this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I have been distro hopping for about 2 weeks now, there's always something that doesn't work. I thought I would stick with Debian and now I haven't been able to make my printer work in it, I think I tried in another distro and it just worked out of the box, but there's always something that's broken in every distro.

I'm sorry I'm just venting, do you people think Ubuntu will work for me? I think I will try it next.

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[–] UnfortunateShort@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

There is not a single distro where everything works out of the box. I would be very surprised if even Windows or MacOS work exactly like you expect, the second you boot into them the first time.

I like Arch / EndeavourOS, but you will definitely need quiet some configuration for them. If you want more user-friendly or more up-to-date Debian, try Sparky Linux. It's honestly quite good. Instead of Ubuntu you might want to give Mint a try. Many fancy it as a more open and less corpo alternative.

Ubuntu itself is alright, but it's being criticised for pushing anti-consumer moves lately (i.e. forcing Snaps and telemetry onto them). Also, updates on Ubuntu are extremely slow in my experience. Maybe that has changed, but in some areas I doubt it.

[–] Vincent@feddit.nl 3 points 1 year ago

There is not a single distro where everything works out of the box.

On the other hand, if hardware manufacturers or software developers test their products with one Linux distribution, it will be Ubuntu. So that's generally the safest bet - and that's coming from someone who doesn't use Ubuntu.

[–] Lmaydev@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Windows generally does work exactly like that. It's the reason it has such a huge market share of desktops.

[–] taladar@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago

Windows breaks something all the time. Just the other week I had to fix their stupid new Email program for my dad.

[–] UnfortunateShort@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

There are many reasons why their market share is so high:

  • They were there before Linux
  • They had a GUI before Linux even existed iirc (let alone before Linux's were any good)
  • They were focused on desktop + consumer market from the start
  • They are for-profit and have a marketing budget
  • They have the Office products many depend on (be it justified or not)
  • For a long time, gaming was basically impossible on Linux