To the Linux community

[James]

Hello

I understand there are a few members on this forum who are interested in the Linux side of things.

If you are one of them, and are seeing this I would like to ask you a question. What Linux distro should I use? The computer is relatively decent specs - runs windows 10 smoothly, so the smoothness is not a worry. I hate the Linux distros where it is all glassy and glossy - unnecessary styling. I like all desktop environments, but if they were in order Gnome would probably be last.

So thank you in advance! There are too many, and I don’t want to have to go through and test each one so I thought I would ask this community which is their favourite!

~ James

P.s Not sure if this is allowed on the forum, but I suppose in chill out room it is fine

 

[cereberus]

Well, I am certainly no expert but the Kali Linux is one distro that plays well in a Hyper-V virtual machine as it can run in enhanced mode making file/drive sharing with windowsand also get sound.

It was much easier to install than ubuntu.

Most linux distros will only work in basic mode with Hyper-V.

Using a vm is a good way to introduce yourself to Linux.

 

[Winuser]

I run Linux Mint in a VMware VM. Before Windows 7 I use to run Mandrake Linux as my only OS. If Windows gets to restrictive, Linux Mint will be my first choice.

 

[James]

If Windows gets to restrictive, Linux Mint will be my first choice.

This is likely to happen.

 

[James]

Well, I am certainly no expert but the Kali Linux is one distro that plays well in a Hyper-V virtual machine as it can run in enhanced mode making file/drive sharing with windowsand also get sound.

It was much easier to install than ubuntu.

Most linux distros will only work in basic mode with Hyper-V.

Using a vm is a good way to introduce yourself to Linux.

Thanks, I did some research on Kali Linux, I’m liking the no-nonsense interface. I’ve played around with Ubuntu and Linux mint in vms and I prefer mint, as Ubuntu did, as you said, seem a bit long-winded in the install process. I don’t want something trying to be windows. I want something trying to be a good all rounder operating system, and kali looks good for this.

 

[martyfelker]

I suggest you try Manjaro Linux.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
The easiest way is to use any Live Distro so you can just create a bootable USB stick, boot it up and start playing with it -- you don't need to install anything and it runs from the USB device.

From the iso create a bootable USB using RUFUS. You will need RUFUS since the boot usb needs a hybrid "ISOlinux" program to create the Linux bootloader on the device which Rufus will fetch from the Internet.

For Windows Users - the most "Windows like" Linux Live distro is probably Fedora XCE or Fedora KDE. Any of these should be OK.

Fedora Spins | The Fedora Project

spins.fedoraproject.org

Good thing about Live distros is that they aren't "persistent" so if you hose things up just re-boot again.

Live distros usually have drivers for almost any hardware in them already built in.

Here's a test Fedora kde system :


And the desktop : (Including all 3 versions of Ms Edge for Linux) too.




Windows users shouldn't have too much trouble navigating this type of Linux system.

Once you get experienced you can make Linux incredibly "Mean and Lean" and run it on quite modest hardware too.

My normal system is ArchLinux which is about as far away from Windows as you can get -- but you can control absolutely everything so zero bloat and once you get used to the command line it's not that hard -- but I'd only go for this after you have a bit of experience since the initial learning curve can be quite steep - especially if you are used to for years of dong things "The Windows Way".

Added -- You can also analyze start up etc to speed up the whole boot process incredibly

Here the biggest delay is on the Network Manager initialisation -- that's probably because of the "Virtualisation" of the built in old Wifi network card on the laptop -- 54 mbps - but it's an 8 year old laptop !!





Hope this helps a few.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Josey Wales]

I use PCLinuxOS and have been for years. The Mate Version.

 

[Firas]

You will have a lot of fun with
Arcolinux.com

 

[James]

I have had a while to think about my Linux operating system choice, and because I had many suggestions decided to use a bit of each (or most of them).

1. Josey Wales- I looked at PCLinuxOS and really liked the Mate version. I remembered that I liked the mate version to carry that onwards and narrow down further.
2. Jimbo - I like fedora, have used it before so looked at the Mate version of fedora.
3. martyfelker - I liked the clean, modern look of manjaro and how open it is, hence I looked at more spread out oses.
4. cereberus - Kali Linux is super clean, so I will remember it as an option for the future.
5. Winuser - Mint, classic design. I’ve used it in the past however, so wanted something new
6. Firas - I’ve used Arch Linux variations before so this isn’t new to me, and a really good suggestion - thanks!

So, in conclusion I ended up combining all of these and ending on Fedora Mate-compiz desktop. (spins)

Thank you all for the help!
-James

 

[ProgEngi]

Confused, confused, confused...

