[solved but I might ask here again] Hello! I'm trying out new OS

[SEAPOPSICLE]

I am very new to linux community and I would like to try Linux, but I don't know that there's so many "Linuxes" (Linix???) And I have no Idea which one for me, and how different linux(es) going to fit me.

I did watch some tutorial and most of them aren't that helpful except for one video (which I forgot which one) so now I do have some general knowledge about linux in general but very very very limited.

I do know that(please correct me if I am wrong)

• Distro is (to me) like different variants of linux. Hence why I said "So many Linuxes"
• Certain Distros specializes in different things and also has a very different "feel." But, There's beginner friendly Linux distros like mint, ubuntu?, pop os, etc...
• Apparently some of the distros have a "lifetime?" So you have to choose the one that have a long lifetime.
• Arch is VERY VERY favorable(and also Superior and flexible) but NO!
• Mint is most likely my Distro of choice due to how it's pre-laid out for me. but maybe isn't?

I am looking for stability, (as in less things breaking and less error codes brickwall) everything pre-laid out,
app/program support(I can Install ANYTHING), the thing to work on my devices(very important),
good performance/lightweightness(doesn't have to be THE Best, I mean it).
I'll be using it for regular daily use(Browser, media player, file storage not quite like NAS or the other backup thing but more like "places to dump the pictures from our phones" etc) +Moderate Word, excel, presentation slide and, beginner level video editing, music making(for new hobby but less likely) and less update.

Not trying to Game(yet) Or have a reaaally pretty, customized setup (srsly, changing wallpaper and change the color of the "taskbar" is enough to make me happy.)

My devices are;

• Dell Inspiron N4050 With Intel Pentium something something, 4gb of ram. - Currently Inactive, refuses to turn on
• Toshiba laptop which I forgot the name of the model. Nvm, I didn't find it, so I got HP 200-4200 Intel Atom, 1GB RAM, 32 bit. Can I have 32 bit Linux? Do you guys know 32 bit word processor programs that'll work with this? Or I can just install 64 bit Linux. - Also Inactive, refuses to turn on
• Two Macbooks which model and mac os versions are; (Written as) Macbook w/ 10.6 MacOs. Core 2 Duo 4GB DDR2.

And

• MacBook air also core 2 Duo 4GB but DDR3. w/ 10.11 MacOs (Edit: it's working and it's my Daily, turns out my Mac is what you call as Macbook Air 3.1)

Update - Now running MX Linux on both Mac Devices, MX 16.Something something on my black mac and MX 25 on my white mac

Would like the DDR2 Macbook to be my dad's media player, browser and CAD, my dad like to draw stuff)

Here's some tested Distros on the black mac

LMDE - Work fine except for it's network problem
Debians 10.13.0, 10.13.0 xfce, 12.1.0 - Just didn't show up when booting
MX 23 - Work fine (installed)
MX 25 64-bit - IT BOOTS?!?!
Trixie pup - I forgot the result lol nah, just having no Idea what to do
Alpine - bricks my mac, I'm stuck at the white startup screen
Alpine update - Tried it again, It also didn't show up
Zorin - Working, wifi didn't show up and the keyboard didn't work and somehow the right side of the keyboard becomes the numpad?
Mageia - Didn't show up on boot
Q4os - Also not showing on boot

Having hard time imstalling rEFInd

How do I test all of em? I open the browser and just try Loging in and watching youtube

Distros I have tried on my MacAir

Zorin: Works fine! Sometimes there's a noticable "drag" in it but still a wee bit faster than my black mac.
Mint XFCE: Work
Debians: Able to boot thanks to the guy who recomends me to install rEFInder. So far so hood
MX 25: Literally in it now.
Update: It's now MX 25.1

 

[The Duck]

Have a read.
An old article but spot on.

Linux is NOT Windows

Then give this a look.

I would download and install Ventoy and install several different Linux distros to a USB flash drive and give them a try.

Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.

www.ventoy.net

Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.

www.ventoy.net

Start with these.

Linux Lite - Simple, Fast, and User-Friendly

Linux Lite is a free easy to use linux based operating system that is suitable for people who are new to linux.

www.linuxliteos.com

Linux Lite - Help Manual

Description to go here.

www.linuxliteos.com

Home - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

www.linuxmint.com

Documentation - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

www.linuxmint.com

Welcome to the forums.

 

[Brickwizard]

I do know that(please correct me if I am wrong)

• Distro is (to me) like different variants of linux. Hence why I said "So many Linuxes"
• Certain Distros specializes in different things and also has a very different "feel." But, There's beginner friendly Linux distros like mint, ubuntu?, pop os, etc...
• Apparently some of the distros have a "lifetime?" So you have to choose the one that have a long lifetime.
• Arch is VERY VERY favorable(and also Superior and flexible) but NO!
• Mint is most likely my Distro of choice due to how it's pre-laid out for me. but maybe isn't?

Welcome to the forums,
there are over 500 different distributions [distro's] but many are similar
yes there are some very specialist distributions [ones that you may never see are transport related such as Aero Linux used in fly by wire aircraft or automotive Linux running the CPU in many vehicles] but above all there are around 20 pen-testing [hacking] distro's as a newbie avoid at all cost
Distributions come in 3 basic forms, stable, which usually have a life of around 6 years, rolling which gets regular updates but can break the system and testing [or nightly] this is cutting edge and would only normally be used by competent users
Arch users will say it's easy for beginners, most will disagree [myself including]
Mint in both forms [Ubuntu based 22 or Debian based LMDE] are both popular with beginners, as are the many flavours of Ubuntu, MX-linux, Parrot Home edition, for older kit there are lightweight build such as Linux -Lite and Kubuntu but the list is endless,

As always, we recommend you download and run Live [without installing] say 6 different builds to see which you like best and which works best on your kit,
please also read the links in my signature below

 

[bob466]

Welcome to the Forum.

Virtualbox is very good for trying different Distros or Ventoy.

Only you can decide what Distro is best for you..what I like...you may not. Some people on youtube claim Linux Mint is a beginners Distro but many beginners have so many problems with it and screw it up because Linux isn't windoze.

 

[SEAPOPSICLE]

Thank you for all of the replies everyone!

Linux isn't windoze.

Linux is NOT Windows

Oh yeah, thx for reminding that. This should be me getting my first smartphone all over again. (I get exposed to windows 7 b4 my family got android phones)

By the way...

we recommend you download and run Live

Virtualbox is very good for trying different Distros or Ventoy.

which one's better and more likely to be more stable and works on my windows 7 pc?

 

[kc1di]

Hello @SEAPOPSICLE
Welcome to the Linux.org forum, enjoy!
I would advise you to try several distros live see which one will fit your needs best and that is pleasing for you to use. Then install that one. For a new user I don't think you will go wrong with Mint. Good luck in the search. once you get started you may find this page helpful in learning Linux.

https://labex.io/linuxjourney

 

[McCloud]

You asked "Can I install two or more Distros?" and the answer is that you can if you partition your hard drive and install a different distro on each partition. It would be easier to just test drive and then select a single distro or maybe run another distro in a virtual machine.

 

[APTI]

I am very new to linux community and I would like to try Linux, but I don't know that there's so many "Linuxes" (Linix???) And I have no Idea which one for me, and how different linux(es) going to fit me.

I did watch some tutorial and most of them aren't that helpful except for one video (which I forgot which one) so now I do have some general knowledge about linux in general but very very very limited.

I do know that(please correct me if I am wrong)

• Distro is (to me) like different variants of linux. Hence why I said "So many Linuxes"
• Certain Distros specializes in different things and also has a very different "feel." But, There's beginner friendly Linux distros like mint, ubuntu?, pop os, etc...
• Apparently some of the distros have a "lifetime?" So you have to choose the one that have a long lifetime.
• Arch is VERY VERY favorable(and also Superior and flexible) but NO!
• Mint is most likely my Distro of choice due to how it's pre-laid out for me. but maybe isn't?

