Have heard Linux is the way to go

Fishy

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Up until 2 months ago had never heard Linux mentioned being used in a home computer user setting.
That story is something total different then what I am curious about.
It is a 2 fold paradox from where I stand.
If Linux is 10 times better then anything else every - -

1. which Linux is the right choice for a person who knows zero about Linux ? ? ?
I don't want to type command lines every time I want to do something.

2. is Linux plug and play like Windows has been ?
meaning you go out and buy a new keyboard / mouse / sound card , reboot system windows prompts for driver install or ask to insert disc with said drivers for install.

Have been walked into the corner and pushed off the cliff of Windows 10 with no way back.
The problem with this theory is , not everybody wants to or can afford to run out and keep buying new products because there is no support for after market older products after an update. It is now come to an end for Windows offering drivers supported by Microsoft.
This has left me with a non-functioning gaming keyboard , non-functioning gaming mice. There answer as well all support forums - well just go buy new it is not like they are that expensive. <---- This story leads down a different rabbit hole, not related to Linux.

My plan was to have a small tower to run old games on, while I use my older gaming stuff. Plus play HD and or 4K content to my TV from said tower. Now that all my systems have been forced upgraded to Win 10 everything has become non-compliant some of them had played well for over 4 years , now they will not talk to each other ( kind of like a relationship gone sour ).

Tower is a Lenovo SFF ( small form factor ) about the size of a 2 liter bottle. It has forced Win 10 on it that does not recognize anything any longer - had win 7 on it. It did and auto update to my surprise.
system in question - lenovo think centre m79 sff - A8 pro 7600B processor / 8gig ddr 3 ram / 320 gig HDD until I get a SSD to replace it.
The question for me has become Linux ? which 1 / friend of ours says use Linux Mint , I checked on it found there is many different 1's with everyone having a differing opinion as to which is best / 18 or 19 ? KDE or not ? or no this is better because this is what I am using. Yet now there is a Mint 19.1 Cinnamon which nobody is recommending makes me wonder if others are way better why make a newer version ?
 


Hello Fishy,

Linux is very usable on the home desktop.

Here's a good read.
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

https://fosspost.org/reviews/distributions/linuxmint-19-review

https://fosspost.org/reviews/distributions/complete-review-linux-mint-18-amazing-already


Here is a link where you can test drive Linux Mint 18 or Linux Mint 19 and depending on you computer hardware determines which desktop version is best.

https://www.linux.org/threads/how-to-try-linux-mint-on-your-windows-pc.20993/


Linux Mint Cinnamon
needs a powerful graphic adapter to run it so if using a computer with a low power graphics adapter than I recommend Linux Mint Xfce.

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/choose.html

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

https://linuxmint.com/download_all.php
 
Now that is a fast reply.
Made the post went to Chiropractor, come back login get a prompt of reply to post.
 
I would have to agree with poorguy that Linux Mint is probably your best bet. I used Mint Cinnamon off and on for quite awhile now but recently changed to Arch Linux with Cinnamon Desktop (I don't recommend for people new to Linux). During my time trying different distros I ran into MX linux which I really liked and found easy to use. It ran perfect on an older machine I had that couldn't run Cinnamon.
https://mxlinux.org/
Maybe check that one out too.
 
I'm going type my ass off ,and hoping you read the entire thing lol.

If you are " new " to Linux and do not want to mess around in the terminal I would have suggested Mint .The default desktop looks somewhat like windows 7 and sadly I do not like it .Also I find that it doesn't work properly on old hardware , for you it wouldnt be wise .You could use an Ubuntu machine , Probably with gnome (default) . It's wont take more than a few minutes to setup it up , installation and config(update and install restricted extras) .Mint and ubuntu is targeted towards newer users because you can use it out of the box .Meaning there isn't much you have to do to get everything working 100% .You also have different " Flavors " so if you find there is a slight lag you can Try Xfce .I honestly think you should power on a vm and see which you like and afterwards you can install it .You can also look at a live imagine without really installing it onto your system .

Depending on what you want to do ..

