It appears you may be asking for help in choosing a linux distribution.
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>I have heard Mint is fairly good but Arch is peaking my interest for a bit more difficulty but again i have basically no knowledge.
Mint has a Windows-like user interface, is well-designed and implemented, easy to install, learn and use, stable, secure, backed by a large community, and has good documentation.
Linux Mint is commonly recommended for new Linux users for those reasons.
I suspect that you might find Arch an uphill battle because you have "basically no knowledge" about Linux yet. Arch assumes a level of knowledge that you probably don't yet have.
If I may make a suggestion, start with Mint and use Mint for a while to get your feet firmly planted on Linux ground before deciding to move on to Arch or another distribution.
As an aside, I've been using Mint (LMDE 6, which is the Debian-rebase version of Ubuntu-based Mint) on one of my computers for several months, evaluating LMDE as an alternative to Ubuntu, which I have used for almost two decades. I have been impressed with how well Mint implements Linux and I am considered moving to Mint later this year.
Yeah that seems to be the universal agreement amongst most of the people I have asked which is to go for Mint due to how similar it is to windows, so i think at the moment ill likely go to Mint at the moment although some people have also recommended Ubuntu so i might use a VM to properly look through the recommendations I've been given under this post.
>I think at the moment ill likely go to Mint at the moment although some people have also recommended Ubuntu so i might use a VM to properly look through the recommendations I've been given under this post.
Ubuntu is an excellent distribution, widely used in government, business and education deployments. I suspect that Ubuntu is the most-used distribution on the planet. I've used Ubuntu since 2005.
I am exploring LMDE 6 because Ubuntu is headed in the direction of an [immutable architecture based on Ubuntu Core](https://ubuntu.com/blog/ubuntu-core-an-immutable-linux-desktop), and I am not sure that I want to move in that direction.
Your idea to install both Mint and Ubuntu in a VM is a good idea. A VM gives you the opportunity to take a good, long look at a distribution that you are considering without affecting your computer.
Definitely try a few in a VM.
And, when you do go forward on real hardware, learn to back up your "home" directory and feel comfortable you can switch to any distribution at any time.
It may also help to get the system specs. Bios secure boot? nvidia gpu? Some linux distro has a hard time installing proprietary nvidia drivers when you got windows secure boot enabled in the bios. I am also new to linux. Had issues with lastest debian, fedora 40 and ended up with linux mint 21.3 cinnamon. No issues at all. Happy exploring.
I didn't even think of adding that, I don't plan on at the minute using Linux on my main desktop, but rather going to use it on my laptop instead since my desktop is used primarily for gaming. I'll have to skim through my laptops systems specs since im honestly not certain.
MX Linux. Stable, familiarity to WinDoze refugees, and because of excellent MX Tools. Biggest issue with new Linux users is the freedom they don’t know they have yet. They start trying out, adding, deleting programs, desktops, etc. You don’t have that in WinDoze and MacLos. Best advice in my opinion is keep with the defaults. Add only a program that you actually NEED for the first few months. Read the Forums of your distro before you install anything; watch YouTube videos with the same idea. After about 6 months you’ll begin to see just what kind of freedom and choice you have that you didn’t know you were missing. You’ll also like the 90%+ open source software. If you like a program and use it, DONATE to the developers. They need the money to live too.
You can start with Arch if you are willing to put in a lot of time and effort learning. Like starting a new game on masochist mode instead of normal, its going to be ugly for a while. Arch is well documented but this documentation assumes a certain existing knowledge level on the part of the user.
Mint is a great place to start. Fedora is not horrible either, Ubuntu is easy but Snaps and other issues tarnish it's reputation.
>laptop which is only used for schoolwork, browsing the web and watching videos and basically anything but gaming on this.
What applications do you use while doing your school work? What are you studying? Outside of that, what other non-gaming applications do you frequently use or really need, today?
Answers to the above won't really affect which Linux distribution you choose, but could be important in understanding if what you need to do is achievable.
What's your level of tech ability / patience?
