Windows 11 is putting unwanted apps on your hard drive, so why not switch to Linux? This much space is taken up by the apps that come with Windows 11.
Many default apps are already installed on Windows 11, and according to a new report, they take up a lot of hard drive space.
Microsoft hasn’t said how much space these apps take up, and it’s been challenging to find out because they’re installed in different places.
However, according to the Out of Office Hours website, a PowerShell script can give us a good idea of how much storage space these apps use, and the news isn’t good.
According to Out of Office Hours, the phone’s apps take up about 1.6GB of storage space.
That’s a lot, especially if you have a smaller hard drive of 128GB or less, and if you don’t use those apps frequently or at all, you might be irritated to see all that space go to waste.
Worse, many of these apps are hard to uninstall, so they take up space on your hard drive.
Whose Computer is it, anyhow?
Even though it may appear difficult to complain about 1.6GB when hard drives frequently have capacities of over 1TB, it’s not a small amount of space, and the fact that Microsoft makes it difficult to uninstall these apps demonstrates a problem that an increasing number of people are experiencing with Windows operating systems.
When you buy or build a PC, you expect to own it and control what software is installed and which apps you use.
However, when you install Windows 10 or Windows 11, you lose some of that control because Microsoft dictates what you can and cannot add or remove from your PC.
Instead, use an open-source operating system like Linux, which gives you much more control over your computer.
There is a learning curve for switching to Linux, but there are user-friendly distros that can help, & as we’ve seen with the Steam Deck and Steam OS, you don’t have to stick with Windows if you want to play PC games.
Best Linux Distros for Windows users
Use the best Linux distros for Windows users to make the switch painless.You can quickly and successfully switch from Windows to Linux with the best Linux distros for Windows users.
It can be intimidating, especially for those accustomed to using closed systems such as Windows. Because Linux distributions are open source, they provide far more access than their closed source counterparts, making it difficult for many users to switch.
This is where these Windows-specific distributions come into play. Their goal is to allow users to enjoy the benefits of Linux while minimizing the learning curve associated with switching to a new operating system.
They each do something different to ensure that the transition goes smoothly.
We tested a wide range of Linux distributions to find the best ones for Windows users.
We looked at how easy they were to use, what hardware was required, how easy they were to install, and how well they worked right out of the box. We also thought about the learning curve and the desktop environment.
We’ve also discussed the best Linux training and online courses and the best Linux distributions for power users.
The complete list of the best Linux distros for Windows users in 2022.
Elementary OS
Elementary OS, based on Ubuntu, has made a name for itself by developing a user-friendly and visually appealing desktop distribution.
Everything about it, from the pre-installed apps to the hand-made desktop, is designed to give Linux users a feel at home.
Elementary OS runs on a Pantheon desktop that was created specifically for it. In “picture-in-picture” mode, you can select a portion of a window or the desktop and pop it out.
The distro also has an app called “onboarding” that helps new users set up their installation.
Deepin Linux
Deepin Linux is a Debian-based distribution known for its good custom desktop environment, DDE. The distro is designed to help new users get used to the Linux desktop by including a few user-made apps.
Deepin includes a first-boot configurator that allows you to change how your installation looks and feels.
For example, a custom Deepin app can perform most of the most common desktop tasks. In addition, the App Store makes it easy to find and install news apps, which new users will appreciate.
Zorin OS
At first glance, Zorin OS appears to be another Ubuntu-based distro distribution. But what makes it is the homemade Zorin Appearance app, which modifies the desktop environment to look and work like Windows.
Zorin is designed for users of the popular proprietary operating systems Windows and Mac.
Zorin is marketed as a distro for users who have never used Linux before and is available in four flavors: Core, Lite, Education, Ultimate, and Professional.
1. Ubuntu
Ubuntu makes for one of the most popular versions of Linux, & beginners should give it a shot because it’s easy to use. Discussed here are two other versions of Ubuntu, but you should also consider the major Ubuntu release.
Every six months, a new version of Ubuntu is released. Canonical, the company that makes Ubuntu, releases an LTS (long-term support) version of the operating system every other year. These provide security and general maintenance updates for five years.
Solus
The best thing about Solus is that it is not based on another distro, unlike many of its competitors. This allows its developers to change everything about the distribution to suit their needs, including how users interact with it.
The Solus distro follows the “rolling release” model, which is constantly updated. It retains the traditional desktop image while incorporating modern Linux desktop features.
The app is user-friendly and straightforward, making it one of the best Linux distributions for Windows users.
How to pick the best Linux distros for Windows users?
Switching from Windows to Linux will be easy if you use the best Linux distribution for Windows users.
However, before deciding on the best distro distribution for you, there are several things to consider.
First, determine whether your hardware is capable of running the distribution. This is because not all distros use 32-bit architecture.
Using older hardware, you’ll want a lightweight distro that runs smoothly. It is always beneficial if the distribution has extensive documentation and an active forum where you can seek assistance.
Check out the desktop environment to see if it looks, works, and can be customized to your liking.
How we determine the best Linux distros for Windows users: Final thought.
We examined various aspects of each distribution to determine which were the best for Windows users.
We looked at how resource-hard the distros were, what hardware they worked well on, the documentation available, and how well they worked right out of the box.
We considered how long it would take to install and what other programs were included with the distribution.
We looked at how the desktop looked, worked, and customizable it was. We also looked at online forums to see if there was a dynamic group that could answer questions.