and more people who can fix problems before they become major vulnerabilities. For most regular desktop users, you will not need any antivirus. If you're really worried about viruses, I have heard ClamAV can scan for some things, but I haven't tried it myself as it really isn't necessary for desktop use.

GPU drivers can be a bit complicated. AMD and Intel are incredibly simple, since (at least for anything made within the last 10 or 15 years, if not older) the drivers are built right in and need zero configuration (it just works!). NVIDIA cards can be a bit more of a challenge. On a lot of distros, you can install the NVIDIA drivers usually during or right after install fairly easily, but they will be separate from the rest of the built in drivers. You can have a good experience with NVIDIA on Linux, but just expect there to be anywhere from a bit to a lot more effort needed to get some things working compared to AMD and Intel GPUs due to this separation. Of course, this will depend on your exact set up.

There's no real risk of damaging your hardware installing Linux, the only real danger is deleting files already on your main boot drive during installation, so make sure to double check your installer to see if it's doing what you want it to. Make sure you have a back up of your important stuff too, just in case. The only thing I can think of maybe is extreme overclocking through LACT or something maybe causing damage, but that's part of what you sign up for with overclocking even on Windows anyway.

Distros are a very debated topic, and there's no real "best" one, just one that fits your needs. If you're new to Linux, my personal recommendation is to go with something boring and well supported like some variant of Fedora or Ubuntu. There will be plenty of documentation for both to help you with things, and they both are fairly solid distros with good track records. However, one thing to keep in mind is what kind of desktop you want. Linux has multiple desktop environments (DEs) that can provide differing experiences (different way of launching applications, arranging icons, file managers, that sort of thing). If you're used to Windows, KDE definitely has the smallest learning curve, as a lot of things will be as you are used to, so it may be best to go for either the KDE variant of Fedora or Kubuntu. The main difference between Fedora and Ubuntu you will notice is that Fedora has a far faster update cycle, which means you get new features quicker, but you will have to restart for updates more often. In addition, I have heard that the NVIDIA drivers can be easier to handle on Ubuntu, so if you have an NVIDIA card it might be more optimal to go for an Ubuntu variant.

It's literally be just as simple as choosing a distro, preferably a just works one or something thats piss easy to install like Linux Mint, Fedora or OpenSuse.

Then you choose your Desktop Environment, from which you can choose either KDE Plasma, XFCE, GNOME or the new COSMIC desktop environment (still currently in beta so not recommended js yet) which you can choose when installing your distro or while choosing your distro. You can always change it once you've chosen.

KDE Plasma's infinitely customisable, yet also really user friendly, with a lot of incredible software included by default, including phone compatibility software similar to what you'll find in apple's ecosystem. XFCE's really lightweight and power efficient. GNOME's very macOS like by default, being a lot less customisable than KDE but really user friendly. They each have their own versions of software.

You should know what your distro's package manager is and how to use it, which is basically what you use to install updates and install and uninstall software. That's literally the only thing you'll need to use your terminal for, it's basically just a text based file manager which can run programs/software. That's basically it, just make sure to frequently update your system, they are voluntary unlike Windows updates and don't require reboots or crash your system, and you should be good.

All your concerns are valid and Linux handles all these well except:

If you play competitive games with kernel anti cheat it will simply not work on Linux courtesy of the game developers.

Linux is fully capable of running the game and the anti cheat but the game developers restrict it. Notable games are cod, fortnite, apex legends.

A notable competitive game that works on Linux is cs2 although you won't be able to run 3rd party anti cheat like FACEIT as far as I know.

You can use the proton site to tell you how many of your games on your steam library are playable on Linux.

I'm on my 8th month or so using Linux to game and I've had no issues, most popular games will work. Most niche games use very simple tech like SDL and will just work.

Wine essentially creates a fake windows environment and handles a lot of internal API calls by kind of redirecting them to existing Linux services, so a lot of windows stuff will just work.

As for security. You realize most of the Internet runs on Linux ? Practically the majority of the internet is hosted on Linux machines.