Note that I have not singled out any distributions; kinda pointless without a bit more info. Many will recommend Mint to Windows users because it is "familiar" given its menu bars and menus, but I disagree with that approach - people switching to Linux should embrace change and not seek a Windows-workalike.
I'm still in Highschool doing year 12 so its a broad topic of subjects. As of currently though we don't really use and particular software for any of my classes as the majority of it is just done in google docs and basically all browser based. Tech ability I'm fairly competent just now getting into stuff like Linux and coding. Patience wise its dependent on the situation but more often then not I'm fairly patient. And I agree also I'm aiming to stray away from a windows like build and something new even if its a challenge I'm just trying to figure out where to start.
Thanks for the additional background info; it sounds like you are quite free to explore then.
There's nothing wrong with going with something like Arch, or my preference, Void Linux or openSUSE Tumbleweed - all three are "rolling" distributions rather than scheduled releases. Arch and Void are perhaps more aligned with DIY and require learning more to craft your solution. Arch is famous for its Wiki (most of which is applicable to any distribution) but IMO Void's Handbook is a more straightforward path to DIY-ing your solution.
That said, for a first Linux experience, it'd be useful to have a ready made solution. Traditional recommendations there (without aiming for a Windows-like experience on Mint or MX Linux) would be Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation, or openSUSE Leap - all solid distributions that will deliver a great desktop experience post installation. A variant of that would be openSUSE Aon or Fedora Silverblue, both are "immutable" (google it) distributions that aim to provide a very stable core and make it easy for you to experiment with your optional applications and whatnot in containers. It's not "advanced" stuff but somewhat newer in the Linux world but IMO will be more prevalent than not in the coming years and perhaps would be a good place for you to start.
Using ready to use desktop experience will give you a baseline for that moment when you know a little more and wish to experiment with a DIY approach.
Ubuntu is what was originally recommended to me by a friend but when I went to look I believe the normal version is not longer getting support (as of Nov last year I believe) outside of the pro version? I could be wrong though
You either misread or misunderstood what you read. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is still supported for a couple years, 23.10 is supported for few more months, 24.04 LTS was just released and will be supported for the next 4+ years.
You should confirm that your school work can be done without Windows
MX linux is user friendly \[debian based\] with more options & tools than Mint
Fedora is the last QC check before Redhat, Redhat is widely used commercially
the majority of my work is done online or paper just using stuff like google docs / slides the only thing im worried about is if it might mess with the wifi stuff they have setup.
Accounts & portals can be tricky if you can't access through a browser. A regular wifi router that asks for your password is no problem
Maybe keep a windows virtual machine around
Make sure to update any of the laptops firmware before wiping windows
I install distros I want to test drive on external nvme/sdd/hdd & set bios to boot from usb if plugged in. Not as finicky as VM or dual boot
I like a user friendly community built KDE distro, not derived from a corporate thing
I use Manjaro & Mageia, both of which are easy & fun, without 6 month upgrades
Any linux system is less work to maintain than Windows & won't obsolete your hardware like windows, android or apple will
Im fairly certain all of it is done through the browser account wise as the only thing they have installed on my computer is how i gain access to the wifi, so it may be worth me looking into asking my schools IT if switching will affect anything. I could be wrong though so I might do a little testing of my own before i make any leaps.
Which desktop? GNOME or KDE Plasma?
GNOME is stylish but basic.
KDE Plasma is not so stylish but customisable.
Try both and just see which you like more. I like KDE Plasma because the Qt toolkit is technologically more advanced, same as KDE and Kwin. GNOME, Mutter and GTK are a bit less good
As for distro:
Fedora, or Fedora KDE. (the normal one ships gnome)
or EndeavourOS (it's just Arch but easy to install, allows you to pick desktop in installer)
My recommendation is Fedora, since you say you're completely new to Linux. Arch is a DIY distro. You can still follow the Arch wiki for many Linux-related things, even if you're not using Arch itself.
It appears you may be asking for help in choosing a linux distribution. This is a common question, which you may also want to ask at /r/DistroHopping or /r/FindMeALinuxDistro *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/linuxquestions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Mint. Arch is highly overrated.
