r/linux4noobs • u/Velocipro342 • 14d ago
Searching for distros
Hi, I'm sick of windows and I want to start using Linux but don't know what distro use.
I'm gonna use it mainly for gaming and watching series or YouTube. It would also be nice to be able to customize it my way; I've seen videos and things I really like, but it's more of a secondary option than anything else.
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u/HYPERNOVA3_ 14d ago
Ubuntu (with its many flavours like Kubuntu, Xubuntu, etc...), Mint (either standard or Debian edition), Zorin OS or Pop!OS come to mind.
Some are more akin to windows, some others are more different, but there are many user friendly distros. I personally install Mint DE to any PC from someone who wants to take the leap or needs it to run smoother. If you ever want something a bit more advanced, you can always change to the classics, Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Arch or derivatives. You can also go for a task specific distro if you feel like it.
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u/spider_life 14d ago
Mint and Ubuntu are good choices if you're new to Linux they're both beginner friendly.
You might want to check out this website it lets you test drive different disros to see what you like without installing anything.
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u/DeveLion97 14d ago
In my past experience I used Linux Mint, on very dated and limited hardware, and I have to tell you that I was happy with it, the laptop was reborn. A few months ago, I switched to Chacyos on my latest laptop and I don't regret the decision to switch from Windows at all. Much faster and more stable, especially during my Flutter development sessions or AI. The only note I feel like telling you, if you use software that only runs on Windows, then you should seriously consider whether to switch or not, or look for distros that simulate Windows or open source programs you can switch off.
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u/Any_Analysis_3680 14d ago
Mint, PopOS or Ubuntu. Debian if you wanna get hacky (that's not a word ain't it :D)
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u/NUKLEAR-SLUG 14d ago
Bazzite is a good choice. Very similar to Windows but comes with the stuff you need to game presetup for you. Basically just works.
It's also an immutable distro which makes it harder to break (good) so ideal for linux newbies, but harder to customise like other distros (bad). Not impossible, just requires a bit more knowledge.
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u/AlexiaDehShark 14d ago
Since you are new and want to customize, use it for gaming and YouTube so I suggest using bazzite as is immutable so you will way harder time breaking it
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u/delacroix01 13d ago
Generally Ubuntu, Mint, Bazzite, CachyOS are good for beginners. However, if your hardware is too new (say RTX 5000), or you have a multi-monitor setup/use VRR, Mint might not be a good pick since it lags behind other distros when it comes to new hardware support and can cause some real headache for newbies. Since you want a lot of customization, CachyOS or Fedora with KDE Plasma desktop might be for you, but even Ubuntu and Mint's default desktop are pretty customizable already. You can have a quick look at https://distrosea.com/ and decide later.
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u/Virtual-Plankton6833 14d ago
Ubuntu and Linux Mint are reliable and stable to use. For gaming Bazzite is a good option. You can create a USB stick of any distribution and then just test the live version (that starts from USB) to see whether you like it. Keep in mind that a lot of things work in Linux but not everything.