u003cstrongu003eWhich Linux distribution should I try first?u003c/strongu003e

Ubuntu or Linux Mint would be sensible choices. Ubuntu has many users, so when you're stuck, you can generally find answers by searching. Linux Mint looks similar to Windows, so you should be able to use it without feeling strange. For those nervous about dual-booting straight away, trying WSL first and installing it properly if you like it would be a good approach.

u003cstrongu003eCan I open Office files on Linux?u003c/strongu003e

Yes, you can open them normally. There's free software called LibreOffice that can handle Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. However, it's not completely compatible, so complex macros or elaborate file layouts might become slightly corrupted. Ordinary documents and spreadsheets are fine.

u003cstrongu003eAre there distributions similar to Windows?u003c/strongu003e

Yes! Zorin OS can be used similarly to Windows 10 or 11. Linux Mint's Cinnamon edition should also be familiar to Windows users. For those who like the old Windows XP appearance, there's an option called Q4OS.

u003cstrongu003eCan I use Linux commands on Windows?u003c/strongu003e

Using a function called WSL, you can use Linux commands normally on Windows. For those doing development work, Git Bash is also convenient. If you want to do it more seriously, there's an option called Cygwin, but trying WSL first is probably the quickest approach.