If you want to try it in a Vm
1) Get the iso imagine from the site
2) Get Virtualbox
3) install it in virtualbox

If you want to test the live image of a specific distro
1) Go to the distribution site and get a live imagine .You will find it will have different flavours .This means it's running a different DE(Desktop environment) .Really give XFCE a try .
Example:
Ubuntu with Xfce is Xubuntu
Ubuntu with KDE is Kubuntu
2) Get a tool like UsbInstaller which is really easy to use and install it on your Windows machine then from there create a bootable usb using the iso file and the software you downloaded .I recommend using a 4gig+ flash drive .
3) Boot to the USB

Conclusion , both mint and Ubuntu is targeted for new users and it is pretty easy to setup .If you worried about your machine being slow then you will not use a flashy desktop .If you want your desktop to look pretty you will then opt for something like budgie OR KDE .It all depends on you and what you like .With that said Linux will run on practically anything and the support is pretty amazing as well .There is always someone there to help you out.

Best of luck..
 
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I would have suggested Mint .The default desktop looks somewhat like windows 7 and sadly I do not like it .Also I find that it doesn't work properly on old hardware , for you it wouldnt be wise .
Interesting

Runs well and zero complaints on this 2009 computer.

Code:
mdgcomputers@Intel-DG33BU:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Intel-DG33BU Kernel: 4.15.0-43-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.3.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3
          Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: MDGs product: N/A v: N/A serial: <filter>
          Mobo: Intel model: DG33BU v: AAD79951-407 serial: <filter> BIOS: Intel v: DPP3510J.86A.0572.2009.0715.2346
          date: 07/15/2009
CPU:       Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Pentium Dual E2220 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Core Merom rev: D L2 cache: 1024 KiB
          flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 bogomips: 9600
          Speed: 1200 MHz min/max: 1200/2400 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1200 2: 1200
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
          Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: intel unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1440x900~60Hz
          OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel G33 v: 1.4 Mesa 18.0.5 direct render: Yes
Audio:     Device-1: Intel 82801I HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0
          Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-43-generic
Network:   Device-1: Intel 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 20e0 bus ID: 00:19.0
          IF: enp0s25 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 74.53 GiB used: 8.35 GiB (11.2%)
          ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD800AAJS-60M0A0 size: 74.53 GiB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 72.86 GiB used: 8.35 GiB (11.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 35.0 C mobo: N/A
          Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:      Processes: 160 Uptime: 1h 24m Memory: 3.78 GiB used: 765.5 MiB (19.8%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers:
          gcc: 7.3.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.19 inxi: 3.0.27
mdgcomputers@Intel-DG33BU:~$

Runs well and zero complaints on this 2010 computer.

Code:
xxxxxx@Dell-OptiPlex-380:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Dell-OptiPlex-380 Kernel: 4.15.0-24-generic x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.6 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1) Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: desktop System: Dell product: OptiPlex 380 serial: N/A
           Mobo: Dell model: 0HN7XN v: A01 serial: N/A BIOS: Dell v: A02 date: 08/27/2010
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo E7500 (-MCP-) arch: Penryn rev.10 cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 11704
           clock speeds: max: 2933 MHz 1: 1812 MHz 2: 1596 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 ) drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: [email protected]
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel G41 version: 2.1 Mesa 18.0.0-rc5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-24-generic
Network:   Card: Broadcom Limited NetLink BCM57780 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3 v: 3.137 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 120.0GB (7.9% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HTS54161 size: 120.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 110G used: 8.9G (9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 41.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 174 Uptime: 33 min Memory: 1131.9/3844.4MB Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56
xxxxxx@Dell-OptiPlex-380:~$
 
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Good stuff .You installed Mint /Ubuntu with Xfce and Cin .
Just a few things which won't take you long .

Open the terminal and type .

Sudo apt-get update (press enter )
....once that is done
Sudo apt-get upgrade ( press enter )
...Wait for that to finish

Sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
...wait ..Okay it's done

For now that's good .You can install what you need from the software store (Ubuntu software )
 
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@Fishy , @CMcG , @botnet - welcome to linux.org :)

In botnet's post at #6 - for all instances of "imagine", read "image".

In #8 above that is "ubuntu-restricted-extras" with an "s" on the end.

I endorse @CMcG 's comments on the MX-series https://mxlinux.org/ but I don't have a real agenda as I run 80 Distros on two rigs from all of the main LInux Families.

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz
 
@Fishy , @CMcG , @botnet - welcome to linux.org :)

In botnet's post at #6 - for all instances of "imagine", read "image".

In #8 above that is "ubuntu-restricted-extras" with an "s" on the end.