As for a distrto there is no optimal choice you can make.

You can pick Ubuntu, Debian or Mint and find yourself disappointed in how restricting the power user experience is.

You can pick arch or cachy for the latest wine improvements but find yourself lost in how to handle the OS in case something goes wrong.

I personally think cachy (rolling release) is the best for gaming but you could encounter issues (skill issues really) that might frustrate you. These issues would lead to growth and improvement in your understanding of Linux but if all you want to do is game and you don't care about understanding computers then it might not be for you.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

So far, my experience on this depends on your graphics card. If you're using AMD, you shouldn't be too significantly impacted. If you're using Nvidia, god help you. In my experience trying to get games running on Linux with an older Nvidia card, you'll have a lot more fun bashing your head into a wall until the wall breaks.

People have answered most questions. The gaming thing is a total lie though.

Some specific games will work kinda okay. The vast majority will work worse. And a good chunk of super popular games won’t work at all. Just dual boot and keep gaming on windows.

People in here straight up lie to push for Linux when it’s really not necessary. It’s great at what it does. And it’s improving in what it doesn’t.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

Depends on the games you play. Because of things like DOSBOX and Wine, it is sometimes easier to get DOS and early Windows games running on Linux than it is Windows. Valve's Proton compatibility layer allows games written for Windows to Just Work^TM^ on Linux. My diet of nerdy factory building games and indie titles works perfectly well in Linux, my cousin who plays Bethesda and EA games ran into more irritations. The major compatibility barrier is competitive online multiplayer and anti-cheat systems. Many developers intentionally exclude Linux compatibility. The game runs fine, but you'll get banned for doing it.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

Probably, depends on the game. I didn't have much of a problem modding Kerbal Space Program or Satisfactory, the communities offered mod managers that worked perfectly well.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

My suggestion would be to go full native if you can. Like, Adobe Photoshop isn't available on Linux, so instead of trying to make it work, give GIMP or Krita or one of several others a try. Increasingly, things like Slack are Electron apps, which basically run as a glorified web browser, so they're fairly easy to port to Linux and it's becoming increasingly typical to upload them to Flathub.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

Yes, through a compatibility program called Wine, which I've already mentioned. Though again I would recommend going for native applications than trying to use Windows software on Linux.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a “Linux Update” program like what Windows has?

Short answer: Better than Windows does.

Different Linux distros will handle this slightly differently, but generally speaking your system will come with a thing called a package manager. It's basically an app store but everything in there is free. The package manager handles updates for the OS itself as well as the software you've installed, up to and including updating to the next version of the OS if applicable. In fact as I write this, my computer is asking if I want to upgrade to Fedora 42.

It's also not as onerous as Windows updates; most of the time it'll update software, you can use the rest of the system while that's happening, and it'll finish and it's fine. Sometimes it'll say "must restart computer for changes to take effect" but it won't force or nag you to do that. You can come to a stopping point in your work, then do a normal restart. None of that "Updating your computer 1 of 7..." it just does a normal boot in a normal amount of time.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Linux has a system of permissions, a bit like how Windows will sometimes ask you to run things as Administrator. Linux has had that concept longer than Windows has, Linux will call it the Root or SuperUser.

Increasingly, sandboxed applications that run essentially in their own virtual machines are being used to limit what an application can access. Flatpak has a system of permissions not unlike Android, where you can say "No this app doesn't need camera access."

We get a lot of security from having a package manager we actually use. Linux users aren't in the habit of downloading random .exes from all over the internet. Software in the repos is vetted and signed. Don't run code you don't trust.

Few Linux systems come with built-in antivirus software. Conventional wisdom is it isn't needed. Antivirus software does exist for Linux, but it's often to detect Windows malware in server traffic. For an end user desktop it's not necessary.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

AMD publishes their drivers directly to the Linux kernel. My 7900GRE Just Works^TM^. Nvidia tends to be a bit more of a pain in the neck. Your system will likely come with the open source Nouveau drivers, which will run but possibly not very well, and you'll need to install proprietary drivers, which...the method you go about doing that varies from system to system.

