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.




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.
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.