I endorse @CMcG 's comments on the MX-series https://mxlinux.org/ but I don't have a real agenda as I run 80 Distros on two rigs from all of the main LInux Families.

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz
Sorry about the typo hey .This screen is so small .I've been reading over what I typed but I think I missed a few things .Really sorry
 
No need to be sorry - you are getting in and helping early, and that is commendable.

Enjoy your Linux :)

Wizard
 
Interesting

Runs well and zero complaints on this 2009 computer.

Code:
mdgcomputers@Intel-DG33BU:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Intel-DG33BU Kernel: 4.15.0-43-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.3.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3
          Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: MDGs product: N/A v: N/A serial: <filter>
          Mobo: Intel model: DG33BU v: AAD79951-407 serial: <filter> BIOS: Intel v: DPP3510J.86A.0572.2009.0715.2346
          date: 07/15/2009
CPU:       Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Pentium Dual E2220 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Core Merom rev: D L2 cache: 1024 KiB
          flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 bogomips: 9600
          Speed: 1200 MHz min/max: 1200/2400 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1200 2: 1200
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
          Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: intel unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1440x900~60Hz
          OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel G33 v: 1.4 Mesa 18.0.5 direct render: Yes
Audio:     Device-1: Intel 82801I HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0
          Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-43-generic
Network:   Device-1: Intel 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 20e0 bus ID: 00:19.0
          IF: enp0s25 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 74.53 GiB used: 8.35 GiB (11.2%)
          ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD800AAJS-60M0A0 size: 74.53 GiB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 72.86 GiB used: 8.35 GiB (11.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 35.0 C mobo: N/A
          Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:      Processes: 160 Uptime: 1h 24m Memory: 3.78 GiB used: 765.5 MiB (19.8%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers:
          gcc: 7.3.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.19 inxi: 3.0.27
mdgcomputers@Intel-DG33BU:~$

Runs well and zero complaints on this 2010 computer.

Code:
xxxxxx@Dell-OptiPlex-380:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Dell-OptiPlex-380 Kernel: 4.15.0-24-generic x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.6 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1) Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: desktop System: Dell product: OptiPlex 380 serial: N/A
           Mobo: Dell model: 0HN7XN v: A01 serial: N/A BIOS: Dell v: A02 date: 08/27/2010
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo E7500 (-MCP-) arch: Penryn rev.10 cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 11704
           clock speeds: max: 2933 MHz 1: 1812 MHz 2: 1596 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 ) drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: [email protected]
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel G41 version: 2.1 Mesa 18.0.0-rc5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-24-generic
Network:   Card: Broadcom Limited NetLink BCM57780 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3 v: 3.137 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 120.0GB (7.9% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HTS54161 size: 120.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 110G used: 8.9G (9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 41.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 174 Uptime: 33 min Memory: 1131.9/3844.4MB Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56
xxxxxx@Dell-OptiPlex-380:~$

Mint Cinnamon runs very well on my 2005 Asus laptop, and my wife's 1st generation i7 920 with a lower end Intel mobo (don't remember the model #) I don't remember the exact year I built that machine but I believe it was 2006. I use nothing but 64 bit Cinnamon.
 
I have had issues with uefi and secure boot installations. Boot loader issues, os-prober issues. Thats where I get confused. I Prefer the old system. Shit, I learned on DOS 5.0. I'm dating myself, I'm new to this group and I'm drunk lol. I have to say its way more friendly here than the arch bbs.
 
I have had issues with uefi and secure boot installations. Boot loader issues, os-prober issues. Thats where I get confused. I Prefer the old system. Shit, I learned on DOS 5.0. I'm dating myself, I'm new to this group and I'm drunk lol. I have to say its way more friendly here than the arch bbs.

Hello CMcG, and welcome to Linux.org! Happy New Year as well! Don't worry about dating yourself here. I think we have a majority in the "Getting Old as Dirt" category. I'm 63 myself and started with a Commodore 64. I think we were using DOS 2.0 on the shared office computer at the company I worked for. What a time that was!
 
Hello CMcG, and welcome to Linux.org! Happy New Year as well! Don't worry about dating yourself here. I think we have a majority in the "Getting Old as Dirt" category. I'm 63 myself and started with a Commodore 64. I think we were using DOS 2.0 on the shared office computer at the company I worked for. What a time that was!

