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[+] 94 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (7 children)
  • [–] 21 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    Linux Mint (XFCE desktop) is the best for beginners coming from Windows, in my opinion. Linux enthusiasts will fawn over KDE because of customization, but they ignore that the vast majority of people don't want to spend months tweaking pixels, widgets and animations, they just want to use the computer.

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  • [+] 27 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)
  • [–] 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)
  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago (1 child)
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (2 children)

    While your endorsement is definitely well-intentioned, I'm unsure if it correctly reflects the project's health^[Unsure if I'd be able to word my criticisms better than this.]. I'd argue we've got (a lot) better resources on the fediverse. Like, e.g. this excellent guide: Understanding Linux and choosing your first Linux distro, v2.0

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    While that's a good read for someone more technical, the distro chooser brings it to people of lower technical prowess.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    While that’s a good read for someone more technical

    I would perhaps put more importance to eagerness to learn. But (I think) I understand where you're hinting at.

    the distro chooser brings it to people of lower technical prowess.

    While the distrochooser definitely has a lower entry barrier, I'd argue that if one isn't willing to read the above guide, then they might as well roll a die and choose between Bazzite, Fedora, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, TUXEDO OS and Zorin OS accordingly.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    I'm not really hinting at anything. I'm saying that not everyone that comes to look at Linux will have technical info to understand why that guide matters, nor will they want to invest in learning beyond meeting their needs. Having supported windows and mac users alike, the overwhelming majority really just wanted something that wasn't a hassle. And they favor which ever OS gives them that in the way they find least onerous.

    And so the distro chooser helps the ones of those willing to put in a tiny bit of effort to try something new, but don't want to go read extensively to do it. It's better than rolling a die when it comes to meeting their needs.

    Trying to force people to see linux the way you want them to see it will never work. It hasn't worked for decades now. All the factions with their different ideological principles get in the way of Linux more than help it. The guide you linked is mostly removed from that thankfully and to its credit. It is also a lot of info a basic user doesn't need to know in the end. They want "OS go brrrr", not to understand the nuances of flatpak and snap, or why atomic might be beneficial to them. Even though knowing all of that is definitely in their best interest. I fully agree they'd be better off knowing. But they still don't want it. You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. And since Linux people won't generally come meet them at their level (or worse you get two people trying to 'help' arguing with each other instead of helping), a tool that does something like the distro chooser has to come meet them. It's only a benefit in Linux adoption at the end of the day.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    Why do you suggest Mint over Ubuntu?

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  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago*

    Mint in any of its default offerings feels significantly more familiar to a Windows environment than default Ubuntu, Lubuntu (LXDE desktop) or Xubuntu (XFCE desktop), making the migration "less painful";
    The ISO image is ~1GB smaller \

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago

    Ubuntu is developed and controlled by a corporation (canonical) and they have some non ideal practices (like pushing snaps heavily instead of the more open flatpaks or native apps). Mint takes what’s good in Ubuntu and cleans it up a lot.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Realistically, the best distro for a Windows user is one that runs all their existing Windows software (both applications and games) right out of the box.

    Does any distro even come close to doing that?

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  • [+] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 child)
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    As a newer Linux user I think the priority in communication should be use Mint and then have some general information about how Linux isn't Windows, with some key differences and how to do things. I know that's more complicated than just saying it, but a "simple" get started guide would ease transition a lot.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago

    Yeah, I agree. Especially since there's SO much information out there that'll come up if they try to search, and lots of it isn't good, and tons of it is conflicting with each other. It's best to make it as easy and simple as possible. Like just suggest Mint or something.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    I think it doesn't actually matter what distro you use.

    It's like whether you're wearing red socks or blue socks. As long as you're wearing socks, so you don't get cold.

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  • [+] -1 points 1 year ago (2 children)
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 child)

    Mint has far too many issues to be a serious suggestion.

    Would you mind elaborating on that?

    Edit: Note that I've been a Linux^[Including the likes of: EndeavourOS, Fedora Atomic, Nobara and Zorin OS] user for a couple of years now, so no need to dumb down the answer for me. Just a heads-up*.

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