• Chivera@lemmy.world
    9·
    21 days ago

    What’s the best Linux distro for an easy switch from Windows?

    Thank you everyone!! My PC is being left behind by Windows 11.

    • ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml
      331·
      22 days ago

      +1 to Mint. It is a very easy transition & you will not have ragerts.

      Pros:

      1. prettier than windows while having a similar interface

      2. more responsive than windows

      3. more stable than windows

      4. zero spyware/bloatware

      5. basically the same level of software compatibility as windows

      Only things that take some research ahead of time or getting used to imo:

      1. deciding how you want to partition your drives during installation (you can let it automatically do this, but there are reasons to create a different partition structure across drives/have different sized partitions),

      2. mounting drives. There are GUI tools for this (file explorer for mounting, gparted for formatting), so it really isn’t a big deal, but it is a little more difficult than with Windows and you may need to reformat your drives depending what file format they’re currently in.

      3. make sure your motherboard/video card/cpu all work well with linux. They should, but just check first.

      4. note that games requiring kernel level anticheat (aka spyware) won’t work. So if that’s a deal breaker, then dual boot or don’t switch.

      • simbico@lemmy.zip
        10·
        22 days ago

        +1 mint

        I also have a bit higher FPS in some games (both proton and native) but some just don’t run at all

    • besmtt@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      22 days ago

      I’ve used Ubuntu and multiple flavors of mint. I like bazzite the best. Literally zero problems since I switched.

        • theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world
          22·
          22 days ago

          Ah yes, proprietary software, just the “basics” of course. Just install them from the nonfree repo if you want them.

            • theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world
              22·
              22 days ago

              Literally never once had a problem playing any video in browser, from a variety of sites (social media, streaming services, news sites, file sharing sites, ZERO problems. All videos have played every time.)

              Again, just install them if you want them. Nothing is stopping or preventing you from having them, you’re just choosing to complain about something that isn’t even a problem. Users should expect that all the software they want to use comes preinstalled with the OS, including software with EULAs and proprietary licenses that they must agree to, and they’ll never ever need to install a software package? 🙄

                • theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world
                  31·
                  22 days ago

                  You’re just factually incorrect as both twitch and twitter videos play perfectly out of the box.

                  What an arduous mountain you’ve created from the molehill of installing a package using a package manager. My eyes can’t roll harder

                  EDIT: I just checked and adding the nonfree repo and installing the package can even be done entirely from the Discover GUI. It’s literally just a checkbox 🤡 God forbid the user check a box in a GUI, it’ll send them straight back to Windows 😂

    • sanderium@lemmy.zipEnglish
      4·
      22 days ago

      Some time ago I answered this question on a post that seems have been deleted but got some good feedback:

      The most important decision as a new Linux user is the desktop environment, the most similar desktop environment to the Windows desktop are KDE Plasma and Cinnamon. This means your best options are:

      • Linux Mint (Cinnamon): They are the creators of the Cinnamon desktop environment and will be the default on installation.
      • Kubuntu (KDE Plasma): This is Ubuntu’s official KDE Plasma flavour, it comes with everything as usual just different desktop.
      • Fedora (KDE Edition): Same story as Ubuntu here, only that with Fedora’s own packages and environment.

      First I would check if the hardware is compatible (99% of the time is). Then I would check what software you need and/or want and check if it is available at these distros, and get familiar on how to install the software packages (either with their respective app stores or in the command line).

      There is a lot to learn but with these distros you can just install, forget and simply keep using them for eternity.

      The last and more important tip I have is to not to worry about the sea of options out there, you will not be missing anything huge by picking one or the other. Which is how most of new users feel (I did in my time).

      Hope you have a great Linux journey mate!

    • rtxn@lemmy.worldM
      3·
      22 days ago

      That question is like asking which superhero is the strongest in a comic shop. There is an answer, but some people have made their own opinion part of their identity, and are extremely passionate emotional about it.

      It’s Linux Mint, by far. Others like Fedora and Pop are solid choices, and things like Arch, Bazzite, or CachyOS have their merits, but Mint offers by far the most uncomplicated, entry-level experience.

      • Cevilia (she/they/…)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        1·
        21 days ago

        You’re not the only one. I jumped ship from Win11, hopped around a bit, but settled on Kubuntu early last year. I’m perfectly happy here, and unless they decide to ram degenerate AI down my throat I’m probably not moving.

    • Olhonestjim@lemmy.world
      1·
      21 days ago

      I’m not helpless with computers, but I am not a power user. I browse, game, watch videos, maintain an old mp3 collection, etc. I don’t really program.

      I went with PopOS and it’s been perfectly fine. No issues or complaints to speak of.

    • Cevilia (she/they/…)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      1·
      21 days ago

      Unpopular opinion: There is no one “best” distro. I’d recommend you download a few, try them out, see what clicks for you. Nobody knows your use case as well as you do.