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Serious question: For those wanting to run Linux, and not having experience in the command line, which distro would you recommend? Gotta be as user-friendly as possible.
Ubuntu.
apt install firefox
*installs as a snap instead*
Am I the only one who doesn't install snap/flatpak ?
I don't either. I hate Snap. Flatpak is kind of Okay but I still prefer native install when available.
I was mainly making a comment on how on Ubuntu they sometimes force you to install the snap version with apt, yes it is really slimy and wrong and it's why I don't use Ubuntu anymore and instead just use Pop.
Precisely. And for me, the snap package doesn't work well. It doesn't follow cursor themes and there are issues involved with closing tabs. Installing via the Mozilla ppa fixes this, but it shouldn't have to be that way. New users, especially ones with a fear of the console, should stay away from Ubuntu for reasons like these.
Also has trouble reading from External Drives and which can be problematic for apps like puddletag and VLC.
I'm just as pissed off about that as the next guy, but I stand by my recommendation despite it.
I'd still recommend Debian bases for people like Mint or Pop, since they have the best software compatibility over all (so many devs just package their apps as Deb and rarely RPM so it's a pain to install them on other Distros). Best of all those ones come without Snap at all.
As with anything Linux, the answer is, it depends, and each person will give you a different answer. Mine is that is you want something close to Windows? Go for Linux Mint.
Mint or Solus.
Solus was specifically designed to be for normal people and for you to have to use the terminal as infrequently as possible. However, the software selection is more limited than in other distros.
I have a bit of a hard time recommending solus because they have been back and forth on development for the past couple of years. It is a project with great potential, but it needs to be actively maintained.
I would say mint or Pop. Ubuntu works but it's become a little annoying to work with.
Linspire or Linux Mint
But you should get used to the console, just start using it, it's fun
Ubuntu Cinnamon is what'd I recommend more if you're starting out and want to play video games. Lutris dropped support for Linux Mint because both parties were a bit too stubborn on making the appropriate changes that would work for everyone (iirc, LM packaged drivers differently and Lutris wanted it a bit more standard to work efficiently. And immovable object had met an unstoppable force)
I've never had a easier time going from bootable to functional than using Nobara, even Mint gave me more hassle creating a functional bootable than Nobara.
It's based on Fedora Linux so if you were gonna go that route I'd say give Nobara a try.
Fedora or Pop
Fedora/KDE
Zorin.
Pop! All of the others pale in comparison.
I would seriously recommend you use gentoo for a bit. It is not user friendly, you use the command line constantly, the install process is mostly manual. But nothing teaches you the fundamentals like using it.
Now, personally I did this on a second PC as a home server hobby. Dunno if I'd recommend it for a novice wanting a desktop experience.
"Hey I need this to be user friendly and simple."
"Use not insert user friendly distro so you can get better even though you're probably one of the 99% of humanity that doesn't need their computer for more than dicking around on a web browser and couldn't give less of a fuck about OS's and computers."
This is why no one wants to use fucking Linux.
"You should learn more about your computer and use linux"
"GO AWAY, BAITIN'!"
That's why no one wants to use fucking Linux.
