New Here but Not To Linux

[J_Temple]

I've been using Linux Mint, Cinnamon since Windows 8 was introduced. From day one, I loved it and was only too happy to ditch Microsoft! I have no big tech accounts now. I came here only to keep tabs on whats happening in Linux world. I may (?) be switching to Ubuntu soon. I have not decided yet.

 

[Condobloke]

G'day, and Welcome to Linux.org

Switching to Ubuntu....from which distro ?

 

[J_Temple]

"Switching to Ubuntu....from which distro ?" I am not at all sure. It is preinstalled on my new Lenovo Think Pad. This is my new machine: Lenovo ThinkPad Gen 2 AMD (16″) but I made a few up grades on "Build Your PC". So I guess I will see when I open it. If anybody knows what Lenovo installs, I'd be happy to know.

 

[KGIII]

There's a link in my signature about some posting guidelines. If you get a couple of minutes, you might find it illuminating.

 

[J_Temple]

There's a link in my signature about some posting guidelines. If you get a couple of minutes, you might find it illuminating.

I did read them. I'm not sure but was there something in my post, awaiting approval, that you think broke any rules?

 

[Rocketing-warp9]

Welcome To The Forums!

 

[Brickwizard]

Welcome to the forums.

 

[Kojack]

Welcome, I am a new linux user really. I have dabbled in it previously. I had an old compaq laptop that I had when I worked in Financial Planning back in 2000. I paid for the laptop but they took the HD so I could not install windows anymore without paying again so I installed mint in like 2007 or 2008 for my son to watch baby enstien videos on.. It work, and went around North America with us.

Fast forward to 2026. I am done with Big Tech as much as I can. It's in our lives and for the most part, we can't get away, but I am going to do everything in my power to lessen it in our lives. Same goes for overreaching consumerism. The you need new computers every year to run the latest stuff. That means moving to Linux on systems we already own. When we do buy something new tech wise, it will be a refurbished unit. Not feeding the Big machine again. We have taken this mentality recently after adding up the money we throw away at garbage.

Back to the linux talk. It's way lighter, faster, private'errr than any big tech software. I want to just shout out to every dev, user and etc on the linux bandwagon. Everyone here has been so helpful to me and others. So everyone! Cheers, beers, and blunts!

 

[kc1di]

Hello @J_Temple
Welcome to the Linux.org forum, enjoy!
I Left Ubuntu sometime ago- and went to Mint. Though I distro hope a lot. I don't like gnome. So if I use Ubuntu it is Kubuntu of Xubuntu. Why do you want to switch that's the question you have to ask yourself. What does Ubuntu offer that mint does not other that Gnome?
Good luck on your choice.

 

[J_Temple]

Hello @J_Temple
Welcome to the Linux.org forum, enjoy!
I Left Ubuntu sometime ago- and went to Mint. Though I distro hope a lot. I don't like gnome. So if I use Ubuntu it is Kubuntu of Xubuntu. Why do you want to switch that's the question you have to ask yourself. What does Ubuntu offer that mint does not other that Gnome?
Good luck on your choice.

Thank you for the warm welcome!
I probably won't switch. Clearly, you prefer LM & that is the Disto I have been using forever. I was only contemplating whether leaving the the native Ubuntu in would be very different than the Mint that I have always used. It sounds as though It might be, so I will probably change the new machine over when it arrives.

 

[kc1di]

One thing that I find great about Linux is we have many choices. What's right for me may not be for you. But it's all Linux

 

[Kojack]

One thing that I find great about Linux is we have many choices. What's right for me may not be for you. But it's all Linux

Exactly. I have tried numerous distros finally settling on Zorin. It works for us. Might not for others. Now I have to figure out my server and get it up and running.

 

[J_Temple]

Exactly. I have tried numerous distros finally settling on Zorin. It works for us. Might not for others. Now I have to figure out my server and get it up and running.

So true! I think much depends on how one uses their machine. Different distros perform better for different tasks. IE: Linux Mint would not likely be the go-to for gamers and developers would not want something optimal for gaming. I've hear good things about Zorin, I think it may be a newer distro. I considered giving it a look-see. What is true, is we can freely try different Linux flavors to find the one that suits our fancy. The number of options has certainly expanded over the years, bonus, many of the later options are so easy for newbies to make the switch from the slavery of the tech giants! If I remember correctly, back in 2001, one had to be a reasonably advance user with some technical skill. The only down side is ANY Linux system puts the user back in full control (The reason I wet Linux) but that also gives plenty of options for silly people to wreck the system because Windows refugees sometimes don't know what they don't know.

