What linux distro should I use?

[Tech N Gamer]

So I'm thinking of reformatting my entire laptop's HDD and getting rid of Windows. I'm getting rid of Windows on that laptop because it eats the battery way too quickly and the current linux distro installed is Ubuntu, but Ubuntu is feeling more like Mac OS than anything new or anything like Windows. I'm also still new to Linux so I don't really know how to do anything on it. The only things I know is sudo, apt-get install, apt-get update, and apt-get purge. I love the look and feel of Windows and it's modern UI. The laptop I'm talking about is a Dell Inspiron N4110 14R if that helps anything. If there's any other linux distros besides Mint and Ubuntu that are User friendly and are like Windows, that'll be nice. As a side note, will these file system driver things work on it?

• e2fsprogs
• dosfstools
• mtools
• hfsutils
• hfsprogs
• jfsutils
• util-linux
• reiser4progs
• reiserfsprogs
• xfsprogs

[ProjectBox153]

What do you use the computer for?

[Tech N Gamer]

I use it to test any Unity games I make to see if it runs properly on it, test any universal (Universal as in Linux, Mac, and Windows) platform apps that I create to see if it works, and browse the internet when my Windows desktop is busy or I cannot get to it.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I also use it if I need to get data off a drive that uses a fs that Windows doesn't read. But I only do that if the Ubuntu VM doesn't work on my desktop.

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, Tech N Gamer said:

So I'm thinking of reformatting my entire laptop's HDD and getting rid of Windows. I'm getting rid of Windows on that laptop because it eats the battery way too quickly and the current linux distro installed is Ubuntu, but Ubuntu is feeling more like Mac OS than anything new or anything like Windows. I'm also still new to Linux so I don't really know how to do anything on it. The only things I know is sudo, apt-get install, apt-get update, and apt-get purge. I love the look and feel of Windows and it's modern UI. The laptop I'm talking about is a Dell Inspiron N4110 14R if that helps anything. If there's any other linux distros besides Mint and Ubuntu that are User friendly and are like Windows, that'll be nice. As a side note, will these file system driver things work on it?

• e2fsprogs
• dosfstools
• mtools
• hfsutils
• hfsprogs
• jfsutils
• util-linux
• reiser4progs
• reiserfsprogs
• xfsprogs

Linux Mint all the way.

[PeachyUwUSenpai]

24 minutes ago, Tech N Gamer said:

I use it to test any Unity games I make to see if it runs properly on it, test any universal (Universal as in Linux, Mac, and Windows) platform apps that I create to see if it works, and browse the internet when my Windows desktop is busy or I cannot get to it.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I also use it if I need to get data off a drive that uses a fs that Windows doesn't read. But I only do that if the Ubuntu VM doesn't work on my desktop.

probably aim for ubuntu then since thats one of the most used ones so best testing platform

[Ryujin2003]

I'd say Mint or Ubuntu. The issues I've had with other flavors, especially most Debian, is they don't have great WiFi driver support, especially on OEM laptops. Ubuntu and Mint have worked well for me no matter the make and model of laptop as far as WiFi card driver compatibility.

[Tech N Gamer]

Okay, so in general, I'm understanding that I should go mint. Okay. Thanks.

[Maximum | Angel of Pain]

Its all about what you look for. If you want something easy to pick up and use I suggest to go with Mint or Ubuntu for its ease of use and customization. It also easy on the drivers since it supports a lot of hardware so you should not have problems with it. You can also try elementary, Manjora, Zorin, or Linux lite they are easy for beginners. But its mostly for what you looking in a OS. 

[Tech N Gamer]

2 hours ago, Maximum | Angel of Pain said:

Its all about what you look for. If you want something easy to pick up and use I suggest to go with Mint or Ubuntu for its ease of use and customization. It also easy on the drivers since it supports a lot of hardware so you should not have problems with it. You can also try elementary, Manjora, Zorin, or Linux lite they are easy for beginners. But its mostly for what you looking in a OS. 

Ya, heared of ElementaryOS on a different thread, went to see what it looked like an ran it in a VM, seems nice, but very unfinished.

[ProjectBox153]

1 hour ago, Tech N Gamer said:

Ya, heared of ElementaryOS on a different thread, went to see what it looked like an ran it in a VM, seems nice, but very unfinished.

What do you mean by "unfinished"?

[Guest lilbman]

I use Lubuntu because of how light it is.

 

If you're really not all that educated on Linux and it's inner workings, stick with a mainstream distro like Unbuntu or Mint.

[noahdvs]

If you want a customizable or Windows like desktop environment, use a distro with KDE or Cinnamon. For newbies, Ubuntu or something based on it tends to be a good choice because of the vast amount of community support.

You already know about Ubuntu and others have already recommended Mint. KDE neon is also worth looking at. It has a more minimal default install than Ubuntu or Mint. It's based on LTS Ubuntu, but it gets the latest KDE software. This means non-KDE packages that don't affect security will be updated in April of 2018, but there are easy ways to get around that and most of those non-KDE packages are non-essential. Normal Ubuntu has a new major version every 6 months in April and October and I believe Mint has a new major version once a year.

I used KDE neon for about 6 months and I enjoyed it very much.

 

FYI, you can use just apt instead of apt-get and you get a nice little progress bar in the terminal if you use apt instead of apt-get

apt is supposed to be more friendly to humans while apt-get is better in scripts.

Edited June 10, 2017 by noahdvs

[Tech N Gamer]

1 hour ago, noahdvs said:

If you want a customizable or Windows like desktop environment, use a distro with KDE or Cinnamon. For newbies, Ubuntu or something based on it tends to be a good choice because of the vast amount of community support.

You already know about Ubuntu and others have already recommended Mint. KDE neon is also worth looking at. It has a more minimal default install than Ubuntu or Mint. It's based on LTS Ubuntu, but it gets the latest KDE software. This means non-KDE packages that don't affect security will be updated in April of 2018, but there are easy ways to get around that and most of those non-KDE packages are non-essential. Normal Ubuntu has a new major version every 6 months in April and October and I believe Mint has a new major version once a year.

I used KDE neon for about 6 months and I enjoyed it very much.

 

FYI, you can use just apt instead of apt-get and you get a nice little progress bar in the terminal if you use apt instead of apt-get

apt is supposed to be more friendly to humans while apt-get is better in scripts.

Didn't know that, thanks for the information about apt and apt-get.

[noahdvs]

2 hours ago, Tech N Gamer said:

Didn't know that, thanks for the information about apt and apt-get.

BTW, my last KDE neon setup looked like this:

Spoiler

 

 

That Start Menu is called the Simple Menu in the KDE store. https://store.kde.org/p/1169537/

[risk]

You can try Antergos

 

It's basically Archlinux for noobs / lazy folk.

[manikyath]

try xubuntu. the UI is derpy for all of a week and then you're used to it and cant live without

[Tarzan]

All Debian distros are more or less the same... I've used Zorin, Ubuntu, Mint, Elementary, and finally got to Debian itself. I've installed the Cinnamon desktop environment (the one from Mint) and everything is fine :).

[ASeton]

Mint is very noob friendly, I used it for month until I learned terminal commands which I found a much easier way to use the OS than click like a madman.

[Linux_User_Greg]

I would recommend Ubuntu because of its large community of people who can help you solve almost any problem you have as well as how user friendly it is.