I was huge into computers back in the early 90's when I was in High School. I even went to a polytech school (NAIT) for Computer Engineering in 1997 but there wasn't any jobs so I went into the oil field instead. After I had kids I lost my computer skills, its just in the last year that I'm reteaching myself. Plus I'm going back to school for biomedical engineering because oil has tanked in my province anyways.
 
I was huge into computers back in the early 90's when I was in High School. I even went to a polytech school (NAIT) for Computer Engineering in 1997 but there wasn't any jobs so I went into the oil field instead. After I had kids I lost my computer skills, its just in the last year that I'm reteaching myself. Plus I'm going back to school for biomedical engineering because oil has tanked in my province anyways.
Oh Lord! You're oilfield trash too? I'm recently retired from the oil patch. 40+ years of good times!
 
During my time trying different distros I ran into MX linux which I really liked and found easy to use. It ran perfect on an older machine I had
https://mxlinux.org/
Maybe check that one out too.

I've always been an MX Linux fan as in my experience MX Linux always works OOTB.

I just installed MX-18 and works great OOTB.

I recommend it.:)

Code:
MX-18@mx:~
$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: mx Kernel: 4.19.0-1-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 6.3.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3
           Distro: MX-18_x64 Continuum Dec 20  2018 base: Debian GNU/Linux 9 (stretch)
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: Dell product: OptiPlex 360 v: N/A serial: <filter>
           Mobo: Dell model: 0T656F v: A01 serial: <filter> BIOS: Dell v: A01 date: 11/28/2008
CPU:       Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core2 4300 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Core Merom rev: 2 L2 cache: 2048 KiB
           flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 bogomips: 7181
           Speed: 1758 MHz min/max: 1200/1800 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1244 2: 1240
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.2 driver: intel resolution: 1280x1024~60Hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel G33 v: 1.4 Mesa 18.2.6 direct render: Yes
Audio:     Device-1: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.19.0-1-amd64
Network:   Device-1: Broadcom Limited NetLink BCM5784M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe vendor: Dell driver: tg3 v: 3.137 port: ece0
           bus ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 37.25 GiB used: 5.25 GiB (14.1%)
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD400BD-75JMA0 size: 37.25 GiB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 34.42 GiB used: 5.25 GiB (15.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 2.00 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0 C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:      Processes: 162 Uptime: 43m Memory: 3.78 GiB used: 1.15 GiB (30.5%) Init: SysVinit runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 6.3.0
           Shell: bash v: 4.4.12 inxi: 3.0.29
MX-18@mx:~
 
1. which Linux is the right choice for a person who knows zero about Linux ? ? ?
I think the other members have covered this already, but Ubuntu and Mint are probably the most beginner friendly distros.

I don't want to type command lines every time I want to do something.
Most modern Linux distributions can be fully administered using the GUI/desktop. They often have update managers and software centre applications that will help you to install and uninstall additional software from the repositories without needing to use the terminal.
So generally speaking - you don't need to use the terminal at all.

However, the terminal is an extremely powerful tool and can allow you to perform administrative tasks a lot more quickly and easily than using the GUI.

So when you ask for help - many people will give you a list of terminal commands to diagnose and/or fix any problems, rather than try to guide you through how to do the same thing via the GUI. It's a lot quicker and more direct.

So you can administer your system using the GUI. But when you hit problems you may find times where usage of the terminal is unavoidable. And that will be true of any Linux distro. So it is worth learning a bit about the terminal.

2. is Linux plug and play like Windows has been ?
meaning you go out and buy a new keyboard / mouse / sound card , reboot system windows prompts for driver install or ask to insert disc with said drivers for install.
For the most part - yes!

Linux is pretty much plug and play. Most modern Linux distros - especially those aimed at ordinary desktop users definitely are.

A lot of the drivers for the most common hardware are already built into the kernel.
So you literally plug your new device in and it should just work. No need for a reboot or anything!

There are certain pieces of hardware that may not have drivers - new hardware that uses some new proprietary protocol, or some non-standard interface which hasn't got open source drivers yet.

For example, there are certain brands of gaming mouse and gaming keyboards which do not have official Linux drivers - but have reverse-engineered Linux drivers provided by the Linux developer community instead - which sometimes only offer limited/partial support for those devices.

But this is not a problem with Linux per se - this is a failure of the hardware manufacturer to supply adequate (or any) Linux drivers for their devices. When this happens it is up to the Linux developer community to come up with open source drivers, which often means doing a bit of reverse engineering.

