Linux

This is both a pro and con vs Windows, but definitely something to be aware of. There is a ton of information/documentation available. However, because of how flexible Linux is and the sheet number of distros, you may have to sift through a ton of information to find the solution relevant to your issue. This gets easier over time as you settle on the distro(s) and features you like. Filtering out irrelevant information will almost become a sixth sense.

Pro: it's GLOSS - Gratis Libre OSS.

Con: it's run terribly. The Linux foundation could be doing a much better job. 1-2% of its funding go into the linux kernel.

Pros:

• Better UX for system. On Windows and Mac you're stuck with the old-style window movement desktops which suck and are chaos with lots of effort to maintain when trying to do anything productive. Even with third-party tools it's nothing like being able to have something like Niri. It's just better on the Linux world.
• It actually meets your needs instead of making your change your needs. The customization is insane, but usually you don't even have to go very far to be happy.
• No bloat, no forced features like AI (tho you can get your own AI stuff if you want), less privacy concerns, better tools generally

Microsoft Windows is actually a complete piece of crap

Unfortunately, cons of switching:

• Have to use non-standard apps for certain things like office files or DAWs for audio production
  • Tho, these are less bad these days. In fact, some are better like I'll take Blender over Maya any day, and I use OnlyOffice even on Windows, bc why pay for the "Copilot App" (formerly MS Office) when OnlyOffice is just as good and is fully compatible?
• Some games don't work (esp multiplayer), and sometimes for no good reason other than the devs don't like Linux users, e.g. Bungie.
  • Also far better than it used to be. Very few things I miss out on
• MacOS clearly has the better app distribution system. A single folder with all necessary deps save a couple core libraries. Simple, effective, can still be put in a store. Instead we have an obsession with sandboxing or overcomplicated packages. AppImages were so close to being right. But nope. We can't have nice things sometimes

I've been using Linux-only since around 2019 (having used it alongside Windows for gaming before then) when Proton finally started getting good. I'm also an engineer, artist, writer, gamer, musician, maker, and more, so I feel like I have touched a lot of the different ways in which computers are used. I've used several distros for extended periods, and my fav is Arch (tho Nix is a close second; it's just not quite ready for primetime)

Linux is absolutely a viable alternative, but you have to know what you want from your PC. How do you want it to function? Pick that choice. It's not ice-cream flavors where all are equal and you have to decide; form follows function here. Decide what you need and then build your own system from that - bc Linux is yours. Refuse to be spoonfed slop no matter if the slop is from Microsoft or from a Linux distro. Slop is slop. Cook your own meal. It tastes better. If you don't like mushrooms, don't get mushrooms.

Disclaimer: This is obviously subjective. YMMV.

Pros:

• It's open source.
• It is not actively spying on me.
• Downloading software from a package repository is so much better than grabbing the install file through your favorite internet browser.
• The OS does what I want. And does not do anything I don't want.
• Freedom to do whatever you want with your OS. For example, yesterday I literally swapped out my desktop environment for another. M$ doesn't offer this freedom.
• On that note, the workflows that WMs allow are absolutely chef's kiss. Also a boon to your productivity. They look gorgeous as well.
• I don't have to deal with criminally long updates anymore. No multiple reboots for updates either.
• It has made me love the terminal.
• Software development is so much better on Linux.
• I don't know why..., but it feels like I got more time 😅. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if my mental health has also improved since I've started using Linux.

Cons:

• No Windows Defender. Yes I said it. Even if it hoards/saps a lot of resources. While it is a retrofit solution to combat how easy it is to get malware on M$, I can't deny how much I'd have loved something similar on Linux. ClamAV simply can't compare.
• Some software regard Linux-users as second-class citizens. Anecdotally, Davinci Resolve worked pretty nice on Windows. On Linux, it didn't. Instead, it has brought me sorrow and agony 😭.
• Some hardware regard Linux-users as second-class citizens. For example, the ThinkPad I bought last year has worked absolutely lovely on Linux. But my previous laptop, a HP Pavilion, had some glaring issues that got never fixed...

what if any do you miss from windows?

Windows Defender.

Fedora 44 Cinnamon user.

My last "computer" was an Android tablet with a physical keyboard and trackball so I can't really answer your second question.

As for the pros. Free, runs great on old used hardware, updates don't really bugger the system, super easy on system resources, my used computer has 8 gb of ddr4 and that is plenty for my usage.

Con. Doesn't play all video formats. When I first switched to Fedora 42 I tried for a week to get videos to play. Every "tutorial" and forum gave the same ineffective answer. Now I just copy any video to my old Android tablet and watch them that way. Please, no advise on this, I'm happy with my solution, thanks.

Pros: Customization, privacy, ease of use (And yes, it's much easier to use than Windows when you are fully aware of its "ins and outs".)

Cons: None.

Then again, if I -REALLY- had to use Windows, I'd use it on another PC (preferably w/o internet) while leaving my "main" PC for Linux only. Scary, I know.

Pro: I can update when I want. Updates don't have me guessing every single time if they're going to completely override my configurations. The updates themselves aren't bug riddled AI garbage installing yet another electron app. My Linux mint uses about half the RAM a Windows 11 install used on the exact same PC and doesn't constantly thrash my SSD or spike my CPU. Every issue I've run into has just been a lack of knowledge on my part, and easily fixed by guides online. Last time I had to help someone with an issue on their Windows 11 it took more time sifting through guides trying to find where the hell they'd moved settings and failed to document something than I ever want to spend again.

Cons: I genuinely have not found one yet personally. I'm not saying Linux is perfect, just I've had zero real issues myself.

Maybe not my biggest pro, but I was able to customize my UI way more than I ever could on Windows. I made an FFIX theme for my wife and I might make an Earthbound theme for myself whenever I get around to figuring out how to make a customized window style.

cons: you won't be able to play games anymore

pros: you won't be able to play games anymore and your brain will heal.

Pros: all mentioned in other comments con: I personally find it difficult to manage nvidia gpu drivers

PRO: Customizable and reproducible setups.

CON: The Arch community. All those "RTFM" asshats. There's even a spot in the Arch wiki for that acronym because it's so heavily used. "This acronym is an invitation to self-care, not an insult." Gaslighting motherfuckers.

What I miss?: Nothing off the top my head. All my games work, coding is easy (Python/R), browsers do a lot of heavy lifting in terms of compatibility.