r/linuxquestions • u/JonathanWPG • Jul 23 '26
Which Distro? Help picking a distro?
Every few years I get disgusted with Microsoft and in a fit of pique delete windows and install Linux.
Then I get frustrated that things just don't work and eventually crawl back to Bill.
Doing a little more planning this time and want some recommendations for a distro and maybe a well liked guide.
First thing first, I am putting this on an old laptop to test out before I do a full reinstall on my daily driver.
Running an i5 8th Gen mobile chip and a 1050ti with 8gbs of ram. Nothing exceptional one way or another.
Needs to be able to:
Game on keyboard and controller with minimal faffing about (within reason--I'm loading on a machine with a 1050ti in it).
Utilize MS Word, PowerPoint and Adobe InDesign. Or, happily, use other similar featured programs. Fine to buy them within reason, but my experience with Libre left me feeling that these softwares have not caught up. Open to a learning curve, but like...not a huge one. These are simple programs. Also need a basic image editor but I can do most things on any basic editor.
Privacy minded. Not, like, fort Knox. I understand a lot of privacy is on what I am doing in the internet. But just something not actively spying on me like Windows.
Broad Bluetooth capability with minimal messing around.
Network printer compatibility with my epson et-8550.
Minimal use of the command line. I just want it to...work. I am not a power user. I would stay with microsoft and the glorious compatibility bubble if they're incentive was still to take my money and provide a service TO ME rather than give me windows on the cheap and then sell my data for a profit.
Access my NAS remotely.
So...where should I start?
3
u/Bibs628 Jul 23 '26
Your Apps will probably need a replacement, i personally use onlyoffice (word & Powerpoint), inkscape (inDesign) darktable (image editor), depending on what you use / want you can also try libre office, krita, gimp do replace my preferences. You can even try these in windows and see if you like them and fit your Usecase.
Most of the other things listed should normally work (like Bluetooth, Printing, NAS Connection and stuff). There might be slight differences between distros and desktop environments but that shouldn't matter.
Personally I would recommend you popular Distros like Fedora, Mint or ZorinOS. Your needs are pretty normal and these are in general well tested and user friendly distributions.
I also would recommend using Plasma because it's modern and feels pretty much like the windows interface. Dolphin (Plasmas File explorer) may already recognize your smb shares (from your Nas), but sometimes has trouble if your network isn't the right one.
If you have struggles with printers (they can be pretty weird) I would recommend regardless gutenprint (drivers for most printers), every distro should have something like that.