Because it's not Microsoft!

I had a long career in I.T. nearly 30 years. Bizarrely, in all that time, I had almost zero contact with Microsoft software.

What are clouds made of?
Linux servers. Bam Boom!

I wasn't a software tech, I was a hardware tech. I was the person who visited the client to spanner the hardware. Installing new kit or fixing old kit. Most of this kit ran Red Hat Linux.

My shack computers all run Linux. I have a Lenovo SFF as the main shack computer, core I7, 16 Gigs of RAM and a 120 Gig SSD hooked up to two 1080p screens. It's running Ubuntu 26:04LTS.

The other computer is a Lenovo Laptop. I5, 8 Gigs of ram, 64 Gigs of SSD. This one runs Mint Cinnamon. In addition to the usual ports, Wifi and Bluetooth this one has a slot for a SIM card. I thought I would be hunting down drivers and struggle to get the cell data to work but the install found all the hardware and it just worked.

There is a misconception that Linux is difficult to use. Modern Linux has a GUI just like all the other operating systems. Point and click, click and drag.

All the software that most Ham Radio stations are likely to want are easily installed with either Snaps or Flatpak. These are the Linux App Stores. No need to fight the terminal!

What's the advantage of a Linux shack PC? Because you can! Open source. (Except maybe a few proprietary drivers, Nvidia or Broadcom). No account required. It's not spying on you and calling the mothership with your data. Very little malware. No subscriptions. It runs on modest hardware, and is perfect for keeping older hardware going long after the OEM abandoned it. Looking at you Apple! Cute Penguin mascot, who doesn't like penguins?

What are the disadvantages? The main kicker is if there is a bit of proprietary software you can't live without and there is no open source alternative. The biggest obstacle is getting people to try it.

You can try it by downloading an ISO, flashing it on a USB drive and booting your existing computer from the drive. If you like what you see take the next step.

Linux is not a one way ticket. Remove the existing HDD and replace it with a new one. A clean install of the Linux version of your choice. Have a play for a while. You might like it. The learning curve is not that steep. If you hate it, swap the drive out for the original one and you are back where you started. No drama.

I do not recommend a dual boot computer. A world of pain awaits you if you try this route.

There is a lot of help to be had online. What ever issue you are having someone else has probably had the same issue and fixed it. Then they published it in a blog, forum, Discord, YouTube video or on social media.

Linux is growing in popularity. More people are using it as the daily driver. Big Tech: Apple, Microsoft, Google and Meta have pissed us all off.(Don't get me started about Adobe ... !)

Best Wishes
Ron
G4LMN

FOOTNOTES:

Raspberry Pi
The alternative route into Linux is the Raspberry Pi. In the past I have recommended this. You used to be able to buy a Pi kit, the computer, a case, power adaptor and a few cables for sensible money. The Pi has now become stupidly expensive, largely because AI has stolen all the RAM. It is still a good way into Linux, but the price needs to drop.

What Linux to try?
The various versions of Linux are called Distros. There are lots of distros. What you choose is up to you. Whatever you do choose you will probably have a Linux enthusiast telling you that you made the wrong choice!

Start here!
The gateway distros are Ubuntu or Mint. They are close relatives to each other, both based on Debian. Start here, and have a play. As you get into it and your confidence and knowledge grows you can try other distros.