Now, I had a hell of a time with the hybrid graphics on my laptop, but I think that's another story.

Oh, yet another story: on my GTX-1080 in my previous computer, I started to have an issue with a new monitor I bought. Turns out the card needed a firmware update or it wouldn't let the computer boot with a late model DisplayPort monitor attached. Not a driver update, a firmware update. Nvidia does not publish the tool to do that for use in Linux, so I ended up taking the GPU out and borrowing a Windows computer.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

I think I could use dd to wear out an NVMe SSD via excessive writing. But basically no. You're not going to flip a switch in a settings menu and hear a bang from your case.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

I would recommend trying several. A few of my favorites over the years have been Mint Cinnamon, Fedora KDE and Ubuntu Mate.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

For the most part, yes. I've modded Skyrim, with SKSE and haven't run into any mods I couldn't add. Satisfactory has linux support for mods through the community-built mod launcher, so I haven't had any problems there. If you are comfortable copying files around, sometimes editing text files, uncompressing files, and other like tasks then you'll be fine. The only troubles I have had are running trainers that run alongside the game and connect to the running executable. There is one of the Resident Evil 2 remake I wasn't able to get going. I think there are methods to do this, I just haven't looked into them in detail yet.

For most things involving games in Linux, you need to have a small amount of tweaking skills, and that's it. You might have to copy a launch string into the Steam launch setup, or you might need to download a tweaked copy of Proton to get something running well (Glorious Eggroll builds). If you have those skills or can learn them, you'll be fine. It's kind of fun, too. If you don't have those skills or want to learn them, you'll be restricted to not being able to get the best experience when running some games and there will be the occasional game in your backlog that won't run at all without it.

Not trying to scare anyone off, but that's been my experience with Linux gaming. I'm comfortable enough on Linux that it hasn't been a problem, but some people might find it more of a hurdle to get over.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

If you play competitive multiplayer online games, yes. Otherwise, no.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

Depends on how you mod games. But probably yes. The NexusMods app is newly available for Linux but with very minimal support at this point.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

It depends. Sometimes you can run them through WINE/Bottles. The main place you may run into problems is in peripherals.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

Through WINE/Proton, yes.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

Depends on your distro. I use Bazzite and updates take place seamlessly in the background so you don't need to do anything.

How does digital security work on Linux?

Kind of a vague question. Keep in mind pretty much every server on the planet runs Linux, including incredibly sensitive ones.

Is it more vulnerable due to being open source?

Quite the opposite.

Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Every modern OS has antivirus built in, and third party solutions should be avoided like the plague.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

As long as you're not using Nvidia.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

Not anymore than any other OS can.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

That is an eternal argument in the space. There are 2 recommendations that come up most often for beginners: Linux Mint and Pop!_OS. Although I don't like either of those visually, so I can heartily recommend Bazzite for beginners. I won't go into too many details as to why but it comes with lots of goodies and configurations "out of the box" that enhance and simplify the experience, especially for gamers.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

No. Thanks to Steam Deck, most popular windows games also work on Linux. See https://www.protondb.com/ for a complete list of 18,000 titles.. Someone already mentioned that kernel level anti-cheat is the big, obvious blocker.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

~~Im guessing that most moders target Windows users therefore, don't think mods would be AS easy. Not saying modding wouldn't exist or work at all.~~ Edit: see sp3ctr4l's reply to this comment. They know more than me

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

There are workarounds. Linux has some great alternative software to popular paid stuff. See LibreOffice or Krita.

There are also more advanced options to run Windows apps under Linux, see Wine or Virtual Machines

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

Yes. Similar to the above answer/ similar to aforementioned Proton. For .NET specifically, there is a Linux runtime.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

This can depend a lot on what distribution you're running, but definitely, there are ones with easy buttons for whole-system updates.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

It's different and probably overall better than windows. Most distros are much better out of the box than windows.