I am looking for stability (as in less things breaking and less error codes brickwall) everything pre-laid out, app/program support(I can Install ANYTHING), the thing to work on my device(very important), good performance/lightweightness(doesn't have to be THE Best, I mean it). I'll be using it for regular daily use(Browser, media player etc) +Moderate Word, excel, presentation slide and, beginner level video editing, music making(for new hobby but less likely) and less update. Not trying to Game(yet) Or have a reaaally pretty, customized setup (srsly, changing wallpaper and change the color of the "taskbar" is enough to make me happy.)

My devices are;

• Dell Inspiron N4050 With Intel Pentium something something, 4gb of ram.
• Toshiba laptop which I forgot the name of the model.
• Macbook which model and mac os version I also forgot.

(sorry guys, the last two laptops are currently not In my possession but I would like to make it as a project to occupy myself in the holiday. Would like the last two to be my dad's media player, browser and CAD, my dad like to draw stuff)

also, question for you guys...

• Can I install two or more Distros?
• How much Linux distros have you tried in order to find your daily/main distros?
• Based on what I want, Is it Linux mint or nah?

stick to the major distros.

Fedora, ubuntu, Debian... mint is ok but mostly for people that are used to windows and not willing to learn a little different. Mint's popularity is primarily due to that and not that it is a better distro. In fact they all revolve around the same kernel and it is just the periphery that changes.

Best thing is try each of the major distros out and see what you find best. Don't rely on others to tell you.

 

[SEAPOPSICLE]

Hello @SEAPOPSICLE
Welcome to the Linux.org forum, enjoy!
I would advise you to try several distros live see which one will fit your needs best and that is pleasing for you to use. Then install that one. For a new user I don't think you will go wrong with Mint. Good luck in the search. once you get started you may find this page helpful in learning Linux.

Thx!

 

[SEAPOPSICLE]

stick to the major distros.

Fedora, ubuntu, Debian... mint is ok but mostly for people that are used to windows and not willing to learn a little different. Mint's popularity is primarily due to that and not that it is a better distro. In fact they all revolve around the same kernel and it is just the periphery that changes.

Best thing is try each of the major distros out and see what you find best. Don't rely on others to tell you.

Mint difference to other distro is just how linux looks? Alright then, thx!

What would be the step up in terms of stability(less things break) But I kept seeing try different things so I would guess that different distros is unstable at different things?

 

[SEAPOPSICLE]

You asked "Can I install two or more Distros?" and the answer is that you can if you partition your hard drive and install a different distro on each partition. It would be easier to just test drive and then select a single distro or maybe run another distro in a virtual machine.

I see... thx

 

[CaffeineAddict]

I am looking for stability (as in less things breaking and less error codes brickwall) everything pre-laid out, app/program support(I can Install ANYTHING)

What would be the step up in terms of stability(less things break)

See this link for why Debian:

Debian -- Reasons to use Debian

www.debian.org

You won't have things breaking, the only exception is what DE (Dektop Environment) you opt to install, not all desktops are stable and that may ruin your expectations about stability, but Debian is otherwise well known for stability.

 

[ron.alan]

I am very new to linux community and I would like to try Linux, but I don't know that there's so many "Linuxes"

Technically, Linux is not the operating system. It's the kernel. Linux Mint is a fine OS for a beginner (and anybody). However, for an OS I'd recommend Devuan, and for the DE I'd recommend Mate.

 

[theLegionWithin]

my dns sink has only 2gb ram, I run this distro on it --> https://dietpi.com/
32bit distros still do exist but they are slowly dying. it'd be better long term to get a 64bit device - this is the company I chose for my dns sink --> https://www.friendlyelec.com, they're relatively inexpensive.

if you choose a rolling release distro (like Arch) then it's "LTS" forever.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Technically, Linux is not the operating system. It's the kernel.

