I'm looking to make the switch to Linux as my daily operating system, primarily for video editing, streaming, and gaming. I've dabbled a bit with Mint and enjoyed it, but I'm not a fan of the desktop environment. On the other hand, I really like the KDE desktop that comes with Kubuntu, which I've tested in a virtual machine. Although I know I can install KDE on Mint, I've heard mixed opinions on whether it's better to use a different distribution altogether. What are the main differences between Mint and Kubuntu aside from just the desktop environments? Would using Kubuntu mean I miss out on essential applications or stability? Is it really worth changing distributions just for a different desktop environment?
5 Answers
Go for Kubuntu! The KDE desktop is designed for better gaming experiences, and it just looks nicer too!
Thanks for the insights! I appreciate all the info. I know Adobe apps and some others aren’t available, but I’ve already lined up Linux alternatives. Plus, I don’t need constant updates; I just want everything to work smoothly. I’ve heard that Mint is preferred since it doesn’t use snaps, but what’s the issue with snaps in the first place?
You might want to try both and stick with the one that fits you best. A few days of using each could really help you decide!
Honestly, just pick whichever distro runs well on your hardware and feels right for you. Everyone has different preferences. I’ve been using Ubuntu for over 20 years, but I don’t push it on others—experiment a bit to see what works for you!
I've noticed Mint has better hardware support, especially on older Intel Macs, if that's a factor for you. Just throwing that out there!
I tried Xubuntu and found it more lightweight. Sometimes older hardware shows better support with lighter distros.
Does the edition of Mint really make a difference? I'm using Cinnamon, and I find it pretty smooth.