Open source is ususually a security advantage because (long story short) security mistakes can be caught by more people.

I don't have a good answer for you on anti virus. I am very privacy and security conscious and I dont use one on linux. My personal opinion is that you don't need one and shouldn't need one if you're not downloading sketch stuff.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

Totally. GPU drivers are much, much better than they used to be.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

Theoretically. You would have to try really hard, but for normal use, no. More likely, you could lose data or access to the system if you misconfigure stuff (just like with Windows)

Distro recommendations. My personal opinions, don't flame me.

• Bazzite. hard to mess up, gamer focused, super simple updates, and targeted support for gamer hardware. Feels like a cross between steam deck and windows. Less support for tinkering but if you never want to touch the terminal, this is my choice.

• Pop!OS. Simplified Linux with great driver and steam support with easy updates. More tinkering support than Bazzite

• Linux Mint. Easy to start on but more traditional back-end. Much more support (forum posts) than the previous two. A lot of what works on Debian or Ubuntu works the same on Mint, so you'll be able to do all kinds of fiddling

A few more thoughts here:

• for a first Distribution, Ubuntu is fine, too. Also, you could ask people arounf you what they know best und whether they like to help you. For example, Debian is a bit harder to install but is rock solid once it runs.
• if you are concerned about security, you should practice a strict separation between trusted software installed by you, and untrusted data presented to you via web, mail or Internet. Never run untrusted code. Windows blurs that line and this is fatal.
• In respect to hardware support: Most standard PC hardware will work very well with Linux, even old scanners that have no more Windows driver support. NVidia is the bad exception, and the bad rap is still justified because of Wayland, the new graphics display server. If you are not really poor you might consider to buy something better. The hardware support landscape is different for laptops. Here, refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad or Dell laptops are first choice, and also best value for the money.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

A lot of stuff runs with windows emulation as if it's native. It's the same method the steam deck uses and so Valve actively do work to keep it working. The main problem is games with heavy anti-cheat.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

Generally, yes. I think so.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

See above.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

There's .NET libraries for Linux, but things have to be recompiled to use them.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

The distribution maintainer will issue updates on a regular basis. Update procedure is different for different distros, but all have a push-button update scheme. It's pretty solid these days.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Keep your system up to date with security updates, and you'll tend to be fine. Smaller user base tends to mean that there's far less malware. Antivirus isn't necessary.

Obviously phishing scams don't care what OS you're on, so mind what you click.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

AMD ones are very solid.

Nvidia ones can be a pain from what I hear, but I don't buy green.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

No.

That said... You can always wipe a disk when you install an OS.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

Download a few Live-USB images and try them out. You don't need to install them to get a desktop and a browser up. You can see if there's any compatibility issues with your hardware.

Whichever works for you, go with it.

Any change brings some pain, that's unavoidable, but it doesn't mean it will not be interesting as well.

My whole life with computers the fanbois du jour told me we had reached excellent usability. We’re talking GEOS, FVWM, the shit Sun and Digital Equipment Corp threw at us, up until Windows 10 and KDE or what have you: there will always come a point when you need or want to have a look under the hood. And there things can be alien, overly complex and very inconsistent and undocumented. That is the path every real user will walk one day, and it’s not pretty. Best of luck on your journeys!

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

Really depends on the games. For the vast majority, probably not. If you play competitive multiplayer games, then it's 50/50.

Check out protondb to see if the games you play the most work well.

Also semi-depends on hardware. Old Nvidia cards may struggle. AMD is def king in the Linux world, but it's getting better for Nvidia

But as you are probably aware, the steam deck has been pretty successful. That wouldn't happen if Linux gaming was all bad.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

Hit or miss. Sometimes the mod tools have to use wine and don't work. Sometimes they use wine and work. Sometimes they don't use wine and work.

I have just done some modding of Monster Hunter Wilds, and it was about 50/50

When it works, it's just as easy as Windows.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

WINE or a Virtual Machine

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

.NET is cross platform as of several years ago.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a “Linux Update” program like what Windows has?

