A computer or laptop is only as good as its processing power, which is highly dependent on the operating system.
A light Operating System leaves enough memory for the programs to run, which is a significant advantage with Linux.
Linux works well with computers and laptops, but how would it work on a surface book? Is it worth shifting to if you were using another operating system? Let us look into all the aspects to do with Linux to give you an answer;
Linux On Surface Book
The Surface Book is a fantastic product that works well with a variety of Operating Systems today. One of these Operating Systems is Linux, and the configuration with the Surface book is superb.
The touch screen functionalities of the Surface Book work fine when it is running Linux. The Operating system can support all the primary functionalities of the Surface Book, and if you did the installation right, it would work better than Windows.
The speaker, microphone, and Wi-Fi all work correctly without any bugs. The screen resolution is beautiful and matches all the features you get from the Surface Book, in addition to the amazing Linux wallpapers and themes.
Linux will load any website or download that your Surface Book would download with another OS.
You will get better performance with Linux than Windows since Linux is not very demanding in RAM and storage space.
How To Install Linux On A Surface Book
Linux is an excellent Operating System, and it will serve you well if you get the installation right. The installation can be a bit tricky, but it’s nothing you can’t handle on your own.
The only thing you need is a flash drive of either 8GB or 16GB. Let us get into it;
- Plug the USB thumb drive into an available USB port and unplug all other external drives you have plugged in. Make sure the drive does not have any crucial data since it will get formatted along the way.
- Go to your browser and download the ISO file for the Linux version you want to install. The ISO file is a compressed file containing all the files necessary for Linux to run on your PC.
- You should also have an Etcher app; if you don’t already have it, you can go to your browser, download it, and install it before moving on.
- Launch Etcher on your desktop, and in the Etcher window, look for the ISO file you had previously downloaded and open it in Etcher. Make sure you select the correct flash drive since it will wipe all the data in the flash drive.
- Depending on the Operating System you are currently running, you may have to input a password before the process continues.
- The Etcher will wipe the drive and install the ISO file into the flash drive in a bootable way. The flash will take a few minutes, and once it is done, you can close Etcher and unplug the flash drive.
- You need now to plug the flash drive into your surface book and reboot it with a particular key combination to get it into BIOS. You can do this by holding down the volume up button and pushing the power button simultaneously.
- In the BIOS, you need to change the settings under the secure boot control. By default, this setting is enabled, but you need to disable it for the process to work. Exit the setup, and the surface book will restart.
- You need to power it down again so that you can boot it from the flash drive. You can do this by holding the volume down button then pressing the power button.
- Once the boot up from the flash drive is complete, it will bring you to a window for installation.
The window will differ depending on the Linux version you are dealing with, but you should always connect to Wi-Fi.
Connecting to the internet will allow the computer to download any updates or additional files it might need for proper installation.
- The versions will have different install processes, but they all have an install wizard that is easy to work with. The critical part is when you have to select the type of install.
- You could install it along with windows or any other pre-existing Operating System, or you could wipe it clean and have only Linux. This will depend on your intentions and how well dual booting works for you.
- You will then select the drive you want to install Linux into if you have partitions, and then you will enter the name and password for the machine.
- It will then download and install all the files from the flash drive. Once this is done, you will unplug the flash drive and reboot the machine. You will reboot onto whatever Linux version you have downloaded.
Advantages Of Using Linux
Before you choose to shift from one Operating System to another, you must know all the perks of using the new Operating System.
This is important so you don’t move from a good OS and end up with a worse one. Here are some advantages of using Linux that should help you make a decision;
1. Linux is Free
Unlike other Operating Systems, Linux is free to download, install and share. It is open-source software; thus, you can make changes to it if you have the skillset. This is why there are many versions of this Operating System on the internet.
Even with independent users creating variations, it is still free. Selling Linux is illegal since the original producer made it open source.
2. It is easy to install
Installing Windows takes a lot of time and depending on the machine, it could go up to an hour or more.
You would also have to restart your device several times and repeat the process because you missed something the first time.
Linux, on the other hand, is simple to install. You just put in the CD or flash drive and follow the install wizard to install it. It usually takes a few minutes in a high-performing system which is much less stressful.
4. Linux is more secure than other Operating Systems
There are not many viruses for Linux. Most viruses made by hackers work on Windows and Mac OS, but they rarely create variations for Linux.
Linux itself is fortified with firewalls and other security features that you won’t find on Windows.
Linux is also picky when connecting to the internet since a system is only vulnerable to a remote hacker if it is connected to the internet. This is better than other OSs that look for new ways to go online at every point.
5. Linux is lighter and more stable
Linux is more stable than other OS because millions of users have put it through years of correction.
You just have to make sure you download a stable version to ensure you don’t get any bugs in operation.
Linux is also light which means that it takes less space in your RAM. The reduced memory use will allow other apps in your computer to run smoothly, and you will get better performance than you would with Windows or any other Operating System.
Disadvantages Of Using Linux
Linux has many advantages, but it is still not the most used Operating System on the planet. This means that it has some weaknesses that make it unsuitable for most people. Let us look at some disadvantages that should keep you away from Linux;
- Linux has a limited depth of applications compared to Windows. Some applications don’t have a version for Linux, but they have one for Windows. This will put you at a disadvantage if you need to use such an app.
- There are a ton of huddles in the Linux gaming ecosystem. Games are available on Linux, and manufacturers are increasing the depth, but you will be better off with Windows if you are a gamer.
- Linux is not particularly user-friendly. Linux was designed for coding, so it has a lot of functionalities that require skilled users. Unless you are using Linux for primary purposes, you will need to learn coding to get comfortable with it.
Conclusion
Linux is an amazing Operating System because of the numerous functionalities it offers the user, and its light nature reduces strain on the processor. You can install Linux on a surface book and enjoy all the advantages that come with it.
There are major advantages that come with using Linux. It would be a good choice for programmers since it is light enough to run all the heavy programs like Android Studio and others.
The installation process for Linux is simple, both on a computer or tablet. All you need is a thumb drive to carry the ISO file and Etcher to flash the ISO file into the drive for installation. Linux is open-source software; thus, you won’t pay any money to download it.
