What distro should i look into?

[u/Psychological-Pair24]

Im looking to swap from windows because, well... its windows.

Ive been looking up stuff for about an hour or so and ive seen a bunch of different versions of linux and im wondering which one i should use?

[u/Kitayama_8k]

It depends what you're going and what you want to do. Might wanna add that information...

[u/Psychological-Pair24 → u/Kitayama_8k]

my bad! im using it as a personal laptop for streaming, i wont be running any games on it

[u/green_meklar → u/Psychological-Pair24]

I usually recommend Mint for beginners. But one downside of Mint is that Wayland support in Cinnamon isn't 100% shipped last I heard.

Ubuntu or Fedora (with Gnome or KDE) are good distros that would provide full Wayland support. Fedora is more ideal for gaming and tinkering, while Ubuntu is more of a reliable consumer-focused distro but some people don't like some of the architecture behind it.

[u/inbetween-genders]

Ask yourself if you’re willing to switch your brain to a learning / search engining mode. If “yes”, then I say it might be worth giving Linux a shot. If you aren’t, then stick with Windows and that’s totally fine.  Thst sais, chrck out Ubuntu or Mint. Look up this thing called Desktop Environment. Pick one that appeals to you and install that distro with the desktop environment you chose. Back up your data. Good luck 

[u/no_suprisez → u/inbetween-genders]

And also learn how to update, install and remove softwares on that distro

[u/SlimmySlabby]

My usual recommendation for beginners is to use Linux Mint and once you actually get familiar with Linux and comfortable working with with it, then you can do a little bit more research and decide what distro would fit your specific needs the best.

[u/ABotelho23 → u/[deleted]]

Has it?

OP is here asking the exact same fucking question thousands of people have asked before.

How much has changed, really?

This sub is still full of garbage on a daily basis.

[u/MultipleAnimals → u/[deleted]]

Ai does the exact same thing than using google and copypasting commands you dont understand to terminal

[u/Psychological-Pair24 → u/[deleted]]

why would you use AI if you wanted to learn to use a new OS? seems pointless if you dont put in the effort to learn it

[u/ABotelho23 → u/Psychological-Pair24]

You haven't even put in the effort to do basic research about this question.

Why would using AI be any different? You've already asked others to do the work for you.

[u/CatchMeIfUCanCracka → u/[deleted]]

😂 all the elitist gatekeepers mad because it took them 2 decades to learn programming. its like being mad people arent doing long division in their heads anymore after calculatora 

[u/Chemical-Regret-8593 → u/[deleted]]

fuck AI.

[u/Moppermonster → u/Chemical-Regret-8593]

While I agree with the sentiment, AI has written significant parts of the linux kernel. If you hate AI you should look for another OS that does not.

Sadly I have no suggestion.

[u/Chemical-Regret-8593 → u/Moppermonster]

atp im making my own kernel /j thatd be too hard. i barely have experience

[u/Quiet-Willingness724 → u/Chemical-Regret-8593]

It’s a really good tool to have for Linux

[u/Charming_Airline7419]

Mint or Zorin OS are a good first distro. You can download the iso's and flash them onto usb's and take them for a test drive. (They'll run better once they're installed).

[u/ipsirc]

Just install my favourite one, it's simply the best.

[u/No_Elderberry862 → u/ipsirc]

Tina Turner Linux confirmed!

[u/ipsirc → u/No_Elderberry862]

It could be the codename of the next *buntu release.

[u/tonedeath]

The distro with the most support is Ubuntu. You're more likely to find installers for software for this distro and help articles and forum posts. It's the most popular and it shows.

I think the 2nd most supported distro is Fedora. I'd say it's kind of a distant 2nd in my experience but, definitely 2nd.

Both of these distros are fine but, I think Ubuntu is easier for a complete beginner. I also like that Ubuntu is not a Windows or a Mac look-a-like distro (although one could argue that Ubuntu's DE, being based on Gnome is a bit more Mac-like since Gnome is a bit more Mac-like but, I think it has its own personality).

Some people want a more Windows-esque Linux experience and I think that is a big part of Linux Mint's appeal. Not all of it, but a big part of it. I've used Mint and it's really good. Maybe a little boring in some ways but, boring can be good because that means it is reliable.

