Linux

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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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Beginner's Guides for Switching to Linux? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by WR5@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Hello!

I'm interested in moving my personal computer to running Linux but I'm not sure where to even begin. As background, I am a casual user and have a desktop with hardware from around 2014 running Windows. I am hoping to setup a NAS drive as a media server in the next year or so, offloading all of the files currently on the Windows desktop and have been interested in open source software such as Jellyfin. I also mostly game on an Xbox and Nintendo Switch, but have used the desktop in the past for gaming such as with an Oculus Rift Headset and some Steam games so not huge on getting games working on the computer. But, I do sometimes torrent using the computer so don't want to lose that capability (especially with upkeep for the media server).

With all of that said, I didn't know how to get started with choosing what Linux OS to use, setting it up, backing up my files to make sure I can use them with the new OS, etc. Making the switch seems to have great options for customization and "choosing a distro that works for you", but I don't know what would work for me or what will be user friendly for a beginner.

Any tips or pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

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[–] SmallAlmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Linux mint is in my opinion the best distro for a new user, but you may personally not be fond of the UI.

I don't know how to write a guide for you, but if you have more specific questions feel free to ask them, best of luck!

[–] Audacity9961@feddit.ch 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

I like Mint a lot, and have it running on one of my computers, even though it's not my daily driver.

However, I recently tried Zorin just to see what the fuss is about and honestly I can't see many reasons to recommend Mint above Zorin to new users. Both are based on Ubuntu LTS and have a bunch of tools to allow purely graphical management and Zorin has several windows-like layouts (both 10 and 7) that are more polished in my view, but Zorin also has the benefit of a more modern compositor and DE base with Wayland support, being based on gnome and mutter.

I'd be interested in your perspective, as from my end the only reason now to recommend mint (until muffin gets sufficiently modernised) would be if you knew a user would prefer cinnamon's slightly more traditional feel (almost XP), or if in the future LMDE became more of an important feature.

[–] Interstellar_1@pawb.social 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Zorin only updates every two years, which makes it fairly outdated on many fronts.

[–] Audacity9961@feddit.ch 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is that not the same as Mint? Both are based on Ubuntu LTS.

[–] Interstellar_1@pawb.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, Mint updates twice a year.

[–] Audacity9961@feddit.ch 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Thanks, that's interesting. Do they only update the cinnamon parts, or is there something else more substantial that is updated?

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