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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submitted 1 year ago by BolexForSoup@kbin.social to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Looking to dip my toes into Linux for the first time. I have a 2016 Intel MacBook Pro with pretty solid specs collecting dust right now that I think I’m going to use. Research so far has indicated to me that the two best options for me are likely Mint or Elementary OS. Does anyone have any insight? Also open to other OS’s. I would consider myself decently tech savvy but I am not a programmer or anything. Comfortable dipping into the terminal when the need arises and all that.

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[+] loops@beehaw.org -10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Perhaps Arch Linux? Maybe a bit too much for a toe dip though, I wouldn't know. You'll likely run into driver issues (wifi, audio and apple specific hardware) and Arch ostensibly has the latest drivers. Will happily be corrected though, I've been languishing on Ubuntu and haven't had to fix anything in years.

[–] Penguincoder@beehaw.org 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Arch is not a beginner OS.

OP: give Mint or PoPOS a try or start off directly with Debian stable. As far as driver issues go, make sure to enable the non-free and non-free-firmware for newer Debian versions and you should be okay.

[–] s20@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 year ago

I don't want to be rude, but recommending Arch to a newbie who wants to dip their toe in is just mean. Why not tell them to set up an OpenBSD desktop while they're at it.

And the laptop they're using is from 2015. Why would you need the latest drivers for that?

[–] Pantherina@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago

I am using Linux for 3 years or so now. Even with BTFRS snapshots, no AUR and other things I would not use Arch over Fedora Kinoite. I have no idea how to chroot into anything and suffer from enough daily KDE bugs (bts the KDE components are basically the same version as on Arch).