- Learn about the different desktop environments (DEs) available for Linux. For example, visit this link (https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/bt-hybrid/) to download ISOs for KDE, XFCE, GNOME, Cinnamon, etc. You can use Ventoy to create a bootable USB drive and add multiple Linux ISOs to it for testing purposes (without Ventoy, you would need to write one image at a time to the USB drive). Try running them live to see which one you prefer. In my opinion, KDE is a solid choice.
- Consider getting a secondary drive to install Linux on. Don’t worry too much about the specific distribution; you can reinstall Linux as many times as you want. Just be careful not to accidentally install the boot loader on your Windows drive. Try using only Linux for a day or a week.
- Personally, I have tried many Ubuntu-based distros, but I really started using Linux after trying Arch-based ones. I think EndeavourOS is a solid choice. Garuda is also good, but you might want to unrice it first. Also, Arch wiki is a godsend.