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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 highly discourage dual booting as a novice.
Back when I dual booted I had so many issues and things to look out for not to break the system, and distro hopping is difficult etc.. just get rid of windows
try Ubuntu, Mint, or Pop!_OS.
Mint and pop are basically ubuntu. For the end user, especially a beginner, there's 0 difference between them.
Dual-booting is fine if you have more than one drive.
This, even still, with only one drive, I've done it before as a novice, if you rtfm you'll be fine. Otherwise yeah, just put it on a second drive
I ran dual boot for years with zero issues. Just partition the drive or use two different ones.
Dual booting is fine if you are using 2 Linux OSes.
If one partition has windows installed an update can hijack the Linux partition or remove the grub.
Old news. I updated Winblows and nothing happened to systemd-boot.
It will depend on the update.
Either way, If I want to have a windows install, it's either
I hate it, basically I have to force myself when I boot into windows to physically disconnect the RJ45 from the back, so it doesn't replace the boot entries thru an update.
Mint and pop are basically ubuntu
Which makes Ubuntu basically Debian right? So just install that!
For a user coming from Windows I recommend Mint Cinnamon as it will give them the best, most familiar experience. Yes a newbie could find and install Ubuntu Cinnamon but the default ISO on the downloads page will saddle them with Gnome.
If you have to dual boot, give Windows a separate disk.
Mint and pop are basically ubuntu.
Big difference: Pop, at least, does not push Canonical's proprietary "Snap" nonsense. You can use it if you really want, but it's not installed by default. No snapd on my system, thanks.
Mint is also strongly against Snap. The plurality of Mint's users guide is "Why Snaps are disabled by default."
Fair point, but that probably wouldn't be a "big difference" for a first time user.
Sure, but if I were recommending a Linux OS to a first-time user, I wouldn't recommend today's Ubuntu as it is likely to lock them into a proprietary single-vendor system, which is contrary to one of the main points of promoting free software.
The first-time user might not immediately notice the difference, but it's (unfortunately) bad for free software to have more new users starting on today's Ubuntu.
This is pretty sad because Ubuntu used to be the obvious choice to recommend to new users.
For the end user, especially a beginner, there's 0 difference between them.
Shouldn't be the other way around? Beginners usually won't want to install DE's or other stuff by hand:
Linux Mint offers a Windows-like experience with cinnamon out of the box, and has several stuff setup by default like system snapshots and media codecs.
Pop!_OS is really appealing visually and very comfortable to use and setup.
Ubuntu, well, is Ubuntu. I'm not diving into it.
This is nice but there are already tons of "how/why to start using Linux" websites. Not sure if we need another one.