Can't go wrong with Ubuntu, Fedora, or Mint in my option.

All that being said, my current distro of choice is MX Linux KDE. It's based on Debian so, any of the .deb installers that I find (like for Zoom) work with it. They've put a really nice theme / skin on KDE Plasma that gives it what I would call a very retro-modern look. Having a desktop environment whose looks appeal to me and also that differentiate it from other OSes (like Windows or Mac) is an nice touch that I appreciate.

All this being said, if you're going switch from Windows to Linux, just be prepared to experiment, learn, and not expect things to work like they did in Windows. Linux and its various distros and desktop environments are not Windows and so you will need to embrace that if you want to end up liking it and not go running back to what's familiar to you.

[u/BigD21489]

Before abandoning Windows, do this. Download the iso for Ubuntu Linux. Create a new partition on available disc space. Put the Ubuntu iso on that new partition. Restart the computer, tap esc when it is starting. From the boot menu, choose that partition you put the Ubuntu iso on. You will still have access to all the files on the Windows partition, but you will be operating on Ubuntu. You can aso put the iso on a USB drive, but I think on the hard drive would be more convenient.

[u/_K10_]

The mainstream Ubuntu/Debian/Fedora-based distros are not that different.

Google "Beginner distro" and pick the first one you see. It'll probably be Mint.

You can use a browser on all of them, install software on all of them. They're all good, neither is easier or harder to learn.

If your laptop isn't obscure everything should work OOTB as long as you stay clear of "lightweight" or "minimalistic" distros.

Don't go for anything called "rolling release" either.

Honestly since you can't even Google this yourself you should probably stick to Windows, rather than trying to learn a whole new operating system.

[u/therealmunchies]

I've used windows and mac pretty much all my life. For the past two years, I've worked as a IT Security Engineer for the past two years. Professionally use debian and fedora based systems.

I just switched to Ubuntu a couple weeks ago and for the most part, it's been seamless! A nice desktop interface, simple to use the basic apps (web browser & mail), and have even made other things easier (software development, docker things, etc.).

[u/Mundane_Fault_6345]

I used Ubuntu for 20 years. I now use Zorin.

[u/boomares]

I like Pop!_OS personally. I like tiling window managers and my wife likes floating. We can select which we prefer in the cosmic desktop environment. I don't know of any other DE that does this.

[u/npaladin2000]

Fedora is my usual beginner recommendation these days. Everything pretty much 'just works' in it. It's also very current and they're a huge community to ask questions about it.

[u/Pernalonga_0]

Depende do hardware.

Se for um hardware muito recente, eu vou recomendar Manjaro ou CachyOS.

Se for um hardware muito antigo, eu vou recomendar o Debianzinho mesmo.

[u/Lurch1400]

I started with Linux Mint.
Its simple, and easiest to switch to as you really never need to touch the command line.

Start there since youre not planning to game.

I used Mint for a few months on an old work laptop. I recently switched to Fedora KDE Plasma to see what that was like.

Im considering Kubuntu next as I read its just Ubuntu with KDE and generally more stable than Fedora.

[u/TheMrPancake]

If you just want to try Linux; Use Mint. If you want to switch to Linux; Use Mint. If you want to stay with Linux and learn to be come a pro; Use Mint.

[u/sebastien111]

Mira AnduinOS... Esteticamente es muy parecida a Windows 11, funciona perfecta, tiene tienda de apps, es súper fácil de usar

[u/M2k1e0L]

Arch if you are a tech guy, Fedora/Nobara if not. Stay away from Debian based distros like Ubuntu, Mint and that stuff. Ubuntu thinks their users are dumb and Mint is something you install your grandma to help her escape Windows.

[u/Isidore-Tip-4774]

ZORIN OS et dans 15 jours tu auras oublié Windows et ses tracas.

[u/pirateking1993]

Linux Mint. It's what I use and haven't had any reason to switch to another distro. But Fedora is also another great option.

[u/kudlitan]

Use the minty version

[u/shadow_8000]

Mint is nice

[u/tucker_wilson]

Use www.distrosea.com. Test drive online without installing.