It depends on the distro. Typically you just run a command in the terminal to "update all packages" or click a button in a store front.

It's way easier than on Windows and is never forced.

Genuinely one of if not the best thing about Linux is how software management works.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Less vulnerable due to being open source. You have all the security experts in the world, including Microsoft's, able to view and fix any vulnerabilities as soon as they appear. Thousands of people getting their eyes on it.

There's a reason that Linux is the back bone of the internet and nearly every server runs it.

And FYI, you don't use antivirus on Linux.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

If it works, it will always work.

Whether it works is dependent on your GPU.

Like I said, AMD is basically perfect, Nvidia can have problems, but these days that's less and less true (I use a GTX 3080 w/ out issue).

Mostly if you have an old, less-supported nvidia card (like pre-GTX) you may have issues.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

I've never heard of something like that happening.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

For beginners the correct option is almost always Linux Mint

Honestly it is going to take you longer to read all answers here than try yourself!

Get an extra HD, even a slow external one if you must, put Linux on it, install Steam and some games, try, decide for yourself.

Overall yes you can work and play on Linux comfortably, I've been doing it for year. No you don't need to be an expert to use Linux BUT it can be an amazing empowering moment to actually learn how a computer work BECAUSE you are free to do whatever you want with it. Just back up your data first THEN go nuts. Break stuff and learn, it's even more fun than gaming.

I'm pretty much the same as you. A lifelong Windows user who got fed up with the direction windows is going. I just recently switched to Linux for my new gaming PC and I haven't had any major issues. The only thing I still haven't figured out how to do yet is modding.

As for which distro to use, I would recommend something that comes with the graphics drivers already installed to reduce any initial setup difficulty.

I use Bazzite on my machine. It's a Linux gaming distro which comes with all the stuff you'll need to get right into gaming. It's an immutable distro so it's pretty difficult to really mess it up but it also makes things a bit more difficult to install anything that isn't a flatpak.

Just an addition to all the long comments already here:

There are some games that don't work on Linux, mainly big corpo multiplayer titles. https://areweanticheatyet.com/

Windows 10 LTSC IoT might help. (This gets recommended a lot on lemmy I noticed) : https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links

It's not forbidden to set up dual-boot. I would recommend using Linux as your main OS though.

Others have already answered your questions, so I just wanted to add that the Linux community is based on sharing and cooperation, mainly though Open Source principles, but also in most other ways. From personal experience, I would say that the community is pretty much always willing to help out when you experience issues. There's always someone willing to share some insight.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

This is known as a package manager. The package manager (along with some default settings and preinstalled packages) is what makes each Linux distro different. For instance, Debian uses apt, Arch uses pacman, Gentoo uses emerge.

Each package manager uses a different way to upgrade software. For instance apt update refreshes the global list of available software and versions and apt upgrade finds differences between that list and what you have installed, and upgrades as needed.

There also snaps and flatpacks, but I don't support the use of those.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Yes and no. Open source allows attackers to find vulnerability in code, but also means more eyes are on that same code and able to fix those vulnerabilities.

Although permissions can largely be ignored on Windows, its critical to Linux. Its a little much to explain here, but a standard install is fairly secure because of permissions. The important thing to remember is to harden the root account (no remote login) and be very careful what you execute with the sudo command.

Many people [incorrectly] don't use AV because historically Linux hasn't been much of a target due to low adoption. The trifecta of software I use are ufw as a system-level firewall, fail2ban to block an attacker who tries to bruteforce entry and repeatedly fails, and ClamAV for AV.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

Yup

And also, what distro might be best for me?

I think Mint is currently the recommended distro for new users. It used to be Ubuntu, but canonical has been doing some very anti-community things lately.

Your questions will have different answers depending on which flavour of Linux you choose.

A good chunk of windows programs can be run using a program called “WINE”. WINE is just a command line program but you can get a GUI version easily.

