// ZDNET — LINUX & OPEN SOURCE
Over Ubuntu? Fedora is the Linux distro I’d hop to next – here’s why
If you're an Ubuntu user considering a leap to Fedora, but you're hesitating, I explain why you should go ahead and just do it.
In the world of Linux, distro hopping is practically a spectator sport. At some point, we get bored with the distro we’re using and decide to try something new. Perhaps there’s a distro that offers better features, works with more hardware, or has a larger support community. There are so many reasons for switching distros.
However, for those new to Linux, the idea of leaving behind a distribution that’s been working just fine can be daunting, especially when you’re considering jumping to a distribution that isn’t as familiar and uses different technology.
As a new Linux user decades ago, I started with Caldera Open Linux 1.0 and immediately jumped to Red Hat Linux 5.2 (before Red Hat became Fedora). I stayed with Red Hat for years, until I found Ubuntu (I believe it was version 4).
Back then, making the jump wasn’t nearly as easy as it is now; in fact, it was unnerving. I was so used to how Fedora did things that I wasn’t certain I’d be able to acclimate.
But I did! And then, after realizing that hopping from one distro to another wasn’t the end of the world, I hopped around for a few years, from distro to distro until I settled back on Ubuntu-based distributions.
Also: Done with Debian Linux distros? Try Fedora next
It’s a lot, but it doesn’t have to be nearly as daunting as it seems. In fact, it can be exciting and fun. If you’re considering a jump from Ubuntu to Fedora, let me try to ease your concerns.
First, let’s get the obvious out of the way: Ubuntu and Fedora are both Linux. It’s not like you’re jumping from Windows or MacOS to Linux. This is a lateral move, which is not nearly as fear-inducing.
Beyond that, Ubuntu and Fedora are much more similar than you might expect. They both have GUI tools for everything you need; they’re both secure; they both have great package managers and package manager front-ends; they both make it easy to install all of the software you need (and all of the software you need is readily available); and they’re both user-friendly.