The list of reasons to use Linux instead of Windows is huge, and while people may disagree on which reasons matter most, they are hard to deny.
The fact that it is free is not really the most relevant factor for home users. A couple of Windows licenses would not be the end of the world, but for corporations with tens, hundreds, or even thousands of computers, the cost difference can be a game-changer.
The modular structure of Linux makes it powerful while loading only what is necessary, and it also manages processes and virtual memory excellently. That makes Linux the best choice for servers and older computers.
But if you are not going to use it to provide any network service (HTTP, FTP, mail, file sharing…), is it still worth it for home users? Absolutely yes!
You can download and run Linux straight from a USB drive without installing it, just to try it out. No prior knowledge is required. You may find things in different places than you are used to if you come from Windows or Mac, but everything is there. If something is not available by default, you can always install a component that offers the functionality you need.
So, how to start?
Pick a distribution. I recommend Ubuntu [https://ubuntu.com/] because it is very popular and has so much support online that it makes your life easy. There are countless tutorials, how-tos, and proven solutions available on the internet.
Follow the steps to download and load Linux onto a USB drive, memory card, or old-fashioned CD/DVD. You will probably need to configure your BIOS to boot from USB. Then you can run it and explore this new world.
Linux experience is a highly employable skill, so consider adding it to your resume.
The desktop version (graphical environment) handles all of this visually, but you may also want to know a few useful terminal commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install <program>
These commands respectively refresh the software package list, check each program you have installed for newer versions and upgrade any that are outdated, and install a new program straight from the internet with no extra effort.