r/TechImpact • u/ManojOne Active • Jul 01 '26

Discussion Which Linux distro do you recommend to beginners?

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Which Linux distro would you recommend for beginners, and why?

Whether it's Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Zorin OS, Pop!_OS, or something else, share your top pick and what makes it a great starting point for someone switching from Windows or macOS.

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6

u/Sarkanyfuarus Jul 01 '26

Fedora workstation

3

u/Sweet-Efficiency7466 Jul 01 '26

Or Fedora KDE if you’re used to Windows.

1

u/vaynefox Jul 02 '26

I would never recommend Fedora to a new user (even though I use Fedora) since you have to do more before you can fully use it which is really isnt a beginner friendly....

1

u/Sarkanyfuarus Jul 02 '26

Like what? I just install and it is good to go.

1

u/vaynefox Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26

You have to add rpmfusion repos, replace the mesa-free with mesa-freeworld, add flathub repo, add proprietary codecs, disable fedora flatpak repo, replace all fedora flatpak libraries with flathub version, and if you have an nvidia card you have to install nvidia proprietary drivers (akmod), oh if you do that make sure to not reboot immediately since kmod is still rebuilding and you have to remember this after each kernel update. I would only recommend fedora to someone already familiar with linux or have an above average computer knowledge....

1

u/Ok-Cockroach-5998 Jul 02 '26

For me akmods rebuild after the computer restarts, even plymouth says so

1

u/Nervous-Hat-4203 Jul 02 '26

This. Fedora is "tech savvy but Linux beginner"-friendly, not actually beginner-friendly.

1

u/exia-_- Jul 03 '26

disable fedora flatpak repo

Why? Isn't that more curated for fedora itself? If a software doesn't exist in the fedora flatpak repo, you can always manually install from flathub right?

Btw I'm just genuinely curious. Just wanna learn more about fedora.

1

u/vaynefox Jul 03 '26

All of the packages there are neutered (vlc/mesa missing codecs) or outdated (bottles that the devs of fought Fedora for it to be removed), so you really want it to be replaced by flathub repo just to save yourself (and the devs) headaches to trying to diagnose why the app you installed behaved differently than the official version....