Updates depend on your flavour but Debian based Linux (like Ubuntu) you just type “sudo apt get update” and then “sudo apt get upgrade” and bam everything is updated. No restart required.

If a program doesn’t work in Linux there can be workarounds or alternatives but that really depends on what program you are talking about.

You can play almost every game that exists on steam on Linux with the exception of games that have kernel level anti cheat like some competitive multiplayer games.

You’re arguably safer security-wise on Linux. Most people are on windows so that’s the majority of all viruses. Your security updates are included in system updates. No antivirus required.

I have never heard of Linux damaging hardware. I don’t think you need to worry about this.

Recommendation: get Bazzite. It’s a special type of Linux that is closest to a windows experience than anything else. It won’t let you do dumb things and mess up your install. It has all NVIDIA drivers preinstalled as well as gamepad drivers and everything you’d need for gaming (including dock support). It’s a no configuration needed OS. Linux on easy mode. You don’t even need to use the command line ever. Updates and apps are installed through the Linux equivalent of the Microsoft App Store (except this time it is great and doesn’t suck). And I say this as someone who only used windows until 15 years ago I messed around with Ubuntu and other Debian based Linux distributions.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

Most if not all single player games will work without an issue on steam thanks to its integration with proton, if you use something else you can use lutris to fill in the gaps there.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

I see no reason why you can't. Hopefully someone else can elaborate on that as I haven't done that in forever.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

It can be unusable. There could be workarounds but that would depend on how dirty you want your hands to get. You can install windows on a docker container and use that to fill in the blanks if needed. There would also be some linux alternatives of some apps which would be worth investigating and learning.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

I think dot net has been open sourced but you can get dot net apps using Mono.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

You use the package manager, which varies based on linux distro/flavor. It's your best friend and you'll get 90% of your apps that way too. Upgrading depends on whether you are using a stable distro which is like say windows 7 and you'll have to upgrade to windows 8 (omg lol) you'll have to follow the procedure of your distro, It's usually well documented and should be fairly easy if your sticking to the flavor of Linux you're using. If you're using a rolling distro/flavor then you'll just keep your packages up to date regularly via the package manager. Be warned sometimes you'll have 300+ packages to upgrade so if internet is spotty may not be your thing. But it's a great way to ensure you're getting the most out of your new exotic hardware.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Use clamav, make it watch the home directory /home as that's where you as the user have the privilege to write data to. Never run as root unless you're going to be extra careful. Also don't run scripts you don't understand or aren't well maintained in a public repo (at that point you as a newbie would be relying on community to determine if something is good or bad think of it as the upvote and downvote system but with more transparency)

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

Yes, even the nvidia drivers are reliable. Just a pain as you'll have to reinstall the kernel module, the component that integrates the driver into your new kernel, after you upgrade kernel versions. Kernel is the thing that does all the low level handling of your devices.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

Most hardwares/processors now are designed with failsafes to throttle when there's not enough cooling. Please elaborate a little on this. You can break software but I think hardware should not be. Hopefully someone can elaborate as well.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

Linux mint, it is well documented, doesn't have the snaps that Ubuntu is pushing, its user friendly. Similarly fedora. You can try one of those immutable distros which may give you a more stable experience as it rolls back to a stable state on an update failure.

As you can search the answer anywhere most games that don’t have kernel level anti cheat work.

Most programs can be run but not all.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

Yes, there are way fewer games than on Windows, but support has been growing in the last few years

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

If the tools you use are available for Linux, then no problem

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

You can use WINE (Wine Is Not an Emulator) to run some Windows apps. You can check compatibility here: https://appdb.winehq.org/

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

.NET (Core and newer versions) is fully supported on Linux. Other Windows-specific libraries might be a problem unless they work through Wine

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a “Linux Update” program like what Windows has?

Yes, most desktop environments have a graphical interface for settings and updates

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

It's actually the opposite. Since the code is open, more people are checking for vulnerabilities, making it more secure than proprietary systems. In general, Linux users don’t need antivirus, as most malware targets Windows or macOS, and Linux malware usually needs privilege escalation

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

That’s debatable. Everyone has different experiences depending on their hardware and distro

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

Nope

And also, what distro might be best for me?