I’m totally lost which Linux distro/Ubuntu version to choose for learning having zero background, however, I’m comfortable using Command Line/Powershell

System: HP Envy DV6 | Dual Boot HDD & SSD:

1. Processor: i5-3210M
2. RAM: 8.00 GB
3. HDD: 750 GB | Partitioned W8.1 and DATA, OS partition will be wiped for recommended version of Linux distro/Ubuntu installation
4. SSD: 250 GB | W10 will be wiped for Clean Install W11

Looking forward in anticipation of an advise

 

[Josey Wales]

I use MX Linux 23.1 on an Intel Nuc and it works great. It is based off of Debian.

 

[ProgEngi]

I use MX Linux 23.1 on an Intel Nuc and it works great. It is based off of Debian.

Thanks for suggesting, I'll download and hope it can be installed on mentioned laptop

 

[ProgEngi]

I use MX Linux 23.1 on an Intel Nuc and it works great. It is based off of Debian.

Please also indicate which one – Learning will start after installation?

1. Xfce
2. KDE
3. Fluxbox

 

[Firas]

Confused, confused, confused...

I’m totally lost which Linux distro/Ubuntu version to choose for learning having zero background, however, I’m comfortable using Command Line/Powershell

System: HP Envy DV6 | Dual Boot HDD & SSD:

1. Processor: i5-3210M
2. RAM: 8.00 GB
3. HDD: 750 GB | Partitioned W8.1 and DATA, OS partition will be wiped for recommended version of Linux distro/Ubuntu installation
4. SSD: 250 GB | W10 will be wiped for Clean Install W11

Looking forward in anticipation of an advise

Start

Manjaro Linux​

ArcoLinux​

Garuda Linux​

MakuluLinux​

Enjoy

 

[Josey Wales]

Please also indicate which one – Learning will start after installation?

1. Xfce
2. KDE
3. Fluxbox

XFCE

 

[ProgEngi]

Josey Wales & Firas thank you very much, will keep you abreast

 

[Marie SWE]

Confused, confused, confused...

I’m totally lost which Linux distro/Ubuntu version to choose for learning having zero background, however, I’m comfortable using Command Line/Powershell

System: HP Envy DV6 | Dual Boot HDD & SSD:

1. Processor: i5-3210M
2. RAM: 8.00 GB
3. HDD: 750 GB | Partitioned W8.1 and DATA, OS partition will be wiped for recommended version of Linux distro/Ubuntu installation
4. SSD: 250 GB | W10 will be wiped for Clean Install W11

Looking forward in anticipation of an advise

the hundreds and hundreds of distros and on top of that Desktop environments.

You having zero background.. in linux but is comfortable with windows powershell.
The first thing you will notise is that only a few commands is the same,.. so get the big command book out and be ready to start from zero
Not really that bad.. some of them is really similar.

On the distro i say how hard learning curve is you ready to take on..
For that machine i say Debian12 with Xfce desktop for best performance.. But for someone new to linux i always, recommend starting with LinuxMint Cinnamon to have the best GUI support as you are used to with windows since win2000.. Then after a few months or so, go over to linux mint LMDE edition.. it is a tiny bit less gui supported and a tiny bit less user friendly Then Mint21 is.
Then you learn how to switch out the desktop environment to Xfce that is even less user friendly.. but when you put Xfce on LMDE some of the GUI's stay behind for you to use in the Xfce environment.. When you feel you start to get a feel for it.. Then you step over to the pure Debian12 Xfce version..
That way you will get a smoother step in to the linux world as you slowly will get back to the root distro that has less flashy things.

When you start with Linux stay on one branch of the tree.. as then you only need to keep up with one type of package manager and one set of base structure.
When you start feeling how linux ticks, then you can jump between arch based, rhel based etc..
Don't make it harder then you have to in the beginning, that is how some so fast gives up and just say Linux is crap
also the grass is not greener on the other side, so distrojumping wont solve anything.. MX, Mint, Ubuntu is more or less identical .. it all boils down to what distro it builds on (Debian in my examples now) and what packages that is installed..

a distro is just about what packages it has installed on the base distro it builds on.. You will notice that with time
I made a for fun post showing off just this on Tenforums https://www.tenforums.com/vip/185890-show-us-your-desktop-11-a-259.html#post2573813
where i took Debian12 Xfce and transformed that in to LMDE6 that is a Mint distro.. Its all a bout packages,...so distrojumping on hundreds of distros won't give you anything useful to learn faster.. its the opposite it will slow you down.

So walk the tree back to its root, that will give you more and faster then distro jumping.
and if you want the nightmare new beginner experience that will get ju frustrated to maximum.... Start with Arch. *LOL* That will make you hate the computer, But you will learn the terminal.

