What do you think about Linux systems?

Windows needs extensions to associate specific file types with the appropriate program for processing (this is known as file association).

That makes sense for Windows, but how does Linux recognize files? Let's say a regular text file opens with a default editor (I don't know which one). I want to install a different editor. How do I make the system recognize that specific text files should be opened with the editor I want, instead of the default one?

However, different programs for Linux will work – usually free, faster, and less bulky.

Isn't there an emulator for Windows programs? I think .exe files can be run in Linux...