I Switched From Windows 11 to Linux Mint. Here Are 7 Things It Does Way Better
I Switched From Windows 11 to Linux Mint. Here Are 7 Things It Does Way Better
https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/i-switched-from-windows-11-to-linux-mint-7-things-it-does-way-better
Publish Date: 2026-01-30 20:22:00
Source Domain: www.pcmag.com
I’m a fan of Windows 11, but Microsoft’s desktop OS isn’t for everyone. Whether you don’t like Copilot, can’t upgrade from Windows 10, or want to embrace open-source software, several alternative OSes don’t require you to buy new hardware or use AI. One possibility is Google’s ChromeOS Flex, but it’s fairly limited, even compared with the version you get on a Chromebook. A Linux distro, and Linux Mint in particular, could be your next OS, especially because its interface is surprisingly Windows-like.
For a change of pace after a somewhat tepid year of Windows releases, I decided to spend some time working in the popular Linux distro. Installing Linux Mint isn’t a major ordeal, but I nonetheless decided to set it up on a live USB drive. Although I found that the OS is still missing some key capabilities of Windows, I largely enjoyed the experience and even discovered quite a few things it does better. Here’s what stood out the most.
1. Price: No License, No Catch
Linux Mint is completely free to download, but a standalone Windows 11 license isn’t. If you plan to build your own PC and want to run Windows, you have to pay either $139 for the Home Edition or $199 for the Pro Edition. (Here’s a look at the difference.) Windows is preinstalled on most PCs, of course, though that factors into the price you pay for your hardware.
2. System Requirements: Minimal Hardware, Maximum Performance
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)
You can run Linux Mint on any traditional AMD- or Intel-based systems. The latest version runs only on 64-bit systems, but you can still install an older version on 32-bit machines. (Unofficial versions are available for Arm-based systems.) The installer size for even the biggest flavor (or version) of Mint is a mere 3GB—a fraction of the size for macOS Tahoe and Windows 11. The leaner storage requirement carries over to lower RAM requirements (2GB); the lack of telemetry, updaters, and other background processes means fewer…