I say. Go Mint21 Cinnamon.. then LMDE and change to Xfce desktop environment after a while to make it gradually harder.. then in the end Debian12 Xfce.
If you want a challenge and you ain't afraid to spend hours and hours solving things.. Start with Debian12 Xfce and see if its to hard or not.. You might learn really fast.
It took me 5years to understand how Linux ticks with zero knowlage of Linux or Unix when i started.
I still learning as Linux is not windows, and my 30 years of windows knowledge is more of a disadvantage then an advantage to have. It took me a year to stop thinking windows solutions to a linux problem...... The muscle memory sucks. *LOL*

Good luck on the Linux journey

 

[ProgEngi]

the hundreds and hundreds of distros and on top of that Desktop environments.

You having zero background.. in linux but is comfortable with windows powershell.
The first thing you will notise is that only a few commands is the same,.. so get the big command book out and be ready to start from zero
Not really that bad.. some of them is really similar.

On the distro i say how hard learning curve is you ready to take on..
For that machine i say Debian12 with Xfce desktop for best performance.. But for someone new to linux i always, recommend starting with LinuxMint Cinnamon to have the best GUI support as you are used to with windows since win2000.. Then after a few months or so, go over to linux mint LMDE edition.. it is a tiny bit less gui supported and a tiny bit less user friendly Then Mint21 is.
Then you learn how to switch out the desktop environment to Xfce that is even less user friendly.. but when you put Xfce on LMDE some of the GUI's stay behind for you to use in the Xfce environment.. When you feel you start to get a feel for it.. Then you step over to the pure Debian12 Xfce version..
That way you will get a smoother step in to the linux world as you slowly will get back to the root distro that has less flashy things.

When you start with Linux stay on one branch of the tree.. as then you only need to keep up with one type of package manager and one set of base structure.
When you start feeling how linux ticks, then you can jump between arch based, rhel based etc..
Don't make it harder then you have to in the beginning, that is how some so fast gives up and just say Linux is crap
also the grass is not greener on the other side, so distrojumping wont solve anything.. MX, Mint, Ubuntu is more or less identical .. it all boils down to what distro it builds on (Debian in my examples now) and what packages that is installed..

a distro is just about what packages it has installed on the base distro it builds on.. You will notice that with time
I made a for fun post showing off just this on Tenforums https://www.tenforums.com/vip/185890-show-us-your-desktop-11-a-259.html#post2573813
where i took Debian12 Xfce and transformed that in to LMDE6 that is a Mint distro.. Its all a bout packages,...so distrojumping on hundreds of distros won't give you anything useful to learn faster.. its the opposite it will slow you down.

So walk the tree back to its root, that will give you more and faster then distro jumping.
and if you want the nightmare new beginner experience that will get ju frustrated to maximum.... Start with Arch. *LOL* That will make you hate the computer, But you will learn the terminal.

I say. Go Mint21 Cinnamon.. then LMDE and change to Xfce desktop environment after a while to make it gradually harder.. then in the end Debian12 Xfce.
If you want a challenge and you ain't afraid to spend hours and hours solving things.. Start with Debian12 Xfce and see if its to hard or not.. You might learn really fast.
It took me 5years to understand how Linux ticks with zero knowlage of Linux or Unix when i started.
I still learning as Linux is not windows, and my 30 years of windows knowledge is more of a disadvantage then an advantage to have. It took me a year to stop thinking windows solutions to a linux problem...... The muscle memory sucks. *LOL*

Good luck on the Linux journey

BRAVO!

My Windows journey dates back to 5.25" floppy and still lot to learn, I've bookmarked this post and keep visiting for the invaluable advice

Thank you

 

[Marie SWE]

BRAVO!

My Windows journey dates back to 5.25" floppy and still lot to learn, I've bookmarked this post and keep visiting for the invaluable advice

Thank you

My first windows was on 3.5" floppy's.. but i started with an intel 8088 Commodore PC 10-II with 2x 5.25" floppy and MS-DOS, i then upgraded it to 1024KB Ram and to a MFM 10MB harddrive and then to two 40MB drives in the end of use.. I still have the computer and it works.

as i dislike Linux and i dislike Windows and i dislike Mac-OS.. i wont make anything sound better then what it is, i only give the naked truth...
I only see Linux, windows and mac as an operating systems and what they are individually good for.... Windows is good on it's stuff.. and Linux on it's stuff and Mac on its stuff.. It all is about using the right tool for the right job.. as you dont use a fork for fixing a roof leak.. in the same manner you dont use Linux or Mac for gaming, you use windows for that etc.

But linux is good for a lot of stuff, and if you plan to get a job in IT just mention you know Linux and you have one foot in. as almost all servers in the world is running Linux. I think even Microsoft runs Linux in their big data centers.

Depending on the computer you have, it might be easy or less easy.. Nvidia graphic cards don't play nice with Linux some times.. You mention HP it feels like its an Intel CPU with built in Intel graphics and a intel chipset.. That should play nice with Linux.. Linux and intel is really good friends.