Since you have a gamer profile, I'd suggest Pop!_OS (https://system76.com/pop/). It's based on Ubuntu and has good support for gaming and creative work

#1 was true more in the late 90s to early 00s. The operating system has matured quite a bit since then.

I love Debian, but I hear a lot of people suggesting Linux Mint for new users. If you're afraid of committing to a change, grab a cheap used system to try it out. Just know that if you have better hardware, itbwill really shine.

Without trying to be exhaustive:

But all I know about Linux is 1: it’s a cantankerous beast that can smell your fear and lack of computer skills and 2: that’s apparently not true any more?

Exactly.

I’m pretty much a fairly casual PC-user, I don’t do much more than play games.

Noted.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

Your queries on which specific games work and don't work should be answered between the databases of ProtonDB, WineHQ, Lutris and Are We Anti-Cheat Yet?. Note, however, that these are not necessarily exhaustive (even if put together); e.g. after visiting the aforementioned websites, you might think that Roblox can't be played on Linux. But it's simply one of the many games that exist in the compatibility blind spots between these databases; as the excellent Sober isn't accounted for.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

There will definitely be a learning curve to be had. Though, AFAIK, there's nothing that outright prevents you beyond an initial (and potential) knowledge gap.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

Wine is your best friend in these cases. Or, an alternative. Note that -again- compatibility blind spots in these databases continue to exist; like this significant one.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

Again, Wine comes to the rescue.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a “Linux Update” program like what Windows has?

This depends entirely on the so-called Linux distribution you end up installing. Some opt to do updates automatically (perhaps in the background even), while others simply prompt the user whenever updates are available. Yet others expect the user to do them manually. What are your preferences in this regard?

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

This is somewhat of a controversial topic thanks to articles like this one. Note that while the article continues to be shared and thus remains 'popular', the fact of the matter is that at least some parts of it have become outdated since. Refer to this (more recent) article as an addendum. The gist would be that Linux might be secure enough for your intents and purposes. But this depends entirely on what you intend to use it for. Downloading and executing random files from the dark web is probs a bit much and not something any OS would appreciate. But playing your games through Steam and surfing the internet should be fine unless you're somehow targeted by a resourceful adversary. If you didn't worry too much about this on Windows and thus went with the default settings -so no hardening whatsoever-, then popular distros like Fedora should be more than fine for your use case. However, if you require more than that, then you may find solace in the fact that projects like Kicksecure and secureblue do exist. (There's also Qubes OS, but I'll assume that's too hardcore.)

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux?

In most cases, yeah. Historically, Nvidia used to be a pita. And, frankly, continues to be for some peeps. But it has improved significantly over the last couple of years.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

Any bad software (irrespective of platform) can potentially damage hardware. Linux is no different in this regard. Though you shouldn't have to worry about this unless you intend do some janky stuff.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

As gaming seems high on your list, consider Bazzite.

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

So this one I thought I'd answer because I've done development in both NET framework and NET core and how it works is different for each (although things will usually work one way or another).

For .NET framework applications, if the program is compiled for windows (the .exe) you can usually run it with mono (you generally don't need wine, but there's some caveats that mean sometimes you should use wine). This will include programs with GUIs. If the NET framework app calls other windows programs it is best to run it via wine, you will need to install the net framework within wine, but there's a winetricks command for that. There are a few things that are generally niche things that do not work in linux net framework's mono though. By niche the one I can think of, is serial port events. Very annoyingly they all exist, so the program will run but the events will never trigger an action in the programs. Very annoying, but luckily very rare/niche stuff.

For .NET core, you can build directly to linux targets, and if the project you are working on does target NET core, then you can run the binary natively (note: you usually cannot build applications using forms to linux native binaries, for these you should run the windows exe with wine). You can also run the .exe files for this with wine and I've rarely had a problem with it.