So sometimes it takes a while for drivers to appear for newer, more cutting edge pieces of hardware.

But generally speaking - if it is a common piece of hardware that uses an open standard/protocol then open-source drivers are usually available and it should work out of the box with Linux.

Yet now there is a Mint 19.1 Cinnamon which nobody is recommending makes me wonder if others are way better why make a newer version ?
Perhaps nobody is recommending it yet because not many people have tried it yet? IDK!
Generally speaking - you want to stay on top of updates and upgrade to the latest version of whatever distro you are using.

At the end of the day, the best Linux distro for you is whatever runs best on your hardware and whatever looks and feels the way you want it to.

There are lots of different Linux distros out there, tailored to lots of different types of users. Lots of different desktop environments and countless ways you can modify your installation, to better suit the way you use your computer.

The truly killer feature of running Linux-based operating systems is freedom!

But freedom always has a price. And with Linux based operating systems - the price is usually that you will have to solve any problems yourself. Which invariably involves learning a little bit about Linux.

However - there are online communities like Linux.org who are here to help you out when/if you run into problems!
 
It has been forever and a day since I sat and read through lines upon lines of codes to attempt to fix a command line. <---- which was what I was trying to stay away from.
Some how my computer room machine is what everybody gravitates to when they come for extended stays / which is why I was going for the user friendly layout. I know I am going to get a text or a phone call with the " I have a problem - can you help? " it never fails. So I am trying to walk them through the how to over the phone.

I was reading the forums off and on for about 2 weeks before I registered as a user.
I kept seeing OOTB which made me scratch my head thinking - Oreos Oreos Truffles Biscuits / now I am hungry again !
The the light came on again , out of the box.

I get stuck in the WTH gear a lot.

"Poorguy - I like the Mark Twain quote" = especially when you smash the thumb with a might hammer swing. lmao

botnet - yes I read every bit of it, so a good thing you typed your ass off. I must say I am impressed with the effort and dedication knowing it was going to cost you your ass to help me out. On the bright side my ex-wife and kids say I am ass enough for 2 people so we help each other out.

I came to the Linux path by the way of Windows 10 force feeding the masses a singular option of "It's there way or no way" / I guess in the end the M in Masses is silent ! ?
I stopped paying much attention to computers and gaming with the releases of Vista, which is when Microsoft started the forced march of 1 way to do it or nothing. I decided to stop tossing good money after bad when every 6 months it was the latest greatest until the new number 1 came out. A friend of the wife suggested I give Linux a look, they said it is similar to Windows but only different, my problem was I did not want anything like Windows - running Microsoft is like being the anchor dog on a dog sled team, the view never changes and you are always stepping in somebody else's $h*t.
But I did not want to spend hours and hours typing and trying a bunch of string code to get nowhere either. I had read other places on my journey discovering Linux, finding where 1 person bragging about there fix was the end all be all, for another person to post that was not the case to read down a bit farther where it became a flame war. With the O.P. never really finding any help or direction for their issue.
I don't mind the need to go in an edited something with a file or a string code - knowing I will eventually fix it or get a result.
I have had to reformat a hard drive because I screwed up windows resulting in a crash - so screwing it up don't scare me, and I can't break it, I can make it not open, but can't break it like a glass. I'll just reformat the hard drive again and start over.

The flashy shadow drop down menus / the 3 D moving wallpapers / the swiss army knife of anything I have never really been a fan of.
When I need a hammer I just want a hammer, I don't need it to be a compass with built in Bluetooth flashlight - just a hammer.
I prefer efficient - to flasy / or fast - I have found both flashy and fast come at a cost of heat, heat is not a computers friend. But I do like speed.
What brought this discovery about was I stopped using Desktop PC after mine crashed and burned. Now I am back and find my games and gaming peripherals no longer work with Win 10, looked for a work around to attempt getting them to co-exist with Win 10 to crash my Laptop, then the Desktop PC to see if that was just the Laptop was the problem. Nope it is just Win 10 and the bloat ware, and the way it is configured to force all users to conform to what they want hooked to their OS.

I am thinking that is enough for now as this typing is cutting in to my reading time. Now to read up on Linux some more to make a better informed decision, now that I don't have squealing grand daughters here pestering me.
 

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