this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2025
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Finally making the transition from Windows to a Linux. I'm pretty sure it's been asked several times but which Linux OS would you recommend a beginner to use? I've seen Ubuntu and Mint as a good start. Not looking to do much. Game here and there (not too worried about Linux compatibility), streaming, editing videos. If I break any rules. I'm sorry.

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[–] uncouple9831@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 weeks ago

If you're not looking to do much you might be better off with one of the immutable variants (silver blue, aurora, bazzite). The upside is things are not supposed to break too much. The downside is if it breaks almost any existing instructions on the internet prior to maybe 2022 will fuck the system up more. Tbh Linux changes so fast that's true for most variants, but you can reach back to maybe 2018 before you start to hit system-breaking legacy instructions.

Mint isn't a good choice, but if you want a generally straightforward system that looks like Mac (gnome) or windows (KDE) then fedora is a good choice.

None of these options will be as secure by default as a Mac or windows machine -- you will have to do a lot of learning and be generally technically inclined to get there. The immutable OSs will give you a small leg up there, just because you're running less random shit from the internet as admin/root, but the Linux community hates Intel and Microsoft so much it's taken a lonnnngggg time to adopt standard security techniques, mostly resting on their laurels from decades past. Will you get viruses? Probably not. But just because nobody broke in doesn't mean leaving your door unlocked is secure.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social -2 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

So I use zorin and I feel its the best for typical windows users and anyone who just wants to install and get to immediately using thier pc. So basically its the lazy distro. Lot of software out of box including wine with play on linux so right after installation you could run or install windows programs if you wanted to (I would check out linux alternatives first). That being said my personal opinion if someone wants to run games is to dual boot a gaming distro or install a gaming distro and use it as your main one. Further I don't recommend dual booting windows. If someone wants to keep windows around my sugestion, if they have it, is to install linux on your last older laptop. Anyone who had a machine that did not outright die and upgraded in the last ten years will be pleasantly surprised how well linux runs on older hardware compared to windows on newer. Once you have weaned yourself 100% off windows and realize how useless it is then install on the current laptop. Given if you don't still have your older one then by all mean dual boot. I initially did that but have reversed the setup and now have linux on my better laptop as I was so annoyed with windows wasting the good one.

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[–] BigTrout75@lemmy.world -2 points 2 weeks ago

Any of the big named distros should be good enough. If you run into a snag, try a different one. Every distro claims to do it the best way. Choice is a great thing. BTW - If you install Arch .🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Valve's Steam Deck uses it and 🔥🔥🚒🚒🚒🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[–] theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world -3 points 2 weeks ago (10 children)
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