Going to make a dedicated Linux machine...which OS?

[Tristerin]

Would like to start on an entry level understanding of how the Linux OS works (I.E. I know nothing of Linux) and was curious which version, or variation of a Linux OS I should start with?  Basically I want to start using it to just get familiar with the Linux layout/terminology for web browsing, video watching, and even seeing how it works as a Media Center OS (HTPC) because if it works well I can move my micro form factor over to Linux and get more out of that 4gb of RAM lol.

Eventually I want to try to get games to work on it and stuff.  Would be on an i5 3470 R7 260x gpu machine.

 

Thanks for your time!

[LukeSavenije]

i think ubuntu or mint should work nice for you

[Tristerin]

1 minute ago, LukeSavenije said:

i think ubuntu or mint should work nice for you

If you had to just start with 1, which would you choose? 

[WereCatf]

Just now, LukeSavenije said:

i think ubuntu or mint should work nice for you

Personally, I always recommend straight-up regular Ubuntu for beginners who want to learn. Why? Because most of the documentation and guides e.g. Google returns when searching for something is for Ubuntu. Yes, most of it works just fine on any other Linux-distro as well, but not everything, as there are some variations between the distros.

 

Mint is a great option for people who aren't really interested in learning much and just want a stable, clean OS to use.

[LukeSavenije]

2 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

If you had to just start with 1, which would you choose? 

either of those 2, both are ubuntu based and there are many guides for it

 

the second thing might be gui for you...

[Tristerin]

Just now, LukeSavenije said:

either of those 2, both are ubuntu based and there are many guides for it

 

the second thing might be gui for you...

Based on the current suggestions I will likely choose Ubuntu (thanks to both of you @WereCatf) - tbh the most like Windows 10 would be the...easiest to navigate obviously.  Do they come prepackaged with a GUI or do I have to hunt one down?  Suggestions?

[Ah2004]

i would say try Zorin OS

https://zorinos.com

 

[WereCatf]

1 minute ago, Tristerin said:

Do they come prepackaged with a GUI or do I have to hunt one down?

Yes, they do. Mint is closer to how a Windows-desktop works. Ubuntu's default desktop will feel quite alien at first, but if you really wanna learn stuff, then just simply powering through the alien-feeling and getting used to it is helpful. I mean, if your intention is to learn, it's good to be pushing your own boundaries and expand your comfort-zone.

[Bananasplit_00]

Mint is where I started, Manjaro has been my easiest install though. I'm using Mint as my main OS atm but will switch to Manjaro when I have the time.

[Tristerin]

Just now, WereCatf said:

Yes, they do. Mint is closer to how a Windows-desktop works. Ubuntu's default desktop will feel quite alien at first, but if you really wanna learn stuff, then just simply powering through the alien-feeling and getting used to it is helpful. I mean, if your intention is to learn, it's good to be pushing your own boundaries and expand your comfort-zone.

Agreed - Im going to start with Ubuntu - basically its going to be on a third monitor on my desk so I can fiddle with it between games loading, and when Im relaxing after the kids sleep lol.

 

Sorry to bug but I do have a couple questions if Linux is able to do these things (and will research how, what to download etc):

 

Play or Rip Blu Ray discs?

Netflix

All the video codecs you would expect from the major streaming companies from browsers

Kodi

 

(not asking how, but if you can just say yes or no that would be great, I don't mind learning the how and will ask if I get stuck )

 

[WereCatf]

2 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Play or Rip Blu Ray discs?

VLC and Handbrake. There are plenty of other choices as well, but those are the most well-known ones.

2 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Netflix

In a web-browser, like e.g. Firefox, yes. Netflix doesn't natively support Linux, though, so they don't offer any separate app for it.

3 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

All the video codecs you would expect from the major streaming companies from browsers

Yes.

3 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Kodi

Yes.

[LukeSavenije]

17 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Based on the current suggestions I will likely choose Ubuntu (thanks to both of you @WereCatf) - tbh the most like Windows 10 would be the...easiest to navigate obviously.  Do they come prepackaged with a GUI or do I have to hunt one down?  Suggestions?

it's packaged, for ubuntu it's normally gnome 3, which is a little macos like

[Tristerin]

2 minutes ago, LukeSavenije said:

it's packaged, for ubuntu it's normally gnome 3, which is a little macos like

Sounds alien af to me LOL

[WereCatf]

1 minute ago, Tristerin said:

Sounds alien af to me LOL

Eh, just hope they don't ship the next version with anal-probes included!

[Tristerin]

1 minute ago, WereCatf said:

Eh, just hope they don't ship the next version with anal-probes included!

Those weren't lollipops?

[LukeSavenije]

7 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Sounds alien af to me LOL

gnome is a desktop environment

[Tristerin]

2 minutes ago, LukeSavenije said:

gnome is a desktop environment

10-4

[Tristerin]

2 hours ago, LukeSavenije said:

gnome is a desktop environment

 

2 hours ago, WereCatf said:

Eh, just hope they don't ship the next version with anal-probes included!

 

How large of a partition should I leave/do I need?  Not sure if room on SSD boot drive (60gb team ssd drive with Win 10 and a couple apps on it)

Have a bare 500gb and 1tb HDD in there but would rather not play around on an HDD if possible LOL.

[LukeSavenije]

3 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

 

 

How large of a partition should I leave/do I need?  Not sure if room on SSD boot drive (60gb team ssd drive with Win 10 and a couple apps on it)

Have a bare 500gb and 1tb HDD in there but would rather not play around on an HDD if possible LOL.

I'd recommend to first try it live, so from the usb stick

 

it's already inside the iso, try some oss and then finally install it

[Tristerin]

3 minutes ago, LukeSavenije said:

I'd recommend to first try it live, so from the usb stick

 

it's already inside the iso, try some oss and then finally install it

 Think....total newb 

 

So download this ubuntu OS (Ill find it no worries there unless you have a quick link just don't want to waste anyones time) onto a thumb drive, then boot from the thumb drive first rather than download to thumb drive, and then install on a disc?

[LukeSavenije]

Just now, Tristerin said:

 Think....total newb 

 

So download this ubuntu OS (Ill find it no worries there unless you have a quick link just don't want to waste anyones time) onto a thumb drive, then boot from the thumb drive first rather than download to thumb drive, and then install on a disc?

if you download it from the website you can directly run from the iso, which is a temporary system. it's a standard in most of linux.

 

it's listed as start (distro) in most cases

 

try it with ubuntu for example

[Tristerin]

1 minute ago, LukeSavenije said:

if you download it from the website you can directly run from the iso, which is a temporary system. it's a standard in most of linux.

 

it's listed as start (distro) in most cases

 

try it with ubuntu for example

10-4 will play thank you

[LukeSavenije]

4 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

10-4 will play thank you

it's the least i can do after those hours you spent with me searching for that old case

[Acedia]

Quote

If you have to ask which distribution to use, use Ubuntu.

 

[Dat Guy]

If you want to understand Linux, try Gentoo.

 

It will take you one week (including sleep and assuming a usual 8-hour work day, of course) before you have a basic desktop running. But you won't have any questions about Linux when it's done.