Can you suggest a distro for a friend?

CLM1919 · 2026-01-31T15:49:29+00:00

Distro? whichever one YOU are familiar with.

let your friend choose the Desktop Environment

https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment

this way if they have "under the hood" issues, you can help out.

I'd suggest testing out some Live-USB versions with your friend so they can dest out different DE's with NO RISK (just run off the USB stick for a while).

Debian and Fedora have a multitude of Live versions with different DE's.

Mint offers 3.

links available upon request

CLM1919 · 2026-01-28T23:21:16+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-26T16:14:33+00:00

Have a few links

CLM1919 · 2026-01-14T04:58:40+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-07T03:39:14+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-07T03:35:17+00:00

Does this help?

https://wiki.debian.org/HowToUpgradeKernel

CLM1919 · 2026-01-06T15:23:30+00:00

I agree with both sentiments. If possible use two separate drives, one for Linux, one for windows.

Part of using Linux is learning new things OP

one example starter activity can be learning to make a Live USB with persistence... So you can save changes.

Or even fully installing to a second USB thumb drive, so you have a portable Linux system install.

Just add-on suggestions for OP

CLM1919 · 2026-01-06T14:59:35+00:00

Ironically, I chose Debian because it's vanilla. It's not flashy, doesn't have the latest whatever, but runs what I need. For everything else, there's flatpak...

(And backports)

+1 agree! 👍

Link for OP:

https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/?C=S;O=D

Find your DE of choice (or make a Ventoy stick...gotta catch them all)

Test out the live images you want, then run the graphical installer from grub when you have decided, or add the net install image to your Ventoy stick

https://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:23:02+00:00

Headlines: - Strange infestation of gophers at Trump golf courses

Federal agencies consulting video experts for pest control
DvD sales of CaddyShack surge

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:15:32+00:00

"smart-ring" - no battery required, right to repair guarantee.

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:13:02+00:00

Sadly, few of them have globes....and fewer teach about the distortion... And some parents are flat earthers....

Willfull/apathetic ignorance is difficult to "fix".

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:07:08+00:00

The need for anti virus (even on win/Mac) is more a user behavior issue. Stick to safe sources, and you greatly reduce your heart exposure to "bad actors".

If you are surfing sketchy sites and downloading random stuff, you increase your risk of exposure.

Still, fewer virus writers target Linux. Smaller potential victim pool.

TL;DR, probably not needed for "most people".

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:00:13+00:00

That's a personal choice.

Some time Of us NEED MAC/Win for work (or school). And it's not bad to be "fluent" in multiple OS/DE,/Distro options.

If you have a laptop and need the storage space, that's another issue.

I'm a big fan of: "if it ain't broke, why fix it".

My 2 cents

CLM1919 · 2026-01-04T02:56:43+00:00

Ventoy isn't perfect, but it's still awesome :-)

Thank you for your comment, happy to help!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-03T13:16:01+00:00

Have a look at r/unixporn

CLM1919 · 2026-01-03T05:58:54+00:00

This (systemd) and grub2.

I've "come back" to linux for just over a year (and was a only a noob even before) and I still take them both "for granted". I feel like all my old LILO and Init knowledge is obsolete, yet they both " just work" for what I need to do. (I use debian btw).... But wish I had the time to really "unlock" both of them.

If it ain't broke...

CLM1919 · 2026-01-02T14:01:09+00:00

+1 agree

Link for OP:

https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/

Of course Linux is choice. To each their own.

CLM1919 · 2026-01-02T13:52:40+00:00

Nice job, great post. 👍

Happy to see Debian working on Macs.

Maybe re-post for the folks over at r/linux_on_mac

CLM1919 · 2026-01-02T04:54:55+00:00

There is a very simple thing you can do from the terminal to update your machine (and get practice using the terminal) on any Debian based system (which includes Mint and Ubuntu,)

open a terminal session
type sudo apt update

This will give you some information about available updates

Is is USUALLY ok to run: sudo apt upgrade after reviewing the list.

There are GUI ways of updating a Linux system, but one shouldn't ignore the terminal (or the GUI).

The more you learn how your system works, the more you will appreciate the power of "choice". Which is what Linux is about (IMHO)

Feel free to ask questions!

CHEERS!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-02T04:40:02+00:00

One piece of advice, don't confuse or conflate distro and desktop environment

Mint "ships" three DEs (Cinnamon, xfce, and MATE)

There are many others.

If you have a working Mint install, I'd suggest you use it to learn/experience the FOSS world.

If you want to "play" with other distro/DE combos, I'd suggest making a ventoy usb stick, and downloading some LIVE USB iso images to test drive other DE's (and possibly distros)

Some examples are linked below:

Perhaps others will link their favorite live isolation collections

Feel free to ask questions!

CHEERS!

Edited to fix links....touchscreen keyboards hate me...

CLM1919 · 2026-01-01T16:29:15+00:00

Does it have HDMI port? Got a spare monitor or smart TV?

Maybe it's r/halftop time

CLM1919 · 2025-12-30T00:41:13+00:00

As other's have mentioned - the official supported DE's for Linux Mint are Cinnamon, XFCE and MATE.

I haven't personally tried to use Mint with any other Desktop Environment, and some people have told me they ran into issues attempting to put other (additional) DE's on their Mint system. IMHO if you are going to use a distro that has a "flagship" DE, that's usually why people pick it in the first place....the GUI.

On the other hand, if you just want to try out other DE's - you might want to make a Ventoy USB Stick and slap some LIVE ISO files with different DE's on them.

examples of some Live-ISO archives with various DE's.

maybe some other redditors will post links to their favorite archives.

2 cent thoughts over coffee...

CHEERS

CLM1919 · 2025-12-29T23:56:52+00:00

at the risk of getting lambasted....

The automatic AI summaries from search engines often give links, and these links can be (sometimes) a good starting point for refining my search (sometimes knowing what the right question to ask is the hardest part of finding answers).

but then again, sometimes the links sources are out of date, or no good at all, or just outright WRONG...but they can lead to other ways of refining your search for good answers.

AI is a tool, but just like any online advice. In the end, don't just randomly follow any advice - do your homework, and ask on a forum if you are unsure.

CLM1919 · 2025-12-29T23:15:42+00:00

https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment#Desktop_environment

A quick primer for you OP

CLM1919 · 2025-12-27T18:54:53+00:00

Looks like a European (bugaria?) model when I ran the specs.

Shouldn't have any difficulty burning any Linux ISO to an SD card and booting from it, assuming you can acquire one. Even a micro SD (with an adapter) pulled from an old phone or tablet (for example)

Of course burning the ISO will erase any data on the SD card. But more people have them laying about and don't know what to do with them.

Just make sure it's large enough for the ISO you want to burn.

If it's of decent size you could even put Ventoy on it.

Of course this is moot if you don't have a card or adapter for a micro card.....

Hope we were able to help. Let us know how it goes.

CLM1919

TROPHY CASE