 

[lomszz]

One thing that I find great about Linux is we have many choices. What's right for me may not be for you. But it's all Linux

Sure it's great to have choices, but same time it's a curse. I keep still distro hopping for no valid reason haha

edit: Oh yeah, welcome!

 

[J_Temple]

Welcome, I am a new linux user really. I have dabbled in it previously. I had an old compaq laptop that I had when I worked in Financial Planning back in 2000. I paid for the laptop but they took the HD so I could not install windows anymore without paying again so I installed mint in like 2007 or 2008 for my son to watch baby enstien videos on.. It work, and went around North America with us.

Fast forward to 2026. I am done with Big Tech as much as I can. It's in our lives and for the most part, we can't get away, but I am going to do everything in my power to lessen it in our lives. Same goes for overreaching consumerism. The you need new computers every year to run the latest stuff. That means moving to Linux on systems we already own. When we do buy something new tech wise, it will be a refurbished unit. Not feeding the Big machine again. We have taken this mentality recently after adding up the money we throw away at garbage.

Back to the linux talk. It's way lighter, faster, private'errr than any big tech software. I want to just shout out to every dev, user and etc on the linux bandwagon. Everyone here has been so helpful to me and others. So everyone! Cheers, beers, and blunts!

My first PC was when the Apple 2C first came to market. There was no general internet then so it was an in-house machine. Software was very limited at best, so in those very early days, if you needed a particular kind of software you either wrote it yourself or found someone that could write it for you. Then came 1991 (?) and home computing exploded, internet, websites, software was rapidly everywhere. Daily, it seemed, new software was on the market and you bought it in a box.

I have been done with big tech for some time. I really hated companies telling me what I was allowed to do with my own machine. I liked them all less with each generation. I have never touched it but my impression is Windows 11 is a real monster! I have no Microsoft account, won't Chrome or Google in general, have no social media accounts and keep away from most discussion boards. Now, if I could only break my YouTube addiction! I have a special email for Google / YouTube ONLY. When I signed up, all the information on the sign up form was fiction. They have endless YouTube data on a ghost!

My next move, I think, will be a Linux phone. Right now I have a Samsung / android. I shut down all all apps and have a talk & text only plan. I also carry it in a Faraday bag and only have it with me for emergencies. (Extreme, I know , but privacy and autonomy are important to me)

 

[J_Temple]

Sure it's great to have choices, but same time it's a curse. I keep still distro hopping for no valid reason haha

edit: Oh yeah, welcome!

That sounds like a similar problem to shopping therapy. OR maybe my addiction to tools and tool sets; I will buy a tool because SOMEDAY it might be useful or take on contracts because the job will require a tool I do not yet own, thus justifying the purchase. I think it may be a mental illness and I am working at curing myself!

 

[lomszz]

That sounds like a similar problem to shopping therapy. OR maybe my addiction to tools and tool sets; I will buy a tool because SOMEDAY it might be useful or take on contracts because the job will require a tool I do not yet own, thus justifying the purchase. I think it may be a mental illness and I am working at curing myself!

Yeah same here, I don't distro hop so often anymore maybe once a month or two(this used to be like a day to a week) haha

 

[KGIII]

I did read them. I'm not sure but was there something in my post, awaiting approval, that you think broke any rules?

When you read the linked content, you'd have read the bit about how there's no need to insult things. We can be better than that,

I will buy a tool because SOMEDAY it might be useful or take on contracts because the job will require a tool I do not yet own, thus justifying the purchase.

You're not alone. I have specialty tools for cars I don't even own.

 

[J_Temple]

When you read the linked content, you'd have read the bit about how there's no need to insult things. We can be better than that,

Mea Culpa! I failed on the Microsoft mention. I have gone back to edit it out. Obtusely, I did not consider "things", I was more focused on not offending people. It was a bit of a read and I only skimmed it. My apologies!

 

[KGIII]

Mea Culpa! I failed on the Microsoft mention. I have gone back to edit it out. Obtusely, I did not consider "things", I was more focused on not offending people. It was a bit of a read and I only skimmed it. My apologies!

I figure that you're new. It's nice to get started on a good footing.

And, those things aren't technically rules. They're just how we can act and respond. They were written because there were some legitimate complaints. We already had rules.