• Encryption@feddit.chEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I think to start, Mint or Ubuntu is a good choice, it has support for most hardware and will probably run on whatever you install it.

    Also something that I think most new Linux users should focus on; instead of distro pick the desktop environment (DE). As a beginner it does not really matter if you use, lets say, a Debian- or Fedora-based distro. Pick a DE that looks pleasing to you maybe GNOME or KDE and take the installation with that DE. Maybe do not start with Arch or Gentoo as they are for more experienced users that already have some Linux experience.

    Distros will be way more interesting and important when you got a hold of Linux and you want to explore the differences of them.

    Last tip: Make a separated /home directory, so when you want to change to a new distro you do not have to delete all your files and start over with an empty machine.

    I wish you a good start into Linux and do not hesitate to ask questions if they arise!

  • Eric the Cerise@kolektiva.social
    1·
    1 year ago

    @carloshr

    For privacy and “FOSS ideals” stay away from Ubuntu and RedHat.

    For “easy for a Windows user”, I tried switching to Linux 6-7 times over 15 years, different distro every time.

    The one that finally “stuck” for me was #Mint.

    Although honestly, nowadays, most of the top distros are very good. I’m also a fan of #Pop_OS

    @privacy @linux

  • MichaelN@mastodonczech.cz
    1·
    1 year ago

    @carloshr @privacy @linux
    From Windows? Mint. After Mint? Manjaro. After Manjaro fucks again with the signing keys thing and their amnesia? Mint. Or MX Linux. Once you are past the learning curve, Debian. Want to get your hands dirty? *buntu based distro. Hype? EndeavourOS.

  • qwerty@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    1 year ago

    Distro doesn’t really mater that much, desktop environment (de) is a more important choice for a new user.

    Comming from windows you might like cinnamon, mate, kde plasma or gnome with ArcPanel and Dash to Dock extensions. There’s also lxqt and xfce for low spec systems.

    You can install any de on any distro but if you are new to linux you might want to stick with the default one.

    If you want cinnamon or mate go with linux Mint.

    For gnome ZorinOS looks decent. I think it comes with wine already set up to make running windows programs easier. If you have an nvidia gpu Pop!_OS comes with nvidia drivers but you’ll probably want some gnome extensions like ArcMenu and Dash to Panel.

    Before installing any distro you should try them out in a live usb mode or a virtual machine.

    Personally I started with Cinnamon Mint but it had issues with my multi monitor set up and poor gaming performance so now I’m on gnome Pop!_OS with ArcMenu and Dash to Panel on desktop and lxqt lubuntu on laptop.

    I switched from windows about a year ago and now I’m absolutely certain I’m never comming back. The first 2 weeks or so are the most difficult because you feel like you have to learn a brand new skill every time you do something basic that would take you 30 seconds in windows but once you have everything set up and are more familiar with how things are done on linux it will feel completely natural.

    Good luck on your linux journey, I hope you see it through. :)

    • Cam@lemmy.worldEnglish
      01·
      1 year ago

      Linux Mint is great for beginners and is simular to Windows.

  • FarLine99@lemm.eeEnglish
    01·
    1 year ago

    Please don’t. ElementaryOS is bad for new user this days. Try Fedora Workstation edition or Plasma spin, Linux Mint.

      • Ian McLean@mastodon.au
        1·
        1 year ago

        @carloshr @FarLine99 @privacy

        #Elementary has a very opinionated design and includes some defaults that would be desireable for pretty much absolutely nobody - the most prominent of them being that it only lists apps from its own store, which is almost empty, and then gives warnings to users to try and discourage them from going to a place like FlatHub for the software that they will no doubt need. There is a tone about the OS in its design and especially its language in dialogs that may make people feel like they are the ones who are “wrong” if they do not wish to stick with these defaults - I think that’s what really rubs so many people the wrong way, and a brand-new user that doesn’t know much about Linux would just be completely lost.

        It also has no direct upgrade paths for major new versions, and they do their own apps and DE which is great, but they are also under-resourced and so the experience can be a bit glitchy sometimes.

        You mention being a mid-level user though, so I think you’d be fine with it, if you like the look of it. In terms of privacy, usability and respect for the FOSS spirit, I think Elementary and its Pantheon desktop environment is fantastic, and I believe it’s actually worth trying to adapt to its way of doing things. I use it and love it.

        For someone brand new to Linux that just wants to get up and running quickly and get work done, I’d highly recommend #ZorinOS instead. It’s very much a counter-point in philosophy to Elementary OS and gives a vibe of: “You do things however you’re used to, I just want to make it as easy for you as possible.”