I can’t recommend to a newcomer a distro that can potentially break or introduce bugs or vulnerabilities with software that’s too bleeding edge. That’s why I’ll never recommend Arch or even Fedora. And Bazzite is really too gaming focused and you can only install software through flatpaks. (I know there’s other ways, but we’re talking about newbies here. We need to keep it simple.)
For desktop apps you’ll be fine for the most part. But if you need to install a module for your hardware or some other system software it gets more complicated.
I like Fedora plasma the best personally, but the gnome version requires configuration to just get a minimize button and it also needs rpm fusion configured and codecs installed.
That is why I don’t like to recommend this for a newbie.
Only thing that matters is that you realize, none of it’s permanent. Getting your feet wet for a few weeks working from a live USB is okay too. Go as fast or as slow as you want. People get stuck on “The Paradox of Choice”.
Kububtu (Ubuntu with KDE) has been an official Ubuntu flavour almost aince the beginning. During the Ubuntu consensus years, it was being promoted along with Ubuntu for every release.
It’s totally cool you learned about it from Valve but that doesn’t mean people were oblivious about KDE in the 2000s and 2010s.
Respectfully disagree. Have been following many Ubuntu releases over the years, Ubuntu blogs and news sites, and the official flavours have always been showcased, talked about, major features discussed and so on.
Also switching between flavours has always been trivial even post-installation. I used to test-drive KDE on Ubuntu installs and GNOME on Kubuntu installs in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Do you seriously expect new users to keep up with Ubuntu blogs, news sites and stuff like that? New users don’t even know what a flavor is. New users are not that involved in the eco system. Just because you have seen it that doesn’t mean it’s widely known.
This right here is one of the problems with old Linux users trying to recruit new users.
that’s because even people who are using ubuntu for 15 years and don’t really care that much are finally fed up and starting to look for an alternative.
“get these security updates with ubuntu pro” is the ultimate wake-up call…
Ah yes, the 10-year corporate-grade security support for communiry packages provided for free to small users. I use it on the machines I haven’t converted to Debian yet. It’s great.
I really wish people could get together and just agree to recommend like 1 of 3 distros to people and put their personal y preferences aside.
Once people actually switch and use Linux for some time they can figure out what is actually best for them.
I say it should be,
Mint Kubuntu Maybe bazzite (I’ve never used it, but I’ve heard it’s popular for gaming.)
I still have to make the switch, have been keeping track of these topics a bit.
Right now, the shortlist I would make is:
I can’t recommend to a newcomer a distro that can potentially break or introduce bugs or vulnerabilities with software that’s too bleeding edge. That’s why I’ll never recommend Arch or even Fedora. And Bazzite is really too gaming focused and you can only install software through flatpaks. (I know there’s other ways, but we’re talking about newbies here. We need to keep it simple.)
Flatpak and AppImage. What programs can’t be installed on Bazzite?
It’s not that they can’t be installed. But that the process is highly technical for newbies.
Yeah but like which ones? I’m using Kubuntu, but everything I need is either Flatpak or AppImage, and it’s easier than Windows
Ah sorry. I was referring to Bazzite.
Yeah but either way I’m just using Flatpak and AppImage. Is that harder in Bazzite than Kubuntu? I think Bazzite uses Discover just like Kubuntu
For desktop apps you’ll be fine for the most part. But if you need to install a module for your hardware or some other system software it gets more complicated.
I like Fedora plasma the best personally, but the gnome version requires configuration to just get a minimize button and it also needs rpm fusion configured and codecs installed.
That is why I don’t like to recommend this for a newbie.
Only thing that matters is that you realize, none of it’s permanent. Getting your feet wet for a few weeks working from a live USB is okay too. Go as fast or as slow as you want. People get stuck on “The Paradox of Choice”.
Fucking it up is part of the fun
Not for the people who just want a working computer.
Not everyone wants OS hopping as a hobby
Exactly. The OS hopping days are behind me!
We had that consensus with Ubuntu for 15 years but haters had to hate so now we’re here. 😁
I am convinced that Ubuntu/GNOME is the main reason that Linux onboarding has taken so long and has been so slow.
I never knew KDE Plasma and other Windows-like desktop environments existed until Valve released the Steam Deck.
Kububtu (Ubuntu with KDE) has been an official Ubuntu flavour almost aince the beginning. During the Ubuntu consensus years, it was being promoted along with Ubuntu for every release.
It’s totally cool you learned about it from Valve but that doesn’t mean people were oblivious about KDE in the 2000s and 2010s.
Sure, but it hasn’t been well promoted by the community or by Canonical. Otherwise I would have seen it a long time ago.
Respectfully disagree. Have been following many Ubuntu releases over the years, Ubuntu blogs and news sites, and the official flavours have always been showcased, talked about, major features discussed and so on.
Also switching between flavours has always been trivial even post-installation. I used to test-drive KDE on Ubuntu installs and GNOME on Kubuntu installs in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Do you seriously expect new users to keep up with Ubuntu blogs, news sites and stuff like that? New users don’t even know what a flavor is. New users are not that involved in the eco system. Just because you have seen it that doesn’t mean it’s widely known.
This right here is one of the problems with old Linux users trying to recruit new users.
that’s because even people who are using ubuntu for 15 years and don’t really care that much are finally fed up and starting to look for an alternative.
“get these security updates with ubuntu pro” is the ultimate wake-up call…
Ah yes, the 10-year corporate-grade security support for communiry packages provided for free to small users. I use it on the machines I haven’t converted to Debian yet. It’s great.
You’re not wrong.
But, what about Snaps? What’s your take on these?
I use Flatpaks in Kubuntu no problem, don’t think I have any Snaps installed
I tend to prefer flatpak over snaps myself. Depends for what.