No. You can run Linux from a thumb drive to try it out without installing it. I have been running it for several years and never a problem. You can choose to install the updates or not. Updates run in the background without problems and if a reboot is required, it is done in a couple of minutes. No more Windoze 30 minute updates that halt all functions while you watch the circly thing. If you have an older machine that is dog slow because of Windoze, back up all the data and then install Linux Mint over it. It will go from 10 minute start ups to less than 2 minutes.
The only disadvantage is that if you are a gamer, there probably isn’t a Linux version.
Oh, and Libre Office is free. It will open and save in Microsoft Office formats.
“The only disadvantage is that if you are a gamer, there probably isn’t a Linux version.”
Actually here is an option for top notch games. Just get a Steam account. Some games are free, and others can be purchased and downloaded, and most can be played right on their game server online. And the games are comparable to any of the top Windows 3D games.
My backup computer runs fine even though it has 8.1 on it. I keep getting messages that it is unsupported. thanks for the thumb drive tip.