New Linux user from windows 10

[kingston73]

My older dell laptop finally gave up, windows is refusing to boot but all diagnostics tests are saying it’s fine. It’s been slow for a while now so this is just the bump I needed to make the jump to Linux.

I know this is the mint forum so it’ll be a biased answer but here’s my question:
I’m looking at Mint, Elementary OS, and Manjaro. I want a system that will work, I don’t need anything fancy.

I like the thought of rolling updates but I also really like how “pretty” elementary is and it seems like everything I read says Mint is great for beginners.

So as a new user who isn’t very technical, what would you recommend.

[ajgringo619]

Mint XFCE - really easy on older hardware.

[kevin987]

Post the results of

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxzd

from your terminal window using the code display feature (using the </> button).

[oldgranola]

If your hardware is failing no os will fix. But you can test using a live usb. Use another compute to download an image and create. Your question mint vs manjaro, i think mint xfce is better for you due to the community. Bu i do like and use manjaro. Why not just Ubuntu? .donno. just like the mint. Linux is a lot more hands on but also gives you more tools and direct access to all that makes things work.

[Schultz]

kingston73 wrote:
I know this is the mint forum so it’ll be a biased answer but here’s my question:
I’m looking at Mint, Elementary OS, and Manjaro. I want a system that will work, I don’t need anything fancy.

My suggestion would be go with Mint, as I believe Mint's forum is the most friendly (some Linux forums can be quite cutthroat). By the way, my answer isn't biased because my main system isn't one of the three you listed (nor is it Windows).

[Pierre]

I know this is the mint forum so it’ll be a biased answer but here’s my question:
I’m looking at Mint, Elementary OS, and Manjaro. I want a system that will work, I don’t need anything fancy.

it's often, quite suprising, on Just How UN-Biased, that this Forum Members - seem to be

Mint XFCE - really easy on older hardware.

actually LinuxMint Mate version - often can be a good alternative, as well,,
&& it's not that much heavier than what the XFCE version seems to be.

[kevin987]

We don't know how old his hardware is yet. If he has a dual core processor and 4+ GB RAM then he should be able to run Mint Cinnamon out of the box.

[Hoser Rob]

I'd recommend MInt for beginners or Ubuntu, but Mint has an update policy others lack that makes it less likely that an update will break something, as long as you set it to "keep my computer safe". WHich is what beginners should do. For the same sort of reason I would suggest beginners avoid rolling release distros like the plague until they learn good CLI recovery skills.

I don't find the forum here any friendlier than any other distro with beginner leanings but it's pretty good. However ubuntuforums has a level of expertise that no other beginner suitable forum has. However, the REAL gurus they have there don't have much patience for users who can't be bothered with searching the subject themselves and/or don't state the problem clearly. Many newbies get a hissy fit with those forums. But then they end up in forums with no real experts.

You need to post system info from this machine, especially the graphics card.

[I2k4]

I concur with above advice, to try a Persistent live USB long enough to thoroughly test different linux as well as different desktop environments. You'll want time to check linux compatibility with your PC's hardware as well as all the peripherals normally used with it - to avoid investing a lot of time installing and setting up full installs that ultimately prove unsatisfactory. You might or not be aware that among Ubuntu spin offs, the desktop environment and assortment of preinstalled software probably make more difference out of the box than the underlying linux platform, until you find and decide your own preferences. Mint is probably the easiest and most dependable new user experience though its been a while since I tried anything else. There is a heck of a lot of half-baked linux out there (though some grin and call it "choice".)

If Windows is still running you can easily create a persistent live USB on a 16GB or larger thumb drive using this Win software (there are alternatives, I like this):

https://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal ... -as-1-2-3/

If you format the thumb drive as NTFS (doable in the software) you can set about half a 16GB drive as "persistence" to let you configure the OS and preinstalled software, install and configure additional software, then shut down and reboot without losing what's done. Live USB on a good flash drive will run only marginally slower than a regular hard drive install, and compatibility problems are not solved by fully installing. I still use Win7 and am not familiar with how Windows 10 (or your particular PC) sets the USB as priority for booting the live USB ahead of the Windows C: drive, but that is required.

(The "rolling release" distros are a nice idea but not nearly as friendly to inexperienced users as Ubuntu based. While I've moved to Mint 19.x, my Mint 17.x install on a Dell laptop lasted four years, accepting "point releases" and ordinary updates seamlessly, without need for reinstalling the OS.)

[kingston73]

Thanks for the responses so far. It’s a dell inspiron with a touch screen, core i5 1.70 ghz and an Intel Haswell mobile graphics card. It’s all running with 6 gbs of memory. The dell self diagnostics said all the hardware was good so I have no idea what happened to the windows installation but it is gone, the computer either says no OS detected or no boot device detected.

