Linux has never been more user-friendly, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some things that give newcomers trouble. These are four things that new users should be familiar with before it causes a headache.
Installing programs can be a bit messy
There are so many options available
On Windows, installing an application is usually very straightforward. You download the installer, double-click it, and you’re done. If you want, you can use the Microsoft Store, though most people still don’t.
On the other hand, Linux has several very different ways to install applications:
If you’ve been using Linux for a while, you probably appreciate the ability to use one system over the other when the situation calls for it. If you’re just getting started, the range of options is dizzying.
If you open the software center and search for an app, you may find multiple versions of the same thing. One could be a native package, another a Flatpak, yet another a Snap. They look identical but behave differently—one might launch slower, another may not integrate perfectly with your system, and another enforces stricter permissions.
Even updates can feel inconsistent. Some apps update automatically with the rest of the system, others keep their own update mechanism, and some require you to check manually before a new release arrives.
None of this is hard in the sense of technical skill, but it can be daunting. Linux gives you options but doesn’t always explain them.
The File System is very different from Windows
What in the world is /etc/ anyway?
If you’ve spent years on Windows, you probably have a mental map: Program Files holds applications, the User folder is where your stuff lives, and the operating system is stored in the Windows folder.
Linux is arranged very differently, which can be a problem for newcomers.
Instead of drive letters and familiar folders, you get a single, unified tree:
- /home — your personal files
- /usr — installed programs
- /var — logs and variable data
- /etc — system configuration
From a technical standpoint, Linux’s layout makes a lot of sense, but it does take some getting used to.
Take /etc/ for example. It holds the system-wide configuration files, but nothing about the name would tell you that. If something isn’t working and a troubleshooting guide says “edit a file in /etc,” it isn’t inherently clear why that would be the solution.
On Windows you can usually poke around and find what you need, since folders are usually named in a way that tells you about their contents. The Windows folder holds contents related to the Windows operating system. App data contains files and folders related to apps’ data.
On Linux, important files are often tucked away in places that make sense *only* when you understand how the system is set up.
That lack of clarity does make troubleshooting at the beginning more daunting than it needs to be.
The Terminal is daunting
Eventually, you’ll need it
Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek
Most Linux distributions have made huge improvements to the user experience, and a large part of that has involved moving away from the terminal for day-to-day tasks. You can install apps, tweak settings, and even update your system without touching the command line.
However, sooner or later you’ll hit a point where the easiest—or only—solution involves launching the terminal.
This is especially the case if you need to do some troubleshooting, where you’ll often see:
- A guide tells you to paste a one-liner into a shell
- A package isn’t available in your app store
- Something breaks and you need finer control
Tools such as sudo—which grants elevated privileges—are essential and powerful, but they go without any introduction or explanation.
The real issue isn’t the terminal itself. It’s that Linux still leans on it without adequately introducing people to it.
The default drivers might not be what you need
Sometimes default isn’t the best
Most Linux distributions have improved hardware support dramatically, so in many cases you can install the OS and everything just works.
But that isn’t always true. When problems arise, the culprit is often the default drivers.
The most common issue—by a large margin—is graphics drivers. If you’re using an NVIDIA GPU, your system may load the open-source driver instead of the proprietary one. Those drivers are fine for basic compatibility, but they don’t deliver the performance you need for gaming or GPU-heavy workloads.
Besides the GPU, I’ve run into issues with:
- Missing hardware acceleration in browsers
- Wi-Fi adapters with limited support
- Power-management weirdness on laptops
The tricky part is that everything seems fine at first glance. Your display works, apps launch, and the system feels responsive. Only later, when you try to game, watch high-resolution video, or push your hardware, does it become clear something’s off.
Unless you’re actively looking for those symptoms, it isn’t obvious that the drivers are the issue.
Switching to better drivers is usually straightforward once you know how. The problem is that Linux doesn’t tell you that it may become necessary.
The issues aren’t terrible
Most of the issues that Linux beginners face today aren’t insurmountable, but they’re also not explained well. It would be very helpful if Linux distros included more tooltips that actually explained some of the features that are very different from macOS and Windows rather than just throwing users in and expecting them to swim.
Fortunately, that seems to be happening—slowly.
8/10
- Operating System
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Kubuntu 24.04 LTS
- CPU
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Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (2.7GHz up to 5.4GHz)
- GPU
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (dGPU), Intel Graphics (iGPU)
- RAM
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32GB Dual-Channel DDR5 262-pin SODIMM (5600MHz)
This laptop is purpose-built for developers and professionals who want a Kubuntu Linux-powered portable workstation and gaming platform. It features an Intel processor capable of hitting 5.4GHz and both integrated graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA 5070 Ti GPU for when you need extra power for machine learning or games.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
