new to linux, search for a distro

kov

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hi:) newbie here:) i dig for a distro to make docs/office, little bit of photo editing (in gimp i guess), figma on the move
8gb ram (6 usable)
ryzen 5 laptop version 2.1 ghz [4/4]
256 nvme
thx<3
 


Everyone will have their own opinions. However I would recommend checking out OpenSuse Tumbleweed, Debian 'Testing' and Arch Linux.
 
@Brickwizard offers some good links to have a look at.

I suggest starting with Linux Mint a lot of folks here use it.




Hers's a good article.
It's a bit old but spot on.


Welcome to the forum.
 
hi:) newbie here:) i dig for a distro to make docs/office, little bit of photo editing (in gimp i guess), figma on the move
8gb ram (6 usable)
ryzen 5 laptop version 2.1 ghz [4/4]
256 nvme
thx<3
Hi & Welcome to Linux.org-:)

Give MX Linux or Linux Lite a spin.



You don't have to install MX or Linux Lite if you don't want to.
Use Virtual Box to run it instead OR> use Balena Etcher to place the .iso of the distro you want onto a thumb or pen drive.

 
I'd recommend Ubuntu LTS or Debian stable, which a great netinstaller. Ubuntu's installation wizard is very sleek and easy to understand. Debian's is slightly more difficult, but not confusing.

Everyone will have their own opinions. However I would recommend checking out OpenSuse Tumbleweed, Debian 'Testing' and Arch Linux.
Arch right out of the gate? I don't agree.
 
hi:) newbie here:) i dig for a distro to make docs/office, little bit of photo editing (in gimp i guess), figma on the move
8gb ram (6 usable)
ryzen 5 laptop version 2.1 ghz [4/4]
256 nvme
Welcome to the fun and of course you know this is just my opinion, my experience here and what I have observed, so, IMHO...

A little over two months ago I was in your shoes... A real Newbie - big time. In my case wanting to escape a 45+ year career of Microsoft IT support. This site is like my third registered forum in all those years. I requested to be removed from the second forum. (they didn't seem to care for newbies).

Here, these folks are, first off, pleasant and patient (thank goodness), extremely professional, knowledgeable and experienced.

They are Practiced at explaining things clearly even though my Microsoft background doesn't let me "hear correctly" every time. But that's on me. Getting better with the terminology.

A couple of other things about this forum. The moderators and active folks are, as you are most likely aware, in different time zones around the earth. Conversation "timing" can get "lumpy". The folks that could support you may be in the Australian outback and you may be in Paris or Los Angles. You get the point.

(Hint: an approximate location in your profile may help with conversation timing, expectations and understanding various speech patterns. No body wants/needs or should ask for your address, but it could help to know something like "Mountain Time in Arizona" or just LA, NY or of all places...England. ;) It certainly makes the conversation interesting and in some cases, easier to understand.).

So my next comments are for absolute fun and for my imagination only... There is a guy that claims his location is from "behind the mist" like somewhere in Alice in Wonderland. For fun I picture him half the age he claims, sitting in a small room some where in the Jamaica back country with 20 laptops... sipping rum. :D;):rolleyes::oops: But what I do take with all seriousness is anything he speaks regarding linux distros. Solid.

I do hope you read all the "rules" before registering. If not, a real good idea to do so ASAP. Yeah, it takes a bit of time but worth it. The moderators are extreemly easy going. Do not take that as uncaring or sloppy with regards to the rules. They all work very hard to insure a safe, pleasent experience.

There seems to be a very wide, deep line drawn in the sand regarding politics and religion. Yes, we all know discussing the one thing, FOSS and (some) politics can be a very difficult conversation. I have watched the line get pretty thin but handled professionally and graciously to fair results. "IF" I wanted to touch that area, I (personally) would choose to discuss it with a moderator - first. That is just me.

Which brings me to another topic. Age. You listed your age to be 24. Many of the active members and moderators have listed their age, many are at least twice... my self over three times. No, the avatar is not me. I'm much better looking.:cool:

Speaking for myself, I am excited wanting to follow your threads and posts... to see thru your eyes your observations of the computing world, your questions and progress with Linux and to learn from your experience with linux.

Finally, Linux. Your hardware listed is on the "slimmer-side" where you may get better proformance using Linux Mint 22 MATE. IF your budget allows I would suggest purchasing two 32GB thumb drives.

I used Rufus, Rescuezilla and a linux .iso to create two bootable LM drives (with my windows 11). I made bootable thumb drives using many different distros - settled on Mint very early only because I was not progressing in linux to a usable daily repacement, only comparing differences between distros. I put off comparing distros until I get a year of (any) one distro mastered enough to compare true differences not just preferences.

I created one bootable standard install and one bootable/persistent install. In use, both will not affect your computer and will help in understanding your hardware compatibility when you choose a distro to install. You can explore to your hearts contentment.

The very first thing when you boot a USB drive with a default install is turn the Firewall ON and after each reboot. With this configuration you loose all data, preferences, settings and are returned to a "clean install".

