this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024
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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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If you have to ask it probably means the answer is one of the following:
In that order. Mint will be most likely the answer if your hardware is pretty normal. Ubuntu will be the answer if you're willing to give up some security and privacy for east of use (pro-tip: if this is your mentality I'd recommend a different OS and dual booting while you learn). Pop!_os will be the answer if you don't need super up to date software and want all your hardware to work because you have something odd
Personally I would strongly advise towards Mint. I used to direct people away from it but I've learned this was a bias I had against them for mishandling a security thing a long time ago that they've since become leaders in the security space for general use Linux operating systems.
Interesting you put Ubuntu above pop os. Besides snaps, I always feel like Ubuntu kind of gets goofier all the time, and its descendant OSes have to do a lot of un-goofifying. I love pop os. I've had a lot of little issues on other distros that I don't have in pop os. Ubuntu itself in the other hand, I've tended to have weird problems on that caused me to hop to something else.
I loath Ubuntu. But I know if I send a noob off into the woods with it they'll be able to find solutions to their problems
I was a noob to Linux when I started using pop os. Still kind of am a noob. I've found it pretty easy to find solutions online most of the time. If a search query doesn't find what I need when including "pop os" then I swap out for "Ubuntu". You get basically all the compatibility of Ubuntu but no snaps and less jank overall
I think one worth adding is ZorinOS, it might feel more familiar and modern than Mint, and it's worked well on the old hardware I've run it on. Still an Ubuntu derivative, so you can't really go wrong with any of these.
I mind to use a N100 NucBox as desktop system, which one would you pick for it?