Hey everyone! I'm looking to make the switch from Windows, and I need some advice on choosing the right Linux distribution and desktop environment. Since I'm using Nvidia, here's what I'm looking for: 1) A desktop that resembles Windows as closely as possible. 2) A user-friendly experience that allows me to get by without relying too much on the command line—I'm not super tech-savvy! 3) Ideally, I want a rolling release because I prefer not to reinstall for several years. I'm curious if I can upgrade over an existing version rather than doing a fresh install, especially since some distros seem to have limited support times. 4) I want to be able to do video editing, gaming, and Blu-ray ripping, you know, the works! 5) Lastly, a distro that's user-friendly but also customizable—definitely not something overly simplified like a basic Gnome setup. I'm willing to keep my Windows install for gaming and create a dual boot setup. I've heard about OpenSUSE and Plasma, but I'm feeling a bit lost. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
I'd recommend checking out Linux Mint, Zorin, or Kubuntu. They're pretty beginner-friendly and have nice GUIs that remind you of Windows. Plus, even though terminal commands are handy sometimes, most tasks can be managed through the GUI without too much hassle.
Also, while you might think you want a rolling release, what you actually need is a stable distro with a built-in upgrade tool. Mint, Kubuntu, and Zorin all have options in their menus to upgrade easily.
Does that mean if a version goes out of support, I can still upgrade it without starting fresh? Also, since I'm on Nvidia, does that change anything?