this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
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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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I’m always shocked by all the recommendations to use Mint. It feels dated and ugly. Admittedly, I migrated from Mac, but how abused must you Windows users be to find Mint a suitable replacement? I personally wound up with Zorin OS and recommend it. The software store makes installing apps from multiple sources tolerable. It’s also got a nice UI and you can easily change it.
Mint is always recommended because it just works, it looks windows-like, it's legit fine no it doesn't look dated or ugly. Cinammon is hot.
Thing is. Mint is for the most part a just works distro. Based on Ubuntu it is very easy to find help for it. Combine that with a load of sane defaults like disabling snaps. The default UI and theme could defiantly use a facelift
I personally don't see much value of Mint or Ubuntu over Debian.
They all suffer from the same issue: lack of a user repository. This means any layman is going to immediately be turned off by the distro and the whole Linux experience as soon as they want to install something that isn't in their distro's repository.
Neither derivative distro can be considered 'easier' because of this. Might as well just go with Debian and cut out the middlemen.
Thank you! When switching it has to work better and look better. Mint does not look better. Zorin is very simple, includes Wine and has Zorin Connect.
I agree. People should raise their standards… the message is if you’re switching to Linux, shouldn’t be “just be glad to have a distribution that just works.” I think we’ll need a better sales pitch if that’s the case.
I had no issues with Zorin from a “it just works” perspective and I run an NVidia GPU. And, it also looks good. Like Mint, it’s also based on Ubuntu, but without the Windows XP era UI.
Also, the UI can either be in “has a start menu” or “has a Mac dock” mode.
I have spent so much time professionally in Windows over the years that when I decided to switch it had to look nothing like it. So Mint is out. Kde as a whole really. Vanilla gnome looks kinda sterile to me. So I ended up with Pop!_OS and have been happy so far.
Probably because it's easy to get used to.
As for the looks, I'd say it looks better than Mac, Ubuntu looks best, but that's so subjective and fairly easy to change anyway.
I think my first distro was Ubuntu ( but that was because everyone around me was using it only) before I finally migrated to Debian less than a year later. Mint and Ubuntu both use Debian as their base. (Mint technically uses Ubuntu as it's base but has a Debian edition as well for backup reasons).
I know Debian's problem is it's software repos(Debian Stable can be filled with older versions of software). But it can't be denied that it is rock solid (for most part), has a comparatively decent set of software in its repos and a large set of distros use it as their base.
My only gripe is the default cursor. I hate it
Weird, mine came with Cinnamon, not Plasma