recommend Linux OS

[imperialplanet]

Im thinking about making the linux switch and I would like to know what Linux OS you all prefer, I am the most familiar with Ubuntu, but i used Fedora for a hour or so. 

[othertomperson]

Ubuntu seems the easiest to get into. Maybe that's a crappy thing for a Windows user to say, but there it is.

[AlwaysFSX]

Ubuntu seems the easiest to get into. Maybe that's a crappy thing for a Windows user to say, but there it is.

I disagree, Mint is.

[flibberdipper]

Ubuntu and Linux Mint are great to start with, and Xubuntu is one of the better ones once you know your way around, or if your computer is a bit on the slow side.

[AlexStriz]

If you like Windows, the Linux Mint would be a nice choice.

 

If you like Mac, Elementary OS or Ubuntu are the ones to try

[Laputacake]

Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon or Voyager Live

[othertomperson]

I disagree, Mint is.

 

I've not been paying that much attention, but I was under the impression that Mint was a Desktop Environment for Ubuntu? Was that wrong?

[Jade]

I disagree, Mint is.

I disagree, as an ex user of Mint. If there's no safe way to upgrade between versions and when things go wrong, the advice is "Reinstall fresh." then there's a problem and beginners shouldn't be using it.

 

 

I've not been paying that much attention, but I was under the impression that Mint was a Desktop Environment for Ubuntu? Was that wrong?

Cinnamon is. Mint is the developer of Cinnamon.

[imperialplanet]

 

I disagree, as an ex user of Mint. If there's no safe way to upgrade between versions and when things go wrong, the advice is "Reinstall fresh." then there's a problem and beginners shouldn't be using it.

 

 

Cinnamon is. Mint is the developer of Cinnamon.

 

what would you recommend?

[Jade]

what would you recommend?

Personally I dual booted Arch and Windows, but for a beginner I'd recommend Ubuntu or Elementary.

[BuntzenB]

So there are a couple of options depending what you are going for. Personally I mainly use UBUNTU. So here is my rundown. There is mint and Ubuntu who are both debian builds. Mint is most similair to windows even with a "start bar" and it is pretty nice. Then UBUNTU which i personally think looks like a fusion of mac and windows and it has a cool mac style bar on the side and also a mac style program launcher. There is alot of support for UBUNTU and i like it alot.

If you are doing hacking stuff then go with kali.

These are the basics.

Also people like elementary but im not into it.

EDIT: forgot to mention that elementary looks almost exactly like a mac... if ur into that.

also ther is lubuntu which is good if you have not such a great computer (its lightweight ubuntu)

and dont forget steam OS if you want in home streaming

EDIT: i said lubuntu is light ubuntu - wasnt thinking. it stands for lxde ubuntu but it also it lighter and easier to run (thers also Xubunut and Kubuntu)

[Jade]

 

and dont forget steam OS if you want in home streaming

or just install [distro] and install steam on it, then in home stream

[BuntzenB]

or just install [distro] and install steam on it, then in home stream

 

lol yeah thats what i did. thats why i only mentioned it as an afterthought

[imperialplanet]

So there are a couple of options depending what you are going for. Personally I mainly use UBUNTU. So here is my rundown. There is mint and Ubuntu who are both debian builds. Mint is most similair to windows even with a "start bar" and it is pretty nice. Then UBUNTU which i personally think looks like a fusion of mac and windows and it has a cool mac style bar on the side and also a mac style program launcher. There is alot of support for UBUNTU and i like it alot.

If you are doing hacking stuff then go with kali.

These are the basics.

Also people like elementary but im not into it.

EDIT: forgot to mention that elementary looks almost exactly like a mac... if ur into that.

also ther is lubuntu which is good if you have not such a great computer (its lightweight ubuntu)

and dont forget steam OS if you want in home streaming

how about debian, the ui looks cool. 

[BuntzenB]

how about debian, the ui looks cool. 

 

both ubuntu and mint and lots of others are built right off of debian. mint looks more similar (actually kali looks the most similar but it has meh support at best and is mean for hacking) i have to say out of all of the linux distros i've used ubuntu is the easiest to use right out of the box and i like it best down the line with lots of product support and it stays fast even in a couple of months. Debian isnt a bad choice but its fairly bland imho, but if you like it then sure. (basicly everything on ubuntu works on debian as they are almost the same exact thing). 

[Opcode]

I disagree, Mint is.

Cinnamon has more of a Windows style layout tho Unity in my opinion is better. Doing the basics that most people want to do is far easier out of the box with Ubuntu. Per example Compiz is used for the Unity shell and on Mint it's a several step process to even get it set into the machine as the default window manager. I also am not fond of Cinnamon's "start menu" as it's just as impractical as the Windows start menu that's been around for over a decade. Sub menu's upon sub menu's digging searching for shortcuts. Takes you a while to find what you're looking for. Meanwhile Unity works in the same sense as the Windows taskbar with pinned application shortcuts. It's entirely debatable as everyone has their own taste in things. Tho from a multitasking and ease of use perspective Ubuntu is far easier.

[AlwaysFSX]

Cinnamon has more of a Windows style layout tho Unity in my opinion is better. Doing the basics that most people want to do is far easier out of the box with Ubuntu. Per example Compiz is used for the Unity shell and on Mint it's a several step process to even get it set into the machine as the default window manager. I also am not fond of Cinnamon's "start menu" as it's just as impractical as the Windows start menu that's been around for over a decade. Sub menu's upon sub menu's digging searching for shortcuts. Takes you a while to find what you're looking for. Meanwhile Unity works in the same sense as the Windows taskbar with pinned application shortcuts. It's entirely debatable as everyone has their own taste in things. Tho from a multitasking and ease of use perspective Ubuntu is far easier.

After using cinnamon then mint I found I liked mint a bit more, it was easier to do things, but I've yet to go through all the flavors.

[Opcode]

After using cinnamon then mint I found I liked mint a bit more, it was easier to do things, but I've yet to go through all the flavors.

You mean Cinnamon and Mate? As them are the two primary desktop environments that Linux Mint offers (besides Xfce and KDE).

[AlwaysFSX]

You mean Cinnamon and Mate? As them are the two primary desktop environments that Linux Mint offers (besides Xfce and KDE).

Started with an m, don't expect my memory to work.

[Opcode]

Started with an m, don't expect my memory to work.

Probably Mate, it's a fork of Gnome 2. There's a new Ubuntu distribution on the rise using it as well "Ubuntu Mate".

 

[AlwaysFSX]

Probably Mate, it's a fork of Gnome 2. There's a new Ubuntu distribution on the rise using it as well "Ubuntu Mate".

That'd be it.

[bradscoolio]

Fedora 21 workstation is really good if you can get your graphics drivers to work... anyway. I use mint 17.1, LMDE is quite good, not too many gripes with it. I've been using linux for probably over 2 years now and am competent enough to use any distro I want without a steep learning curve, but I've continually come back to mint time and time again, it just bloody works.

[OLYCAT]

....but I've continually come back to mint time and time again, it just bloody works.

 

 

I have to agree, mint is fantastic, tried a few others but always returned to mint.

 

OP - Have you thought about dual booting with different Linux builds just to see which your prefer?

[SIGSEGV]

Porteus, it's great for USBs. I have it on a tiny USB that I have on my keyring just in case I ever need it.