Recommended Linux distro for noob

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SunTiger

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#302848 28-Dec-2022 09:55

Hey I'm looking at installing Linux on a spare desktop and am looking at distros, what distro is good for a noob? I'll be using the Linux desktop for crypto work such as trading on exchanges and also Thunderbird for email

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#3014475 28-Dec-2022 10:10

Ubuntu or Mint. As someone very familiar with Windows and all it's settings etc I prefer Mint. Imo Mint has less cruft than Ubuntu while having all the advantages of Ubuntu like simple program installation and management etc.

huckster

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#3014476 28-Dec-2022 10:15

I reckon most would probably say Mint - https://linuxmint.com/

I'm using Ubuntu on my desktop at home these days myself after decades of Windows - https://www.ubuntu.com/

There are others, but these are well documented and supported so as a Noob you'll have no problem finding articles and YouTube clips on setup etc. - just make sure any you search for apply to your version. Like all OSes, there will be out of date instructions out there.

The other thing to bear in mind is that laptops can be a little funky with respect to power management, WiFi and touchpads. So maybe google linux distro for <insert laptop make model>

SunTiger

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#3014543 28-Dec-2022 12:19

Apparently there are some issues with Amazon data leaks and privacy with Ubuntu and its related distros such as Mint:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks

https://github.com/prism-break/prism-break/issues/334

Does anyone have experience with these issues and would Debian be a better alternative?

gzt

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#3014550 28-Dec-2022 12:38

SunTiger: Apparently there are some issues with Amazon data leaks and privacy with Ubuntu and its related distros such as Mint:

The article itself states the feature can be uninstalled easily enough. Mint is not mentioned. I doubt it's a problem with Mint.

Ge0rge

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#3014554 28-Dec-2022 12:54

SunTiger: ...I'll be using the Linux desktop for crypto work such as trading on exchanges...

You're already being stolen from. The fact that a third party, in 2012, could possibly read the results of searches completed in Dash - something that can be disabled - is the least of your problems.

PANiCnz

990 posts

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#3014557 28-Dec-2022 12:59

Ubuntu, simply because there is a gazillion how-to guides out there for it. If you want to do something, chances are someone has already written a tutorial on how to do it.

cyril7

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#3014561 28-Dec-2022 13:18

Hi, another one here for Mint, or Ubuntu, use both here at home, Mint is the one that my wife (who is not techy) prefers. At work its Parrot for its Cyber tool sets that come part of the distro, although I suspect the reason we are Cyber conscience has nothing to do with why you would want that aspect.

Cyril

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Starlith

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#3014562 28-Dec-2022 13:27

I think Manjaro KDE or anything with KDE could be a good shout (Kubuntu) or Mint, I sometimes wish I skipped the faffing about with making Ubuntu work for me and went straight to a Manjaro but then distro hopping seems to be a right of passage in the Linux world.

huckster

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#3014567 28-Dec-2022 13:41

SunTiger:

Apparently there are some issues with Amazon data leaks and privacy with Ubuntu and its related distros such as Mint:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks

https://github.com/prism-break/prism-break/issues/334

Does anyone have experience with these issues and would Debian be a better alternative?

An article from 2012...? I refer you to my comment on making sure you search for the version you install.

FWIW I ended up with Ubuntu because it just felt easier to use - for me.

I tried Mint and a few others by installing them in a VM under Windows. So maybe try a few different flavours and see how you go.

I used VMWare Workstation, although there are open-source tools available such as VirtualBox.

xpd

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#3014608 28-Dec-2022 16:55

Im running Kubuntu at the moment (https://kubuntu.org/) and enjoying the experience. I'm a gamer and found 90% of games I own so far (Steam/Epic/GOG) run happily with very little tweaking etc :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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#3014700 28-Dec-2022 17:21

Ubuntu, because there's so many tutorials and so much help available. I changed my server from Amazon Linux to Ubuntu and it's much easier to do anything. I installed ubuntu on my old PC for when I need a Linux desktop, but rarely turn that one one.

KiwiSurfer

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#3014718 28-Dec-2022 18:56

I would start with Ubuntu and consider switching to Debian when you become more confident/knowledgeable about Linux. Ubuntu is based on Debian with a lot of "user friendly" stuff added on top so moving from Ubuntu to Debian (like taking training wheels off your bike) later on is easy enough to do. I haven't used Mint but given the recommendations I would give that a try.

farcus

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#3014786 28-Dec-2022 21:30

it probably doesn't matter. Any of the major distros would be fine . . . . Ubuntu, Mint, Manjaro, Opensuse, Fedora, KDE Neon etc
Whichever you choose (and they are all excellent desktops) you are going to have to learn. And once you have learned one, the jump from one to the other isn't particularly that difficult.

People mention Ubuntu a lot based on there being lots of info available around it - but actually these days, most of the major distros have excellent online guides and communities for support.

Personally, I've been using openSUSE as my main driver for over fifteen years - but have little trouble providing support to others using different distros.

michaelmurfy

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#3014792 28-Dec-2022 22:10

I'm actually very surprised nobody has mentioned Pop! OS: https://pop.system76.com/

Based off Ubuntu, easy to use, very clean and has a nvidia installer also if you're using nvidia graphics (this can be somewhat annoying to set up at times because seriously, screw nvidia).

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ratsun81

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#3015136 29-Dec-2022 16:57

SunTiger:

Apparently there are some issues with Amazon data leaks and privacy with Ubuntu and its related distros such as Mint:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks

https://github.com/prism-break/prism-break/issues/334

Does anyone have experience with these issues and would Debian be a better alternative?

Is this a catfish or a troll post?

Seriously who quotes an article from 10 years ago for any operating system issue when even the links posted the issue has been fixed?

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