Note that if you develop .NET applications, you won't be able to build anything that uses the standard forms GUI under linux. There are other UI frameworks out there you can use that are multi platform. For this reason, for the projects that do use windows forms, I have a VM with windows on that I boot up for this reason.

In short, if you're just running windows binaries, you will be generally fine with mono for framework and wine for core. For development "it's complicated".

A lot of great questions. I think many details are already out there but I'll try to answer some to my best ability.

Answering the easier questions: Most games work check protondb.com for your specific games. There is a "Linux update" button on some popular mainstream linux distros - and it will never force you! Its also possible to update without rebooting for most updates (how great right?) No antivirus needed and it's more secure (but of course not invulnerable!)

Some of the other questions have a "It depends..up until a point" answers.

There are work arounds for non Linux programs....except for specific examples like some games. Valorant for example.

I'm not a modder or .NET expert but there's something called Wine which should help with that ...so answer is probably Yes-with caveats.

I'd recommend thinking about what are you "must work" deal breakers for work/hobbies (more specific than these more general questions) and considering if linux is for you. The distros that might work for you are Pop OS! and Linux Mint.

The neat thing is you can try these for free and hop around. I dual booted windows and Linux for a while before making the full time switch.

Will my ability to play games be significantly affected compared to Windows?

Many games with draconian anti cheat don't work. You can check that on https://areweanticheatyet.com/ and https://www.protondb.com/.

Can I mod games as freely and as easily as I do on Windows?

Do you mean creating or applying mods? Some of the tools might not run out of the box. But for most mods you actually just have to place the files in the correct folder.

If a program has no Linux version, is it unusable, or are there workarounds?

Can Linux run programs that rely on frameworks like .NET or other Windows-specific libraries?

Wine is the program used to run Windows software. It is used by Steam together with some other tools under the name Proton or Steam Play. It is best to use Wine with a helper frontend like Bottles. That creates an encapsulated Windows environment for every program and helps you in keeping potentially conflicting workarounds separate from each other.

But you can also run Wine standalone. Then every program will be installed to the same fake-Windows environment.

Missing libraries like .Net or the Visual C++ Runtime are actually the most common pitfall when trying to run Windows software on Linux. Bottles, Steam and other helpers will aid in their installation.

How do OS updates work in Linux? Is there a "Linux Update" program like what Windows has?

Every distribution has an application repository that also contains the system files. In general you update everything at once through one interface.

How does digital security work on Linux? Is it more vulnerable due to being open source? Is there integrated antivirus software, or will I have to source that myself?

Open source makes it more safe. You have more eyes on the software. And something that is only safe because nobody knows how it works isn't really safe.

Antivirus software's is not necessary. Neither is it necessary on Windows. It makes a system less secure because it opens up more possibilities of something going wrong. There have been enough cases of anti virus software with security issues on Windows. Or even anti virus software attacking important system files directly.

That said, if you still want to install a virus scanner there is ClamAV.

Are GPU drivers reliable on Linux

AMD and Intel greatly, because they are open source. They are integrated and don't need any configuration or installation.

Nvidia is worse. You have to install them yourself and sometimes they are unstable. But it's not worse than on Windows.

Can Linux (in the case of a misconfiguration or serious failure) potentially damage hardware?

Only if you really try and even then it's probably impossible. Hardware nowadays has many safeguards.

And also, what distro might be best for me?

If you have friends or family already using Linux you should install what they use.

I like OpenSUSE Tumbleweed.

If you have any App you used before and isnt available on Linux: You can try to install the .exe-file with a Tool named "Bottles".

Each Programm you run with that tool gets its own virtual Space, so if you mess something up, you can throw that one bottle away and just create another in its fresh New environment.

It has a clean UI and you can play with all kinds of different configs to get your Bottle to run. You can choose between different Windows Versions for example.

Under the hood it uses Wine and Proton.

Pro-Tip: Start Programms via the UI in "Terminal-Mode" so you can See potential Error-Messages which you would normally not see, if you just run the Programm.