Hey everyone! I'm making the switch from Windows to Linux and I'm a bit lost on which distribution would fit my needs best. I'd love your recommendations based on my usage scenario and hardware setup.
Here's what I plan to do on Linux:
- **Programming & Software Development**
- **DevOps tasks** like Docker, Kubernetes, and Bash scripting
- Watching videos and general media consumption
- I'm looking for a system that's **stable and responsive** without being a hassle to maintain.
## My Laptop Specs:
- **Model**: Asus TUF Gaming FX705GM
- **RAM**: 16 GB
- **CPU**: Intel® Core™ i5-8300H
- **GPU**: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Mobile)
- **Current OS**: Windows 10
## What's Important to Me:
- **Good driver support** right from the start (especially for sound, Wi-Fi, GPU, etc.)
- I prefer a smooth experience when it comes to NVIDIA drivers
- I want a **user-friendly** distro that also allows me to learn more about Linux over time
- Not too bloated, but not too minimal either—I want to be productive quickly, but I'm open to learning as I go.
3 Answers
You might also want to check out **Fedora**. It’s a bit more cutting-edge than Ubuntu but offers a nice balance for development work, and their support for NVIDIA is getting better. Plus, it's always good for learning since it has more frequent updates.
If you’re into development, I’d recommend **Ubuntu**. It has tons of community support, and it works well out of the box with NVIDIA drivers. It’s user-friendly, but you can definitely dive deeper into the more complex stuff as you get comfortable.
I agree with Ubuntu! It's especially great for DevOps work. Just make sure to install the correct NVIDIA driver from their site to avoid any issues.
Have you considered **Ultramarine Linux**? It’s designed for gamers, so it might suit your media consumption needs while still being robust enough for development tasks. Just something to look into!
Good point! Fedora does have a great community as well. Just be prepared for slightly more maintenance.