>>337 There are three first Linux distros I would recommend. Ubuntu if you want completely different from Windows feel. Linux Mint if you want to have similar feel from Windows (I personally like xcfe version). If you are a Mac user, then go for distro called elementary OS. Pick one of them

>>337 It truly depends. But as a beginner, a .deb (it's an file extension, similar to .exe) distro would do good for you — simply because it's the biggest userbase, and you will find answers quickly to your problems. As my truest anon friendo up there, I recommend Linux Mint. It was the distro that I began with, and the transition won't be painful. And if I remember correctly, Ubuntu had or still has telemetry. I don't recommend it. Don't fall on the distrohopping and ricing community, by the way. Worst thing that you can do. And I also don't recommend rolling release distros. Remember: the computer must work for you, not you working for the computer.

>>339 Not OP but a linux user since August 2023. I'm curious, what's wrong with rolling release distros?

>>338 >>339 OP here, thanks to you both friends! I have gone for Linux Mint based on your respond and also some information on the internet. I'm using the Cinnamon edition. My computer is so much faster now despite being so old. Thank you again! It's amazing!

>>340 Require higher maintenance and break easier Not recommended traits for a Linux beginner

>>342 I appreciate it for the answer. So far I use Linux Mint as my main distro. I have an extra laptop to try out other distro. So far I tried Debian, Slackware, and Artix.

>>337 Gentoo is all you'll ever need https://www.gentoo.org/

>>341 now that this thread has been bumped I will now recommend that you install the windows xp theme for cinnamon

>>337 >What linux distro should I use? One of those recommended by Free Software Foundation (https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html) I recommend Trisquel and PureOS as I have tested them and I think they're decent.

I had Arch as my first distro. Haven't really switched since then. That's what I recommend.

windows 10

"Install gentoo, it's my favorite distro in the world" -Richard S. Stallman

Red Star OS

Hey, OP here nearly 3 months later. I'm on Debian now with XFCE.

>>386 That's a solid choice IMO. :) Good luck with it!

>>337 I use Arch with AwesomeWM and everything is comfy till now.

>>386 I'm the >>338 poster. I'm proud of you! Solid choice for the first Linux distro!

>>387 >>389 Thank you both! It's really comfortable so far. The terminal is nothing scary now. :D

Hannah Montanah Linux

I know some people like to bad-mouth Linux Mint, but it eased me into it understanding things and it's pretty comfortable for what it is. Put it on my ancient, dying laptop and it runs nicely.

>>429 I can't see the reason to talk down about Linux Mint when it's literally superior compare to Windows 10 and 11. I know some people have higher standard on Linux distro but I find it ridiculous.

>>337 Well, OP, now that you familiarized yourself with POSIX-like GNU/Linux-based OSes, consider using either of these: Gentoo, Funtoo, Obarun, Joborun, Parabola, Hyperbola, CRUX, Chimera, Bedrock or lo/g/os The mentioned distos give much more freedom to the user, than "mainstream" ones do(n't). Out of these, only Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre is a fully free/libre distro, which follows the GNU FSDG.

>>337 Honestly as someone who uses mint id say go with mint. Based on your post, you have no experience with linux so you want something new user friendly. Mint is based on ubuntu the most popular distro but (from what I understood) ubuntu was doing some retarded things with its distro and mint reverses on those stupid changes(so i was told im not too technically inclined myself) Additionally it comes out of the box with DE that is familiar to windows desktop. Do not fall for the niche distro meme. You need to use a popular one because then you have all the people to assist you with your questions and all the software support you can get.

>>430 kind of unrelated, but is it still bad if i use debloated windows 11? I used linux mint and it was okay but having to think about compatibility every time was tiring. and I don't think dual boot is a good solution for this, it's not productive to do work on different os's

>>1084 different hikarin but honestly i use debloated windows 11 also. use whatever works for you. if you (understandably) don't care much about the FSM and aren't a privacy schizo then there isn't a reason why you need to switch. i'd like to switch eventually but as of right now i always end up going back to debloated windows whenever i try.

>>1085 how bad my privacy is on windows now? I already don't have the schizo level of privacy, but I still try to use things like ungoogled chromium. I disabled all the telemetry, deleted edge and copilot etc.

>>1087 >how bad my privacy is on windows now? Not bad really, only it would take them exactly one click to enter your system because all mass market proprietary software is backdoored, and the backdoors are coordinated by you know what government. I'm not sure linux in a panacea but it seems since linux is used exclusively in privacy conscious scenarios, it is more expensive to enter a linux machine. Though if you use your usual systemd with gnome/kde, you don't win much, since all of them are designed as malware as well. If you think open source cannot be openly malware you're dead wrong. Simply make unnecessarily complex and over engineered """solution""" and call your backdoors """"zero day RCEs"""" and chill. Since moving away from systemd is not possible and since it seems Linus is going to be deposed in upcoming years, I doubt you win anything by switching to linux. I'll probably keep some kernel tarballs just in case, but I think software freedom is doomed and unless something happens with the world, we will not be able to own our own system anymore.

>moving away from systemd is not possible Though if somebody replaces elogind and udev in a functional manner and presents clean software at the same time, please ping me. t. devuan user

>>1087 depends on your threat level. for the majority of people what you're doing is fine. if your threat level is something more casual like "i want to stop companies from selling my data for algorithms" then you can still do that to a satisfying degree on an LTSC install with disabling scripts. using trusted, open source software (like ungoogled chromium/librewolf, libreoffice, krita) and healthy amounts of caution online will be a good effort. if you want to go even further you can use invidious, nitter, and other alternative frontends for data hogging sites. the hikarin above me is correct in the sense that you can't really hide from the government, but that is not within most people's threat level (including mine).

>>1088 >>1094 thanks for the elaborate response anons.