With a persistent install the Firewall will stay ON thru reboots and until/if you reinstall. The persistent install will keep your data, settings and preferences thru a reboot so you can evaluate your progress.

Personally I keep all data on a third thumb drive so I do not worry about loosing any. I made a mess of my persistent drive and had to reinstall a few times.

If you use your persistent USB to install LM on your computer, 99.9% of your work will not be transfered and you will need to do it all over again but you have already made your tests, preferences and mistakes.

As soon as you complete an install to your computer, again, turn ON the Firewall. Next, if in a Mint version, learn to use TIMESHIFT to make Snapshots of your OS and practice Recover your OS. Again I suggest keeping your data on a seperate external device. When (not IF) you have problems with your OS, at least you will not loose your data. Timeshift will get you back in business to the point of your last Snapshot.

Last - if you made it this far. Re-read and to the best of your ability check/understand as best as possible. I am not perfect, still learning and only two months ahead of you. I am just sharing as accurately as I recall what I went thru. Questions? Happy to help if I can but rest-assured there are folks here decades ahead of me that are willing to help.
 
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.. There is a guy that claims his location is from "behind the mist" like somewhere in Alice in Wonderland. For fun I picture him half the age he claims, sitting in a small room some where in the Jamaica back country with 20 laptops... sipping rum. :D;):rolleyes::oops: But what I do take with all seriousness is anything he speaks regarding linux distros. Solid.

That would be me.

Brian @Brickwizard 's offerings in #2 are very good for beginners, with links provided by him, that is

some of the more popular for the newbie are...
Mint LMDE, MX-Linux, Parrot Home edition, Linux Lite, Mint 22, Ubuntu

IMO OpenSuse, Debian Testing and Arch are by no means beginner-friendly, but have their merits for the Intermediate to Advanced User. No offence to the Poster.

I have run up to 89 Linux distros at a time on my current rig, currently somewhere in the 60's, so I have an opinion on many offerings.

Good luck with your choices.

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz
 
Okay, so I'd guess 70% of newcomers ask this and there is only one answer: Anything but Kali (and I implicitly include all pentesting, auditing, forensucs, specific-purpose distros).

All desktop Linuxes have the same basic software available. However, I suggest you pick a popular distro as help will be easier to find. While some distros are easier underneath, it may be beneficial to play around.

Realistically,
  • The chances are you will not end up sticking with your first choice. You will hop. We all do.
  • Whatever distro you choose has a learning curve. You will acclimatize accordingly.
  • There are three types of Linux users: Those fleeing Windows, those who like Linux, and those who want the mystery associated with "I run Linux."
  • Starting with a non-user-friendly distro has the benefit of learning how things work. Starting with a user-friendly distro eases you into things and gives you a chance to gradually set and obtain small, achievable goals.
  • Linux is not Windows and there is no distro out there which is "like Windows". If someone tells you there is, it's BS. Nobody has or will succeed here beyond full clames and half successes.
  • Linux may not be for you. I've known people who've never taken it out of a VM and continue to use Windows or have given up after less than a week or have found they prefer FreeBSD-based distros to Linux or Windows.
  • Gaming is not perfect on Linux: We made tremendous progress, most games run natively or with Proton... but lately corpo has been actively blocking Linux users in multiplayer games. The future is unclear as to a compromise.
 
Hello @kov
Welcome to the linux.org forum, You have already received much good advise. I would only further advise you try several Distros live and determine which one fits your needs and hardware.
Happy linuxing :) Enjoy the Journey!
 
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Everyone will have their own opinions.
.....and that's precisely WHY I try never to get involved in these kinds of threads. Because invariably, I end up having to explain to folks that although I run a full "kennels" of Puppies - and have done for a decade - I don't recommend her to noobs.......and then I have to go into detail explaining WHY. (And it's nowt to do with being 'elitist'. Puppy's just rather "oddball", and does some stuff very differently to everybody else. That's all I'm gonna say on the matter).

I.......urrgh, no. No! Just don't go there. (sheesh....)

Shoulda kept me trap shut. :rolleyes: (ducks to avoid the flamethrowers... <grin>)


Mike. :oops:
 
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hi:) newbie here:) i dig for a distro to make docs/office, little bit of photo editing (in gimp i guess), figma on the move
8gb ram (6 usable)
ryzen 5 laptop version 2.1 ghz [4/4]
256 nvme
thx<3
linux mint, ubuntu, zorin os
 
That would be me.

Brian @Brickwizard 's offerings in #2 are very good for beginners, with links provided by him, that is



IMO OpenSuse, Debian Testing and Arch are by no means beginner-friendly, but have their merits for the Intermediate to Advanced User. No offence to the Poster.

I have run up to 89 Linux distros at a time on my current rig, currently somewhere in the 60's, so I have an opinion on many offerings.

Good luck with your choices.

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz
If I may add, Slackware is a darn good teacher as well. Not a beginner friendly distro by any means like you said above....however, well worth the efforts and time put in.

Best wishes to you kov on whatever distribution you decide on.
Enjoy the holiday if you celebrate.
 

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