I'm transitioning from Windows to Linux, mostly out of curiosity and a desire to learn. I want this to be more of a hobby rather than a professional endeavor. While many people are recommending Mint with XFCE for its user-friendliness, I'm concerned that it might be too easy for me. I don't want to face daunting challenges, especially since I'm not very tech-savvy and could easily get frustrated or break things. I'm wondering if Debian with XFCE would provide a better balance of challenge without being overwhelming. Additionally, I need a distro that's lightweight for my low-powered machine.
5 Answers
Debian is a robust choice, even for beginners. It’s stable and widely used in professional environments, which speaks to its reliability. I started with Debian in 2007 and still use it across my systems. If you install Debian XFCE, it’ll serve you well while you learn. Once comfortable, you could even try a minimal installation and experiment with lightweight window managers. Welcome to the Debian community!
XFCE is excellent for low-spec systems. While Mint is generally easier for new users, Debian is a bit lighter. That said, Debian will push you to learn the Terminal sooner rather than later. It really comes down to trying both and seeing which fits your style better!
When I tried Debian with XFCE, I found it a bit on the tougher side for a noob. There isn’t a traditional GUI installer, only the Synaptic package manager, which can be tricky. Mint is definitely easier and more user-friendly. If you’re curious about alternatives, Xubuntu is also a solid choice. A lot of folks bring up MX Linux too, which could suit you well!
True, and also once set up, Debian can be really lightweight and efficient. Just grab some basic packages to make things smoother!
I’m on team Mint XFCE too, but if it feels too heavy, definitely give Lubuntu a shot. Also, Xubuntu’s 25.04 version is the latest and worth considering!
You might want to check out MX Linux with XFCE; it's Debian-based and quite beginner-friendly!
Debian does let you choose your desktop environment during installation (like XFCE, Gnome, etc.), which is nice. I usually go with XFCE and add some extra packages later to customize it. It’s straightforward once you get used to it!