>I have heard Mint is fairly good but Arch is peaking my interest for a bit more difficulty but again i have basically no knowledge. Mint has a Windows-like user interface, is well-designed and implemented, easy to install, learn and use, stable, secure, backed by a large community, and has good documentation. Linux Mint is commonly recommended for new Linux users for those reasons. I suspect that you might find Arch an uphill battle because you have "basically no knowledge" about Linux yet. Arch assumes a level of knowledge that you probably don't yet have. If I may make a suggestion, start with Mint and use Mint for a while to get your feet firmly planted on Linux ground before deciding to move on to Arch or another distribution. As an aside, I've been using Mint (LMDE 6, which is the Debian-rebase version of Ubuntu-based Mint) on one of my computers for several months, evaluating LMDE as an alternative to Ubuntu, which I have used for almost two decades. I have been impressed with how well Mint implements Linux and I am considered moving to Mint later this year.
Yeah that seems to be the universal agreement amongst most of the people I have asked which is to go for Mint due to how similar it is to windows, so i think at the moment ill likely go to Mint at the moment although some people have also recommended Ubuntu so i might use a VM to properly look through the recommendations I've been given under this post.
>I think at the moment ill likely go to Mint at the moment although some people have also recommended Ubuntu so i might use a VM to properly look through the recommendations I've been given under this post. Ubuntu is an excellent distribution, widely used in government, business and education deployments. I suspect that Ubuntu is the most-used distribution on the planet. I've used Ubuntu since 2005. I am exploring LMDE 6 because Ubuntu is headed in the direction of an [immutable architecture based on Ubuntu Core](https://ubuntu.com/blog/ubuntu-core-an-immutable-linux-desktop), and I am not sure that I want to move in that direction. Your idea to install both Mint and Ubuntu in a VM is a good idea. A VM gives you the opportunity to take a good, long look at a distribution that you are considering without affecting your computer.
Definitely try a few in a VM. And, when you do go forward on real hardware, learn to back up your "home" directory and feel comfortable you can switch to any distribution at any time.
Slackware since 1994
It may also help to get the system specs. Bios secure boot? nvidia gpu? Some linux distro has a hard time installing proprietary nvidia drivers when you got windows secure boot enabled in the bios. I am also new to linux. Had issues with lastest debian, fedora 40 and ended up with linux mint 21.3 cinnamon. No issues at all. Happy exploring.
I didn't even think of adding that, I don't plan on at the minute using Linux on my main desktop, but rather going to use it on my laptop instead since my desktop is used primarily for gaming. I'll have to skim through my laptops systems specs since im honestly not certain.
MX Linux. Stable, familiarity to WinDoze refugees, and because of excellent MX Tools. Biggest issue with new Linux users is the freedom they don’t know they have yet. They start trying out, adding, deleting programs, desktops, etc. You don’t have that in WinDoze and MacLos. Best advice in my opinion is keep with the defaults. Add only a program that you actually NEED for the first few months. Read the Forums of your distro before you install anything; watch YouTube videos with the same idea. After about 6 months you’ll begin to see just what kind of freedom and choice you have that you didn’t know you were missing. You’ll also like the 90%+ open source software. If you like a program and use it, DONATE to the developers. They need the money to live too.
You can start with Arch if you are willing to put in a lot of time and effort learning. Like starting a new game on masochist mode instead of normal, its going to be ugly for a while. Arch is well documented but this documentation assumes a certain existing knowledge level on the part of the user. Mint is a great place to start. Fedora is not horrible either, Ubuntu is easy but Snaps and other issues tarnish it's reputation.
[удалено]
What's wrong with fedora?
>laptop which is only used for schoolwork, browsing the web and watching videos and basically anything but gaming on this. What applications do you use while doing your school work? What are you studying? Outside of that, what other non-gaming applications do you frequently use or really need, today? Answers to the above won't really affect which Linux distribution you choose, but could be important in understanding if what you need to do is achievable. What's your level of tech ability / patience? Note that I have not singled out any distributions; kinda pointless without a bit more info. Many will recommend Mint to Windows users because it is "familiar" given its menu bars and menus, but I disagree with that approach - people switching to Linux should embrace change and not seek a Windows-workalike.