Sure. It doesn't really matter because technically when someone talks about Linux everybody knows they are talking about a GNU/Linux distribution unless you unless are on the kernel mailinglist. Also it's easier to say Linux than GNU/Linux because Linux is shorter and on every Linux forum or sub-reddit everybody wil still know what you are talking about. There are also distributions that don't have GNU tools, so it's just easier to just call them all Linux when you are on a Linux forum or sub-reddit.

Is It Linux or GNU/Linux? | Linux Journal

www.linuxjournal.com

Thread 'Linux or GNU/Linux?'

Sep 12, 2024

There are tensions if I may call them so, between FSF and Linus.

Here is what R. Stallman says:

Why do you call the system we use GNU/Linux and not Linux?

Most operating system distributions based on Linux as kernel are basically modified versions of the GNU operating system. We began developing GNU in 1984, years before Linus Torvalds started to write his kernel. Our goal was to develop a complete free operating system. Of course, we did not develop all the parts ourselves—but we led the way. We developed most of the central components, forming the largest single contribution...

• CaffeineAddict
• Replies: 0
• Forum: General Linux Topics

• 

 

[CaffeineAddict]

everybody knows they are talking about a GNU/Linux Linux distribution

I'm not sure FSF embraces the term "distro", they seem to refer to different flavors as just GNU/Linux, and distros as we know them are usually not embraced by them nor called like that.

There are GNU OS's that don't use Linux kernel, but Hurd, so these are called GNU OS's, but are not distros as we call them.

For them it seem that distros are 1 thing while GNU/Linux encompasses everything including distros.

Lol I'm not even sure I wrote this correctly, the whole point is that FSF doesn't like you call it Linux OS, now you get it..

 

[f33dm3bits]

I'm not sure FSF embraces the term "distro", they seem to refer to different flavors as just GNU/Linux, and distros as we know them are usually not embraced by them nor called like that.

Different people will have different definitions, the point is everybody knows you are talking about GNU/Linux or another Linux distributions when someone says Linux. The same way when someone says "I enjoyed this pizza". That they are probably talking about a specific pizza with a flavor, ie: margherita, stracchino, capricciosa or large American pepperoni pizza, etc. For example if I go to a Windows forum and say I'm running Herde, no one will know what you are talking about but when you say I'm running Linux even most of Windows users will know what you mean. Might not be a perfect comparison but you get the picture.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

the point is everybody knows you are talking about GNU/Linux or another Linux distributions when someone says Linux.

That's your point, I wasn't replying against it, but my point is that it's wrong to say "Linux" when referring to OS, everybody should call it GNU/Linux.

I'm on Stallman's side about this because he's absolutely right about it.

To be honest I call it Linux myself too, but I'm thinking about dumping that and call it GNU/Linux from now on.

Let me test...
I use Debian distro, which is GNU/Linux OS.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I'm on Stallman's side about this because he's absolutely right about it.

Technically I agree but since most people know what you are talking about when you are on a Linux forum or sub-reddit it's fine to call it Linux. There's no Linux police that's going to lift you from you bed at 03:00am for having called it Linux instead of GNU/Linux.

To be honest I call it Linux myself too, but I'm thinking about dumping that and call it GNU/Linux from now on.

Let me test...
I use Debian distro, which is GNU/Linux OS.

Most people just use the distribution name when they talk about it on a forum. So if you want to go that way you might as well say I run Debian and Debian is a GNU/Linux OS. Also som distributions only have Linux in their name and some don't, ie Arch Linux, EndeavourOS, PikaOS, MX Linux, Alma Linux, NixOS. Then you get back to the flavor theory .

 

[SEAPOPSICLE]

You won't have things breaking, the only exception is what DE (Dektop Environment) you opt to install, not all desktops are stable and that may ruin your expectations about stability, but Debian is otherwise well known for stability.

Thx for the response! What's a good DE for me then?