A fundamental difference between Windows and GNU/Linux is the way that software is installed. In Windows, when you want to install software, you go to some website, you click an executable, and you follow an installation wizard. In GNU/Linux, ideally all of your software is installed from the distribution repository. The distribution software repository contains thousands of software packages that are deemed safe/secure and moderated by the distribution developers. When you install software on GNU/Linux, you install it from the software repository.
If you want to install software that is not in a distribution's repository, it can be a pain in the ass. Installing software from outside the repository can cause conflicts with the software that you installed from the repository. Installing software from outside the repository may be missing software library dependencies. Software installed from outside of the repository could contain malware. Software installed from outside the repository will not be updated by the package manager. Installing software from outside the repository can break your OS. Adding third party repositories to your package manager can break your OS. Software from outside the software repository should only be installed in rare circumstances.
For this reason, the real difference between GNU/Linux distributions is the software repository. A distribution is a collection of software and the repository contains the collection of software. Most distributions have a software repository and a software package system. If you are a "computer person" and you want to learn GNU/Linux, look at popular distributions and see which distribution has a software release model that fits your needs, then learn their package management system.
Some distributions are compromised of stable software, others have the most bleeding edge software.
Some distributions are made of precompiled binaries, others require you to compile software to be better optimized for your computer.
Some distributions focus on prohibiting proprietary software for protecting user freedom, other distributions contain some proprietary software.
Don't pick a distribution with barely any users, it will have less community support and security update will be slow to go out. Don't pick a distribution because you think it has a cool UI, you can probably install that UI on any distribution.
Look at the distribution's motivations/philosophy. Look to see that the distribution has an active developer community and user community. Look at what software is available in the distribution's software repository. If these things align with your needs, then install the distribution and learn how to use their package manager.
A fundamental difference between Windows and GNU/Linux is the way that software is installed. In Windows, when you want to install software, you go to some website, you click an executable, and you follow an installation wizard. In GNU/Linux, ideally all of your software is installed from the distribution repository. The distribution software repository contains thousands of software packages that are deemed safe/secure and moderated by the distribution developers. When you install software on GNU/Linux, you install it from the software repository.
If you want to install software that is not in a distribution's repository, it can be a pain in the ass. Installing software from outside the repository can cause conflicts with the software that you installed from the repository. Installing software from outside the repository may be missing software library dependencies. Software installed from outside of the repository could contain malware. Software installed from outside the repository will not be updated by the package manager. Installing software from outside the repository can break your OS. Adding third party repositories to your package manager can break your OS. Software from outside the software repository should only be installed in rare circumstances.
For this reason, the real difference between GNU/Linux distributions is the software repository. A distribution is a collection of software and the repository contains the collection of software. Most distributions have a software repository and a software package system. If you are a "computer person" and you want to learn GNU/Linux, look at popular distributions and see which distribution has a software release model that fits your needs, then learn their package management system.
Some distributions are compromised of stable software, others have the most bleeding edge software.
Some distributions are made of precompiled binaries, others require you to compile software to be better optimized for your computer.
Some distributions focus on prohibiting proprietary software for protecting user freedom, other distributions contain some proprietary software.
Don't pick a distribution with barely any users, it will have less community support and security update will be slow to go out. Don't pick a distribution because you think it has a cool UI, you can probably install that UI on any distribution.
Look at the distribution's motivations/philosophy. Look to see that the distribution has an active developer community and user community. Look at what software is available in the distribution's software repository. If these things align with your needs, then install the distribution and learn how to use their package manager.