Best Linux Distro Privacy/Usability for a mid level user
What do you think is the best linux distro for a user who wants to migrate from windows in terms of privacy, usability and respect for the FOSS spirit?
I’m thinking to give a chance to #ElementaryOS https://elementary.io
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Linux mint
Mint helped me a lot when I switched from Windows. I found it very straightforward, as much as that’s possible with Linux
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I installed Manjaro to two of my friends that I’d say are mid-level and they’ve been using it without problems for years. Even if it’s arch-based, it comes with everything it needs to be easy to use (most importantly a graphical package manager) and because it’s arch-based it never lags behind with software updates and you got the AUR if you need it. Manjaro is to Arch what Ubuntu is to Debian basically. Yes, they have fucked up a few times in the past, most notably the certificate fiascos, but none of that affects its usability for a beginner, at worst they won’t be able to update for a few days while they renew the expired certificates.
Edit: and I recommend you use Plasma, it will feel very familiar if they come from Windows
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TAILS
Please don’t. ElementaryOS is bad for new user this days. Try Fedora Workstation edition or Plasma spin, Linux Mint.
@FarLine99 @privacy
what’s the problem with elementary for new users?It is buggy. Really old packages. Non enabled deb installation in Software Store. Non wayland support which is definetly the future.
Its not a privacy problem, its a software being up to date problem. Elementary is slow to be updated so you’re going to spend a lot of your time debugging and troubleshooting why your wifi isn’t working, what’s the deal with your font rendering, why is the login screen acting like that?
#Elementary has a very opinionated design and includes some defaults that would be desireable for pretty much absolutely nobody - the most prominent of them being that it only lists apps from its own store, which is almost empty, and then gives warnings to users to try and discourage them from going to a place like FlatHub for the software that they will no doubt need. There is a tone about the OS in its design and especially its language in dialogs that may make people feel like they are the ones who are “wrong” if they do not wish to stick with these defaults - I think that’s what really rubs so many people the wrong way, and a brand-new user that doesn’t know much about Linux would just be completely lost.
It also has no direct upgrade paths for major new versions, and they do their own apps and DE which is great, but they are also under-resourced and so the experience can be a bit glitchy sometimes.
You mention being a mid-level user though, so I think you’d be fine with it, if you like the look of it. In terms of privacy, usability and respect for the FOSS spirit, I think Elementary and its Pantheon desktop environment is fantastic, and I believe it’s actually worth trying to adapt to its way of doing things. I use it and love it.
For someone brand new to Linux that just wants to get up and running quickly and get work done, I’d highly recommend #ZorinOS instead. It’s very much a counter-point in philosophy to Elementary OS and gives a vibe of: “You do things however you’re used to, I just want to make it as easy for you as possible.”
@ianmclean @FarLine99 @privacy
thanks for your comments. I’ve already decided to install #LinuxMint. Actually I’ve been using it for around a month and I’m very satisfied. Currently I almost don’t use windows.
I would say elementary is easy for new users? What did I miss haha. This said I go with fedora or popos for new users.
I would recommend what looks most promising/fun to you.
personally I am staying with the “big ones”. on my gaming pc I have installed fedora with kde. on my notebook(with touchscreen) I am trying Debian with gnome and eventually arch when I am clear on how I want my system to be exactly
for work and network stuff I use debian with kde.
If you are unsure I’d recommend either debian or fedora with kde. Ubuntu isn’t really something for me because snap is really annoying (apt installs sometimes default to snap but don’t tell you outright)
@privacy @linux
According to most of the responses so far, Eeementary is not the best choice. So I think I will try #LinuxMint as the first option.Linux Mint is great for beginners and is simular to Windows.
Mid level Linux user, who was once a Windows user who switched to Ubuntu, and has migrated to Debian. DE > distro, and please pick DEB based distros for an easy life.
GNOME. This is the best DE, hands down. Anyone saying KDE or some window manager is a hobbyist who is detached from reality and “normal” use cases. GNOME is in a different ballpark than every other DE, with XFCE-like resource usage while having the best workflow. Its design is the most beautiful and polished besides Deepin (third party software looks odd with it) and KDE (very bad resource usage and overload of customisation).
The desktop environment is much more important, I recommend going with Fedora, it’s easy and has a large community and has a large amount of desktop environments to pick from.
@carloshr @Openhuman @privacy @linux I think Zorin OS is good for this.
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Mint is great, it runs on my refrigerator so it should run on most other Hardware as well, and its pretty Beginner-friendly, and the community is helpful.
You serious?
Yes, its easy and just works out of the box.
Fedora, mint or open suse tumbleweed. Pick your favorite DE and just give It a try. If you want to make distro hopping easier make a /home partition
