With Microsoft dropping support for Windows 10, my parents are considering switching to Linux. Since I'll be their tech support, I want to choose a distro that uses KDE, as I'm most familiar with it. Currently, I use Nobara and have experience with Kubuntu and CachyOS. I'm leaning towards Kubuntu, but I've heard mixed things lately about its reliability after a recent update. I'm also curious about immutable distros since they're supposed to be more stable and less prone to user errors. I've heard good things about Aurora but have no firsthand experience. Is Kubuntu generally reliable, or would an immutable distro be a better choice? If so, which immutable distros would you recommend? Any thoughts on KDE Neon? Thanks!
5 Answers
Honestly, I’d stick with Kubuntu. It’s really user-friendly for beginners who are transitioning from Windows. I’ve used it with no issues and think it strikes a good balance in ease of use. But I personally wouldn’t recommend KDE Neon; it's more about showcasing the latest KDE features, which might not be ideal for day-to-day use.
You might want to check out Kinoite, which is based on Fedora and uses KDE. Since you’re familiar with the Fedora ecosystem from Nobara, it could be a good fit. It’s pretty stable and being immutable means your parents are less likely to mess things up, which is a plus! Just keep in mind that if they need apps outside of what's offered in KDE's Discover, it can be a bit tricky to install them.
Another option to consider is Solus KDE. It’s not immutable, but it gets regular updates to keep things stable without being too overwhelming. I set it up for my uncle, who’s not tech-savvy, and he loves it! It’s lightweight, performs well, and he hasn’t run into any issues.
I set my mom up with Kubuntu a little while ago, and she’s been doing great! It’s been super reliable for her, so I think it could work out well for your parents, too.
If your parents aren’t really tech-savvy, you might want to keep them away from Plasma altogether. The configuration options can be pretty overwhelming. If stability is the goal, maybe Debian could be a better option for you—less hassle with updates and a straightforward experience for them.
Yeah, Kinoite sounds solid! I enjoyed using Bazzite too, but remember that while the immutability is a strength, it also limits how you can install applications. So just be ready for a few workarounds if they need something specific.