Get a Usable System

Linux is free of charge and open source, but it does not matter if you don't even have a computer!
Or in other words, you don't own a linux computer.
I suppose you already have a computer, a normal home usage flavour.
Like a laptop.

If you don't, well, with money you actually have far more choice.
But be careful, not all hardware support the linux system.

I heard you say games? Don't expect too high even if your GPU is Nivida's.
This is because morden anticheat techniche doesn't work on open source kernels, which is the case of Linux.

Virtualization like VMWare or VirtualBox? Don't.
Supposing common pc's power, you would not get full experience in a Linux container.

Just in case, you want to buy a brand new computer for Linux.
Actually most preinstalled with Windows is okey, just make sure you asked or searched whether that supports Linux system.
One preinstalled with Linux is fine but you still have to assure that it is fine to flash the whole disk and install other system.

Note that you actually have multiple choice here, go common or go libre.

By go common, I mean most hardware actually works with newest Linux kernel out of box, reassuring just in case.
By go libre, guess what, the so called open-source Linux kernel actually contains a lot of mysterious blobs, which is closed source!
If you does not like this, you can still use Linux with Gnu's awesome Linux-libre kernel, with all the blobs removed for you.
As a consequence, you would face much limited choice of hardware.
Preassembled machines can be purchased at FSF certification page.

Well, that's your choice!

There are many Linux systems (they are named this that distros)
A lot of different flavours, really.

However, here we won't be brave boy to choose slackware, nix and so so.
I would like to pick the most beginner friendly distro – Linux Mint for you.
It is not the most powerful one, but it really is the most friendly one.
So, now go and download an ISO from Linux Mint homepage.

I suggest you to choose the Cinnamon flavour as a beginer.

There is detailed instruction there, briefly you have to flash the downloaded ISO image to your USB flash disk.
Then boot your computer pressing F12 or similar keys to boot from the USB disk.
After entering the live system, you can hazzle around freely and finally use your mouse to trigger install button,
which appears as an app
follow the instructions on your screen then.
My only suggestion is to choose something like "use full disk and encrypt" when it provides to partition the disk for you.

Now, you should have restarted your pc and staring at the Cinnamon desktop.
Quite different from familiar Windows' right? Yes, it sure is.
Feel free to fiddle around, click Super (this is the key on your keyboard with the windows icon)
click into settings and so on.
If you are brave enough, you can find an app called "terminal" or "console" after you clicked Super and type them as a search.
THis would be the part distincting Linux and Windows for normal usage.
But calm down if you are not prepared yet!
We would not go to terminal this fast.
Actually in Cinnamon, you can go quite far without touching the terminal
only mouse clicking and keyboard typing, just like before, cool!

are you ready?
click the link below to proceed.
Learn how to install apps and do some common tasks here