I’ve decided to go with mint, now I just need to decide which flavor. I’m getting ahead of myself but I’d like to try to make it look MacOS like. Would any of them work or would one be better for that?

[eddycanuck]

That seems to be a common request.
Here is one of many "Video Tutorials" on how to make Mint (18.3?) look like a Mac.
https://youtu.be/huo9xN4XBkA
(It seems fairly straight-forward - once you become more familiar with how Linux Mint various "System Settings" operate.)
and Welcome to Linux Mint!
(I was you about 1 yrs ago).

Cheers,
ed

[absque fenestris]

You describe yourself as a Windows 10 user - but you want to have a macOS feeling.
I don't understand somehow...

[JasonStonier]

Linux Mint Mate edition.

I went through the same process you're going through - tried Ubuntu Unity, ElementaryOS, Mint Cinnamon, Mint Mate, Bodhi, Manjaro...

After living with all of them, I've settled with Mint Mate. It runs well on older hardware, and on my Core i5 it really flies. I installed the Compiz eyecandy, so you get hot corners like MacOS. The Mint forums are also a great resource and the people here are friendly to newbies.

For really old hardware, Bodhi Linux is excellent, but anything from the last ten years, I'd go Mint Mate.

[br1anstorm]

Like others who have replied, I've been down the same road of trying out different Linux distros in the process of transition away from Windows.

I'd offer two bits of advice and a personal recommendation:

1) be prepared to adapt a bit. It's natural to want the Linux OS you choose to be like Windows (XP or 7 or 10 or whatever) or to be like MacOS. Some distros try harder than others to offer this familiarity. But if you are willing to embrace the different - Linux - way of doing things, it becomes so much more rewarding. The scope for tailoring appearance and performance to what you like best is vast - if you want to tweak things. But equally, many of the more widely used distros, including Mint, are so refined and well-tuned that you don't need to mess with them.

2) try various distros out - either in Live sessions off a CD/DVD or USB stick, or by loading several on to a multiboot USB stick using YUMI - see https://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-mult ... b-creator/. They may run a bit slower than when fully installed. But it's the best way to find out what you like, what looks good, and what works well on your machine.

My recommendation is the result of making a similar journey to you: Dell laptop, adequate but not massive power and hardware, and a personal preference for clean appearance, simplicity and reliability.

I tried Zorin (at the time it was trying to appeal to XP users), PCLinuxOS MATE version (rolling release), LXLE (lightweight), Linux Lite (similar in many respects to Mint in its derivation from Ubuntu), and - the surprise outsider - Linux MX. But I have settled on Mint. XFCE version, because I like its desktop and the Whisker menu. Also because it is tried and tested and the developers err on the side of reliability over novelty. Also because of the forum - thoughtful, generous and expert, and always the source of wise and helpful advice (not all forums are as benign). But try Lite - it looks and feels similar. And you might find Linux MX16, or MX17, as surprising and as interesting as I have (it is my favourite "non-Ubuntu" option) .

Whatever you choose, enjoy the ride. Linux really is a fascinating new world.

[dcrowder]

I want a system that will work, I don’t need anything fancy.

You definitely came to the right distro. I suggest MATE desktop... nice clean and easy.

[nielo]

Dell LPS-502x, eight years old, i5 intel/nvidia dual graphics, 6Gb RAM. Running Linux Min 19.1 CInnamon - goes like the clappers!

[FreedomTruth]

So as a new user who isn’t very technical, what would you recommend.

For a new user, I recommend mint, mainly because of the forums You can almost always find some kind of help/support, answers to questions...
Biased? Maybe. But I don't use mint as my main o/s anymore (I do still run it in a vm from time to time, though)... but I think it's great for starting out.

[AndyMH]

Your hardware looks good enough for cinnamon, but I'd try all three desktops and settle on the one you like the look of - cinnamon, mate, xfce. Relative to windows, you'll be surprised at how quick it runs.

Why mint - well apart from the fact I think it is the best OS (yes, biased), this is one of, if not the most friendly forum around. Get stuck - there are plenty here willing and able to help.

[kc1di]

Hi I'm with others here try all the mint desktops from live media and choose which one works best for you I prefer XFCE myself. But they are all good. Why Mint several reasons. Manjaro is a good rolling release distro , but tends to be a bit unstable at times. Though when something goes wrong they fix it quite fast. Elementry is pretty but they lock down way to many setting for my taste So that leaves Mint and it as good as it gets IMHO Good luck which ever you choose.

P.S. remember when running live it will normally be a little slower that HD install.

[kingston73]

I've been using a few different live distros and I'm liking mint xfce more than the others. Why? I don't know really but it just seems to work better for me than cinnamon and mate. I've also been trying MX18, it seems a bit faster than mint on my computer but I'm a little worried about using a lesser known distro and not finding as much support for it. I've also been trying out Ubuntu standard and that's nice as well but seems to be the slowest of the 3 versions.