this post was submitted on 24 Dec 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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To add, if OP is looking to use the laptop for gaming, I can recommend Bazzite. Built upon fedora with some quality of life things and very stable as it's immutable. Very hard to fuck up.
I'm not sure about recommending immutable distros to noobs, I've read enough reports from people that want to (or because of some hardware crap, need to) install or mess with some low-level stuff that just won't work on the immutable distros, plus a bunch of online advice or help will just not be applicable.
It certainly has downsides in that regard, I will not deny that. However, if you want something that Just Works™, it is a very good option in my (admittedly limited) experience.
Universal Blue OSs (Bazzite, Bluefin, and Aurora) are actually way easier than immutable is made out to be.
For one thing, there is no such thing as keeping the system and packages up to date. That all happens automatically as long as you restart your computer every now and then.
It is true that if someone is looking up how to install something online it could be confusing. But anything in Flathub is obviously dead simple.
I think if there were better demos and tutorials, it would seem a lot easier.
For instance, if you can't find something in Flathub, and the only instructions you can find are for installing in Ubuntu, all you have to do is use Boxbuddy/Distrobox and use an Ubuntu container and install it there using the instructions.
It really is the best of almost all worlds. Granted, this setup doesn't work for 100% of software. But it works for the vast majority.
Listen to yourself. What's a distrobox? Boxbuddy? I'm already annoyed about someone expecting me to learn about this and I've used Linux exclusively for 25 years. I actually did Linux from Scratch and used that for 6 months for actual stuff. Telling a noob who wants to do normal things that work on a normal Linux distros that because of the (recommended by you) immutable distro they have, they need a container which has an actual normal linux distro inside it to run the thing they want to run, they'll want to run away and probably never speak to you again.
And about flatpak: I had so many bugs that somehow only happen when you get the flatpak. And you can't install command line tools over flatpak, you can't install servers or drivers. Regular users (especially windows power user types) are likely to run into these things and curse you for recommending the one distro where you can't just
apt install theclitoolineed.And you sound like the entrenched Windows user who doesn't realize all of the little things they've internalized to keep their system working the way they want to. I should know, I was one of those Windows users until recently.
Regarding other tools, they really aren't necessary for most users. I don't even use Distrobox. Flathub for UI apps, and Homebrew for CLI apps serves all of my needs.
I believe that Jorge Castro is right about the Linux desktop. It has failed, and it needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. And that's what they're doing. Universal Blue is a completely different mindset from traditional distros, and I think it's the future.
And that's the great thing about Linux. You can continue to use the old methods you're used to and have built up 25 years of muscle memory around.