this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2024
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I feel like you're describing Windows here lol
Windows does manage it quite well with the OOBE to be fully functional with regular hardware. Only special stuff like (d)GPUs and external stuff might require special drivers.
Basic sound, networking, (multi-monitor) video and peripheral support works very good.
As does practically every Linux distro. I install it, it just works. Don't even need to hunt for GPU or printer drivers like I do for windows.
That was the status quo when I tried Linux ~5 years ago. Nowadays, Linux is much more plug and play (and I'm specifically referring to Pop OS).
Cool, but didn't everyone tell me I should use Mint, for a bunch of reasons including "it's arguably the most beginner-friendly"?
From what I read, Mint is better for lower-end PC specs, but otherwise, I'd strongly recommend PopOS.
I see. I'll look into it, thanks.
Desktop Linux requires buying a USB / DVD, inserting it into your machine, and hitting OK several times. If you can't do that, you also can't install Windows.
Verification is optional, but recommended. This is true for all OSs. Don't do it if you can't.
Note that I said to buy a USB or DVD with Linux. Burning your own is easy on Linux, but Windows puts up a lot of roadblocks. (One wonders why.)
GRUB works fine, but again, you only have to deal with it if you want to dual-boot.
Some sound cards used to not have first-party Linux drivers, so you'd have to find some third-party workaround. This is the only real problem among the ones you listed, but even this is pretty rare nowadays.
That's all fair advice. It doesn't change that installation instructions should have been a lot more thorough though. Once I get a third (or bigger primary) SSD, I'll dual-boot Mint. I still want to try it. Regardless of my issues with it, I do know Linux is getting better. And we can see how ready I am for it now (and that's partially up to the software).
Fair. I guess asking users to verify the ISO is just to avoid lawsuits. Buying USBs is more beginner-friendly than burning your own, but it would be very difficult to maintain an up to date list of sellers. They definitely need to explain GRUB and dual-booting better, as well as make it easier to repair / avoid the Windows overwriting GRUB issue.
Burning an iso with stuff like rufus is so stupid easy it should be illegal.
Linux mint user here.
Sound works even better then windows, Printers needed terminal work to install, but forums were very helpful. https://safereddit.com/r/linux/comments/rpgn28/my_grandma_called_and_thanked_me_for_installing/
Thanks for trying linux!
I don't use pop os or gnome personally and I'm not part of any cult or whatever.
I know kde plasma has a white general look, and can be themed much more than gnome in pop os seems to be.
it also has 3 finger click in its setting under the touchpad option
Also, try Fedora 39 kde spin https://fedoraproject.org/spins/kde/ I mention this because fedora has the new linux tech in it so your laptop might behave better with this os.
Oh, thank god. Plasma looks good for me. Easy to look at and professional. Assuming I understand how it works, which popular distros can use Plasma? Update: After some quick research, I think I want to use Kubuntu? Does that sound like a good idea?
Sounds good to me, never used kubuntu myself though.
Usually I just go to the appstore on linux mint, kubuntu has a appstore called discover as for setting up a network drive, I have no idea so I asked meta.ai
Honestly, tell me if asking AI helps you at all, because I got no idea if it's hallucinating how it should be done.
My dad is 60 and uses Mint for years now. That enough "grandma" for you?