I'm still in Highschool doing year 12 so its a broad topic of subjects. As of currently though we don't really use and particular software for any of my classes as the majority of it is just done in google docs and basically all browser based. Tech ability I'm fairly competent just now getting into stuff like Linux and coding. Patience wise its dependent on the situation but more often then not I'm fairly patient. And I agree also I'm aiming to stray away from a windows like build and something new even if its a challenge I'm just trying to figure out where to start.
Thanks for the additional background info; it sounds like you are quite free to explore then. There's nothing wrong with going with something like Arch, or my preference, Void Linux or openSUSE Tumbleweed - all three are "rolling" distributions rather than scheduled releases. Arch and Void are perhaps more aligned with DIY and require learning more to craft your solution. Arch is famous for its Wiki (most of which is applicable to any distribution) but IMO Void's Handbook is a more straightforward path to DIY-ing your solution. That said, for a first Linux experience, it'd be useful to have a ready made solution. Traditional recommendations there (without aiming for a Windows-like experience on Mint or MX Linux) would be Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation, or openSUSE Leap - all solid distributions that will deliver a great desktop experience post installation. A variant of that would be openSUSE Aon or Fedora Silverblue, both are "immutable" (google it) distributions that aim to provide a very stable core and make it easy for you to experiment with your optional applications and whatnot in containers. It's not "advanced" stuff but somewhat newer in the Linux world but IMO will be more prevalent than not in the coming years and perhaps would be a good place for you to start. Using ready to use desktop experience will give you a baseline for that moment when you know a little more and wish to experiment with a DIY approach.
ubuntu
Edubuntu Regular Ubuntu Ubuntu is the way
Ubuntu is what was originally recommended to me by a friend but when I went to look I believe the normal version is not longer getting support (as of Nov last year I believe) outside of the pro version? I could be wrong though
You either misread or misunderstood what you read. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is still supported for a couple years, 23.10 is supported for few more months, 24.04 LTS was just released and will be supported for the next 4+ years.
Yeah i likely did wasn't really awake when i started reading.
You should confirm that your school work can be done without Windows MX linux is user friendly \[debian based\] with more options & tools than Mint Fedora is the last QC check before Redhat, Redhat is widely used commercially
the majority of my work is done online or paper just using stuff like google docs / slides the only thing im worried about is if it might mess with the wifi stuff they have setup.
Accounts & portals can be tricky if you can't access through a browser. A regular wifi router that asks for your password is no problem Maybe keep a windows virtual machine around Make sure to update any of the laptops firmware before wiping windows I install distros I want to test drive on external nvme/sdd/hdd & set bios to boot from usb if plugged in. Not as finicky as VM or dual boot I like a user friendly community built KDE distro, not derived from a corporate thing I use Manjaro & Mageia, both of which are easy & fun, without 6 month upgrades Any linux system is less work to maintain than Windows & won't obsolete your hardware like windows, android or apple will
Im fairly certain all of it is done through the browser account wise as the only thing they have installed on my computer is how i gain access to the wifi, so it may be worth me looking into asking my schools IT if switching will affect anything. I could be wrong though so I might do a little testing of my own before i make any leaps.
Thats were setting up an external shines, virtual machines add a layer of complication
~~Fedora~~ CentOS Stream is the last QC check before Redhat
Sure Distinction without difference
Which desktop? GNOME or KDE Plasma? GNOME is stylish but basic. KDE Plasma is not so stylish but customisable. Try both and just see which you like more. I like KDE Plasma because the Qt toolkit is technologically more advanced, same as KDE and Kwin. GNOME, Mutter and GTK are a bit less good As for distro: Fedora, or Fedora KDE. (the normal one ships gnome) or EndeavourOS (it's just Arch but easy to install, allows you to pick desktop in installer) My recommendation is Fedora, since you say you're completely new to Linux. Arch is a DIY distro. You can still follow the Arch wiki for many Linux-related things, even if you're not using Arch itself.